Nancy McClelland: Bookkeepers Need a Safe Space to Collaborate | The Disruptors

Bookkeepers often feel less empowered than tax professionals.

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The Disruptors
With Liz Farr
For CPA Trendlines

Nancy McClelland wants to do more than just run her firm, The Dancing Accountant. She has two big passion projects that are creating the conversations and collaborations this profession desperately needs. Her community, Ask a CPA, aims to bridge the gap between bookkeepers and tax professionals. She also co-hosts a podcast with Questian Telka, She Counts, which provides a safe space for women in accounting to discuss real issues.

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McClelland started the Ask a CPA Community when she noticed “this big gap that wasn’t about technical knowledge. It was about permission, about permission to collaborate.” While “bookkeepers are often the closest person to the financial truth of a business,” historically, “they’ve been positioned as subordinate to tax preparers, just sort of expected to hand off things and hope that they did it right,” McClelland explains.

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CPA PE Deal Tracker™: 10 Years. 500-Plus Deals. $49 Billion. [May 2026]

Deal Log, Analysis & Leaderboards – Monthly through May 2026

By CPA Trendlines Research
Private equity is buying accounting firms faster than the profession can name the buyers.

MORE Private Equity

The CPA PE Deal Tracker™ from CPA Trendlines Research now follows 525 events, including 473 acquired firms, across about 72 platforms and 69 capital sources. All reaching back to 2016.

The consolidation now represents $49 billion in transacted enterprise value, on about $24 billion in annual revenue and close to 96,000 working accountants and staff.

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Ten Tax Issues That Add New Revenue

Plus four “how much” questions you can put numbers to.

By Ed Mendlowitz
How to Build a Stronger Tax Practice

As you see each tax prep client you should keep a list of additional services you can offer them. Also, continue this list when you review each return.

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I prepare a list of follow-up items during a tax season on my Microsoft Outlook task list. These items are entered as the issue or idea arises. It is simple, quick and very satisfying. The next job will be to make the time to follow up with the client, and do your “good deed.”
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How to Suggest More Services for More Pay

Overhead view of two businessmen meeting in lobby

BONUS: Four sample engagement proposals.

By Ed Mendlowitz
The CPA Trendlines Practice Doctor

In order to help clients work out their problems, we need to give them suggestions and we need to charge the clients an appropriate fee.

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No matter how you price or bill for your services you will be spending time helping them and during that period you will be drawing on your vast experience, knowledge and data base of the client’s affairs.
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Clients Won’t Upgrade Unless They Understand

two men talking across table

Are your higher-value advisory services clear to them?

By Hitendra Patil

You are more than a billable hour. Do you agree?

Upgrading your clients to higher-value advisory services can be an arduous task. It is challenging, but worthwhile!

MORE by Hitendra Patil
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However, what do you do when your clients don’t understand why they should pay for your advice or, worse, why they need it? How can you convince them that it is worth paying for your advice?
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