Bookkeeper Benefits

ABN Tax re-defines the accountant-bookkeeper-client relationship. For bookkeepers, this offers an exciting opportunity and one that carries with it a host of benefits.

1.The recognition that you deserve.
Bookkeepers are viewed by some accountants as mere data processors, when in fact they should be viewed as a vital intermediary between client and accountant. ABN Tax recognises the crucial role played by bookkeepers. We refer to bookkeepers as ABN Tax Client Managers because of their central role in managing the relationship between ABN Tax and the client.
2.Active participation in the year-end process.
ABN Tax Client Managers play an extremely integrated role with ABN Tax which is of real benefit to the client. In broad terms, the ABN Tax Client Manager will have the task of supplying ABN Tax with the client's accounting software file, collating additional information we require in order to complete the client's tax returns and financial statements, completing various checklists and reconciliations and be given the first opportunity to resolve any queries that we raise.
3.Being kept in the loop.
The financial statements, tax returns, information and advice that ABN Tax provides to clients is also provided to you as the ABN Tax Client Manager. In this way, the client can rest assured that both their bookkeeper and accountant are on the same page with everything that is happening in their financial life. Moreover, as an ABN Tax Client Manager, you have access to a secure, on-line system called Job Watch which enables you to check the status of your client's work at any point in time.
4.Financial reward.
ABN Tax Client Managers greatly assist the year-end compliance process through the preparation of a range of workpapers and the collation of key client information. In recognition of this assistance, ABN Tax Client Managers receive 15% of the total fee that is charged to clients for their year-end compliance services. This provides an opportunity for ABN Tax Client Managers to derive a significant additional income stream. Importantly, this comes out of ABN Tax's profits and is not an additional cost borne by the client.
5.Improving your value proposition to clients.
The ABN Tax business model enables the bookkeeper to truly become the central figure in their client's financial affairs - the person that "does the books", looks after the BAS and, now, facilitates the completion of the tax and accounting work through ABN Tax.
6.Timeliness of information.
While some accounting firms are prompt in turning around client tasks, others can be notorious for taking long periods of time. There tends to be inconsistent service standards across the industry and rarely will firms provide you with a certain timeframe. At ABN Tax, we are committed to 6-week turnarounds, enabling your client's accounting file to be brought up to date more quickly and your client to enjoy more meaningful data.
7.Accountants that understand what bookkeepers need.
The importance of re-aligning a client's accounting file with completed financial statements is something which is not lost on some accountants. However, many accountants fail to understand the relevance of re-aligning accounts while others are prone to adjusting final balances without due regard to the impact on subsidiary ledgers or reconciliations. At the same time that we provide the client's completed financials and tax returns, you receive a re-alignment journal. If that re-alignment journal should impact subsidiary ledgers such as debtors, creditors or bank, we will communicate to you the corresponding changes that are required to get them back in sync with the general ledger.
8.Valuing your work for the good of the client.
Many accounting and taxation firms do not involve a client's bookkeeper as much as they should. This can result in costly duplication of work. At ABN Tax, we ask the ABN Tax Client Manager to complete a series of workpapers and checklists to thereby allow us to accept certain balances. This enables us to augment the bookkeeper's good work rather than needing to re-check it at the client's expense.
9.Enjoying the efficiencies of the digital age.
Many accounting and taxation firms persevere with the sending of paper copies of everything that they produce. ABN Tax does it differently. ABN Tax embraces technology and supplies all of its completed products and services in electronic form. This speeds up delivery, allows us to better contain our costs, and enables both ABN Tax Client Managers and clients to have convenient electronic copies of everything. ABN Tax Client Managers transfer client information to ABN Tax using our Bookkeeper-Client Connect file transfer facility. This is a secure 128-bit encrypted channel which is protected by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.
10.Fixed fee certainty for your clients.
A barrier to bookkeepers recommending accountants to their clients can be uncertainty over fees. At ABN Tax, we make sure that there are no nasty surprises for the client when it comes time to paying our bill. In relation to year-end compliance services, we provide an upfront written quote. We do not start work until the client has approved that quote. As far as our other services are concerned, many of these are performed at fixed prices which are detailed in our comprehensive fee menu.
11.We don't charge you to speak to us over the telephone.
ABN Tax prides itself on providing personalised advice to its clients. ABN Tax Clients and their ABN Tax Client Managers are welcome to telephone us at no cost. If there is a question that can be dealt with there and then, there is no charge. Should the conversation result in the identification of further tasks which will be at a cost, then we'll discuss this with the client at the time and get approval before proceeding.
12.Raising the bar of your bookkeeping.
At the end of the day, ABN Tax won't ask you to learn anything that goes beyond bookkeeping. There may simply be a little more rigour around what you are currently doing in terms of workpapers and checklists. This enables us to rely on larger portions of your work without having to re-do it. ABN Tax will introduce you to some wonderful habits that will improve the overall standard and professionalism of your bookkeeping.
13.Shores up your ownership of the client.
The ABN Tax model helps make you even more indispensable in your client's eyes. As well as providing their bookkeeping and BAS services, you are also instrumental in their accounting and taxation services. If the client were to leave you, they would also be severing their relationship with ABN Tax in the process. Moreover, the overarching role you play for your client also lessens the risk of them being poached by a rogue employee or sub-contractor.