Approaching Accountancy Firms - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

ClawzCTR · Guru

Approaching Accountancy Firms

Georgie · Guru

Call me a cynic but I think you are going to find it really hard to get work through an accountant. I am AAT qualified and have wrote endless letters, on top quality letter headed paper , and didn't get one reply. Maybe because I am AAT I was seen as a threat, who know's.

Would really help if you knew someone who could recommed or refer you. This is cetainly an "old boy's profession"

Best wishes
Georgie

-- Edited by Georgie on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 02:22:40 PM

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

I think you need to send it to far more than 2 to get any sort of measurable response. I would also suggest this is one of they times when actually posting a real letter is better than an email.

As for the content, second last paragraph the where should maybe be were. Other than that I don't really see much wrong with it.

Kris

ClawzCTR · Guru

Thanks Kris,

My problem is I underestimate myself, and my abilities! I mean if you were an accountant, and had the scope for such a postition, would you enquire to me from this letter/email? (spelling mistakes aside... LOL)

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

You sell yourself well through the letter then kill it in the last paragraph by talking about your lack of experience. I'm not saying lie, but I maybe wouldn't be so open.

Kris

Don Tax · Expert

Hi Gary,

I think asking for employment in the same letter detracts from offering your services for outsourcing. You could pick up a lot of mentoring without being employed and I'm supposing they haven't advertised a vacancy.

There's a good chance they know what MIAB is on your letterhead and if it means your introduction is much shorter, then so be it.

Nowt wrong with begging if it puts food on the table and you've got a couple of areas where I have little experience in 30 years.

best wishes,
Tim

ClawzCTR · Guru

Positive stuff guys, thanks! Keep all the advice coming please... lol, its great needed/respected! :D

Don Tax · Expert

.... and also a sole trader client who incorporated to ......... (give reasons)

Spamkebab · Expert

It was because of the free badge that you get with a big LTD written on it, Timbo.

Don Tax · Expert

Pity they weren't offering free dogs lol

Spamkebab · Expert

I told you, we've had free dogs upto now already, on our fird now.

Don Tax · Expert

LOL I had to read that free times.

Spamkebab · Expert

I thought i'd paved the way for you to step into your four candles routine Timbo lol.

BobHarper · Guru

I'd suggest you up skill yourself so you can do the year-end accounts/tax and instead of writing to accountants you write to their clients.

Spamkebab · Expert

Yeah, But it's nice to be nice Bob.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Or to put it another way Neil

"You don't piss on your own doorstep".

Georgie · Guru

Depends how much you've had to drink.....

BobHarper · Guru

@Spam - our experience of partnering with accountants was not nice; they wanted to control everything, make money off our efforts and felt threatened because we offered added value advice.

@Shamus - there are plenty of doorsteps, you don't need accountants.

kjmcculloch83 · Expert

Bob, although there are many times we disagree there are also many times we agree. This is one of the times we agree.

I find accountants are happy to have a hand in glove relationship, as long as they're the hand. This is one of the reasons I only really do sole traders now.

Kris

I should say not all accountants are like this, just all the ones I spoke to.

meldowie · Veteran Member

We learned a long time ago it is not easy to work with Accountants especially as a bookkeeper when potentially you have to work with many many accountants on a regular basis and most may I add (in my opinion) competing to take the work from you anyway (it seems in our area at least).

As Bob says there are plenty of doorsteps you can stamp on you don't need to go through the Accountant route to get work. We have 2 firms that we refer work to and whom refer work to us. One is a firm of Accountants who are very proactive and recognise having what a good bookkeeper can do for their clients and ultimately their relationship with the client too and they are located in Hampshire which is nearly 2 hours from us but they are happy and with our new affiliation with Xero we can work Nationally now and this relationship is working extremely well and business is fantastic for us finally.

The other is a firm of Business Consultants who are local to us. Recently we lost a client to an Accountant who were supposed to be our Preferred Partner, then offered an all inclusive package (including bookkeeping) to our mutual client who took the bait and left as he feels he will be saving some money, needless to say that relationship is probably done sadly as they are a good firm of Accountants but not sure working with them will be possible now. How they can afford to do it who knows and needless to say I'm a little bitter but business is business I suppose.

My point is I guess if you think Accountants are the hand that will feed you they are also the hand that can starve you rather quickly. Don't get me wrong I'm not picking on Accountants but both Accountants and Bookkeepers are supposed to be Partners offering a complete and united service to their clients. So those are the Accountants I'm seeking and that is not going to happen through an email or letter telling them I exist. I get on LinkedIn and join groups getting involved in discussions and getting to know other Bookkeepers and Accountants first in that manner. I have met some really great companies and am building really good connections and do get referrals this route along with my Networking. Other connections we have found really mutually beneficial are Freelance Finance Directors.

