As tax season looms, accountants can often find themselves at the forefront of a demanding period where client expectations are high, and the workload is even higher.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of meeting compliance deadlines and managing increased client inquiries, it’s important to ensure advisory services continue, so your practice can still work towards growth in the long term. 

At Funding Circle we’re passionate about supporting our accountancy partners, so here are some strategies that could help you maintain and even enhance your advisory services during the tax season.

Prioritise client communication

It’s important to establish clear communication channels with your clients, so you can inform them about expected turnaround times and set realistic expectations. Proactively reaching out to clients with personalised updates, insights into their financial situations and potential tax implications could help to maintain trust and build on your existing relationship for the future. 

Leverage technology

It could be worth investing in accounting software and technology solutions that streamline routine tasks, so you can turn your focus to providing valuable advisory services. Cloud-based platforms like Karbon that facilitate real-time collaboration with clients could be a good starting point, as they help to provide accessibility and data security. 

Make use of strategic time management

Make sure you have a well-structured schedule in place, with specific time blocks for advisory services allocated amidst tax-related tasks so it doesn’t fall to the wayside. You can also delegate routine compliance work to more junior members of staff, so yourself or your senior accountants are free to concentrate on strategic advisory services. 

Proactively plan

Encourage your clients to engage in tax planning discussions before the peak of the season so they have better-prepared financial strategies in place, and offer insight into potential tax-saving opportunities to show the value of your services. 

Focus on education 

Offering your clients educational resources and workshops on tax-related topics can help empower them to make informed financial decisions. Doing this could demonstrate your commitment to your client’s success beyond tax compliance, and may allow you to position yourself as a trusted advisor. 

Follow Up after the Tax Season

Don’t just stop once the season is finished – make sure you schedule follow-up meetings with your clients to review their financial performance and discuss long-term strategies. You can use this opportunity to gather feedback, too, to help improve and develop your services going forward. 

Conclusion 

Successfully navigating the challenges of tax season while maintaining high-quality advisory services requires a strategic and proactive approach. By embracing technology, fostering communication, and implementing efficient time management, you can not only meet compliance requirements but also position your firm as an indispensable source of support in your clients’ financial journeys.

As the tax season unfolds, a well-balanced blend of compliance and advisory services could be the key to long-term client satisfaction and business success.

At Funding Circle we’re here to support you with your advisory services, providing a quick and easy client referral process, along with instant decision technology that can provide a credit backed offer in minutes.

If your client is looking for funding you can refer them here, and our team will take them through the full funding journey, from initial consultation to payout and post loan support.

18/12/23: While we want to help as much as we can, the information found here is provided solely for informational purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice. To the extent permitted by law, Funding Circle does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained here. If you have any questions, please speak to your professional adviser or seek independent legal advice.