To Work With Technology Clients, You Need to "Think Different"

Source: CPA Practice Management Forum

In this interview, Victor Mizzaro, CPA, a partner with New York-based Citrin Cooperman, discusses his approach to working with technology companies. Mizzaro was recently named 2011 Best Accountant for Growing Businesses in Technology by New York Enterprise Report.

Among other things, Mizzaro talks about why working with technology companies is different than working with more “traditional” companies. Here are some of the highlights:

• Listening is critical because often the issues faced by technology companies are new. To provide solutions, you need to “adapt your prior experience” and “let them open up in order to find out what the real source of their pain is.”
• Technology companies just starting out must deal with a variety of “growing pains.” They need help with employee, space, and accounting issues, including guidance on setting up their accounting systems to “match the kind of company they are.”
• A big challenge is convincing the company's founders that they can no longer do everything. They need to create a middle management to handle day-to-day tasks so they can focus on promoting and growing the company.
• CPAs who work with technology companies need to make themselves available and get clients comfortable enough to say “I need you.” These clients are often “24/7” businesses whose employees work remotely. CPAs need to become accustomed to working in this environment.

For the complete article, read “Q&A with Victor Mizzaro: Helping Clients Grow.”

From CPA Practice Management Forum, CCH Incorporated, 800-449-8114, October 2011, p. 11.