My advice would be ditch the letters and emails and get on social media namely LinkedIn and start building relationships and get out Networking is very powerful. We have built our practice from Networking. We do not advertise. We have a growing practice signing up at least 1 new client every week for the past 6 months. This has all been done with the help of Xero, Networking and our Partners who by the way found us on the Internet!

Good luck and be patient and call if you want to chat. Always happy to do so.
Mel

ADAS · Guru

Hi Mel,

Food for thought, thanks for posting.

When you talk about Xero - has their online directory helped you?

Thanks
Tony.

ClawzCTR · Guru

Thanks so much for the reply Mel. Interesting reading! Esspecially as you say writing letters etc is not worth doing... Im on Twitter/Facebook/and linked in trying to promote things, but I still haven't plucked up the courage to go to a networking event yet... :/ To be honest, I'm bricking it attending the first one, which is wierd as I normally do fairly well talking to strangers etc. I think it may have something to do with lack in confidence in ones abilites and beliefs... No ideas on how to get round that! lol

Alfred · Senior Member

Networking is a good way to get out there and meet new clients but can be very scary if that't not your thing, I am a bit like that as I dont have a problem speaking with people but going to a networking event always seem scary especially if you don't do it often.

ClawzCTR · Guru

I could talk the hind legs off a donkey... but trying to sell myself, AND my business.... a dunk tramp would probably do a better job! LOL

Like I say its more down to lack of confidence in ones abilites that is my main bug bear!

meldowie · Veteran Member

Hi Tony,

Yes we have had some good leads through the directory for Xero. That is how the Accountants in Hampshire found us as they are Xero Accountants so specifically was looking for a Xero Bookkeeper. I think they passed on the information to clients for others on the directory but the feedback on us was really good so they decided they would now work exclusively with us for their London and South East clients. So we are pretty chuffed about that. Also we will be making Silver Partner shortly so that pushes up the list a little more which is good.

ClawzCTR - Networking can be pretty scary at first. I was really nervous and I'm from a different country so when I started up it was a culture thing too that I was facing. However, you do gain confidence and your 60 seconds does get less stressful. I still get nervous doing that and I have presented at Networking Meetings now which is scary too. I love it though now and it really has grown my business so I definately would not be where I am without it so it. However, I spoke to another bookkeeper recently and he said he would rather cut off his right arm than go and he has a really great practice and he has grown with the help of Accountant Alliances and Xero too. So he obviously found that connection with Accountants. They exist but hard to find. Took me 6 years to come across the ones we are working with now and long may it continue, my fingers and toes crossed!

Mel.

meldowie · Veteran Member

ClawzCTR - You asked for some tips for networking sorry missed that. My biggest tip would be NOT to try and SELL your services. As ridiculous as that sounds nobody cares at that point (in the nicest possible way) they don't want you to sell to them at a networking event. So don't let that stress you. You are there to build relationships with people. Networking takes time. You would be lucky if you went and got business your first time. Networking is purely to build those relationships and a lot of people don't get that. People need to Know you, like you and trust you before they will refer you on. Also always talk about what you can do for others and how you can help them. Networking is not about you but rather how you can help others in the room. So even when you do a 60 sec elevator pitch (which most of them require) make it so it is solving their problem with their bookkeeping and how you have helped someone else and maybe give a little example or testimonial. You may start with your name and your experience so it validates why they should listen to you but the rest is about their needs, what can you do for them.

Let me know how you get on!

Mel.

ClawzCTR · Guru

I will! :)
I'm going to aim to go to couple next month and see what they are like, after a few im sure I'll relax into it a bit more! lol

Whats this 60 second elevator pitch?

Count1314 · Senior Member

It's just a term for explaining your business/product etc in a short succinct manner as if you had only the length of a journey in a lift to do it.........Americans!!

Anyway....back on topic. I don't know what I would have done without the help of a firm of chartered accountants in town....or rather one partner in particular. I am lucky that I had a working reationship in a past job with his company and that he has passed clients on to me.

I think you have to find accountants that are not so small that they will tackle everything themselves (one-stop shop) or not too big that they will not deal with the type of client you are looking for. Having said this, I know of at least one decent sized practice that has set up a freelance division/company to take care of bookkeeping and payroll for clients that require these services......maybe this will become a trend?

Maybe the secret is to pass your details directly to partners??? If I was the receptionist, I would probably just bin these letters addressed simply to the firm unless they had a specific file for them. It also fits in with those that argue for the personal touch!