Being still in my first year of business I am regularly attending Network breakfasts which I enjoy and has led to new clients.
Anyway as well as the normal 60 seconds they go round the room on a rota offering you the chance to speak for 10 minutes. So here is my plea to fellow Accounting Professionals:-
What on earth can I talk about for 10 minutes that won't send them to sleep?
To make matters harder I have been let into the group as a Bookkeeper as there is an incumbent proper Accountant. So while I will happily do tax return and simple compliance work and I can only really talk about bookkeeping - I'm sure the Accountant would love to catch me out if I started talking about AIA's and CGT reliefs.
I'd like to know the answer to this too. I plan to join networking events soon.
I'd keep it simple. Talk about something you know well, such as "how to pick a good book keeper" or something like "why picking a great bookkeeper saves you money". Cover things like..................
what is a bookkeeper
why they are important
qualified vs. unqualified bookeepers
the institues - AAT/IAB/ICB
what bookkeepers can and cannot do
what being a member of an institute means - CPD/ML/regulation and support
the qualities needed to be a great bookkeeper
Keep it light, and throw in a few humourous anecdotes, leave them smiling.....
Hows that for a start?
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.................just an ICB student, at the moment.
Something like standing up and saying "I've now been clean for... Oh sorry, wrong group!".
Good luck with it Ken. I personally hate this sort of thing as it's in my nature to overthink everything and be worried about being asked questions about something that I don't know rather than concentrating on what I do.
Hope that the accountant isn't as bad as you think they are. Most that I know are actually really nice people.
Maybe they should be the one that you focus your attention on as he/she is the one most likely to be the source of putting work your way. Maybe have words with them at the meeting to try and get some business cards to give to your clients for audit and more complex accounts work. That appraoch should dissarm them before the meeting.
You might even want to nod acknowledgement to the accountant for more complex work during your speech.
As I say, good luck with it and rather you than me,
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
