VFD Articles

Attracting and retaining top accounting talent isn’t just about offering competitive salaries or benefits, it’s about giving professionals work that matters. Accountants who feel engaged, valued, and able to make an impact on their clients’ businesses are more likely to stay and grow within your firm.

Many firms struggle with high employee turnover because their teams are stuck in repetitive, low-value tasks. But by shifting the focus from compliance-driven work to client-centric advisory services, you can create an environment where accountants feel challenged, motivated, and appreciated.

Why Meaningful Work Matters in Talent Retention

When accountants spend their time on strategic analysis rather than data entry, their role becomes more fulfilling. Employees who feel their work contributes to a client’s success are:

• More engaged in their day-to-day tasks.
• More likely to stay with your firm long-term.
• More motivated to develop new skills and grow their careers.

By redefining the role of accountants within your firm, you can improve both employee satisfaction and client outcomes.

Shifting Focus to High-Value Work

1. Encourage Problem-Solving Over Compliance
   1. Equip your team with real-time financial insights so they can proactively spot risks and opportunities.
   2. Encourage them to go beyond reporting numbers, help clients make sense of their financial data and take action.
2. Create More Client-Centric Roles
   1. Give accountants more opportunities to interact with clients, helping them improve cash flow, profitability, and business planning.
   2. Position your team as trusted advisors who collaborate with clients to shape financial strategies rather than just deliver reports.
3. Equip Your Team with the Right Tools
   1. Reduce time spent on manual processes so your team can focus on higher-value advisory work.
   2. Implement solutions that simplify financial data and allow accountants to present meaningful insights rather than just numbers.

Case Study: Engaging Employees by Shifting Focus

1. Understand Your Clients
   1. Take time to learn about each client’s industry, challenges, and goals.
   2. Use tools like client surveys, interviews, or onboarding questionnaires to gather valuable insights.
2. Leverage Technology for Tailored Insights
   1. Tools like VFD Pro allow you to analyse financial data specific to each client, enabling you to offer targeted recommendations.
   2. Custom financial reports and trend analysis can highlight key performance indicators that matter most to individual clients, helping them understand their position and next steps.
3. Proactively Address Challenges
   1. Use real-time data to identify potential risks or opportunities before clients raise concerns.
   2. Offer scenario-based planning to guide clients through critical decisions, helping them prepare for multiple possible outcomes.
4. Communicate Regularly
   1. Schedule periodic reviews to discuss progress, refine strategies, and ensure clients feel supported.
   2. Keep clients informed with updates and insights that align with their business priorities, ensuring your advice remains relevant and valuable.

Case Study: Building Trust Through Personalisation

“We have been working with VFD Pro for over two years, and in close collaboration with Gaye Prime for the last 12 months on a specific training project.

Our objective was to educate and empower our client managers to deliver added value services to their clients, enhance their roles within our business, emphasising accountability and developing a commercial mentality.

From the beginning Gaye brought a level of focus and expertise drawn from her own experience. There was a clear roadmap from the outset of the skills that would be targeted for development, as well as detailed explanation of appropriate VFD resources to support this growth.

The project challenged the team throughout and has resulted in more confident client managers, who are able to deliver advisory services comfortably, better articulate our value to their clients, and inspire junior members of staff as they embark on their career journey.

Gaye was always available for one-to-one sessions and made sure to go the extra mile to assist and support every one of us, almost becoming an integral part of our team.

The success of this project has been key to the overall growth strategy of our firm, and we are delighted to have worked with Gaye and VFD-Pro and look forward to our continued partnership.

BWP Inspire www.bwp-inspire.co.uk