Episode #167: Moving Beyond Being Just a Service Provider with Sarah Acton

The world is constantly evolving. Clients are changing. That means we have to meet them where they are. Accountants are no longer strictly “service providers”. Go ahead…add “technology advisor” to your resume. It sounds scary, but it’s true. Accountants must start embracing new technology and AI in order to free up ourselves for the services that clients are actually wanting. “There’s an app for that” and our tech savvy clients know it, so we have to push past our own fears to meet them where they are…and that means more metrics, financial reporting, and advisory. Sarah Acton, Chief Customer Officer with BILL, says that we must get comfortable with automating the granular tasks so that we can free ourselves up for doing one thing that technology can NOT do, and that’s building personal relationships. Strive for efficiency. Experiment with new ideas. Ultimately, your authenticity is what builds credibility with your clients. Walk them through their own fears and develop a practical roadmap for success in their own business. Learn how BILL can help make your firm more efficient and streamline operations at www.bill.com.