What Clients Want

Source: AICPA CPA Insider

Insider conducted a survey essentially asking what clients really want. So far nearly 2000 responses are in. Many answers are well known—timeliness, value, quality, caring, etc. But some responses contained deeper thoughts worth sharing, including:

• One CPA views himself as a social worker. Financial statements are reflections of the lives of the owners, who need help managing their businesses.
• Clients, according to one practitioner, are not concerned about technical accuracy. They view that as given. What they want is someone who continually gives feedback on strategy and ideas for success.
• Clients want an accountant who thinks outside the box.
• One practitioner feels what his clients want most of all is to feel important.
• Clients want to stay out of trouble.
• Handholding is what most of one accountant’s clients want.
• Most clients don’t really know what they want, according to one practitioner.
• One thoughtful accountant said his successful clients want an accountant who sees the big picture without neglecting the details, while unsuccessful clients see their accountants as necessary evils. Successful clients want their accountants to act like their partners.

From AICPA CPA Insider, May 7, 2007, www.cpa2biz.com. For the complete article, click here.