Getting more from your CPA firm

Tax planning and compliance are important aspects of your relationship with your CPA. But at best, your tax returns and financial statements provide a small window of insight into how your particular business works. One of the reasons Axiom was founded was to help those businesses and individuals who want to see a greater return on their CPA firm investment. Below are some of the activities our new business clients get excited about when they partner with us. Perhaps you need to evaluate your CPA's role and push him or her to deliver more than historical snapshots.

Help us speak your language. At the beginning of new client partnerships we request listings of trade publications, newsletters, conferences and other venues that influence your industry. In some cases we may request to attend events with our clients. At the very least we make it a point to stay abreast of trends affecting their business.

Monthly roundtables. Communication is an ongoing process that cannot exist only at tax time. We prefer to sit down with our clients on a monthly basis in an unhurried setting to discuss broad business topics, areas of concern and opportunities.

Creation of a business dashboard. Financial statements are historical and exclude relevant non-financial information. For these reasons they are ineffective tools for running the business and making forward looking decisions. We work with clients to identify key indicators and then develop a one page report that captures information of relevance that they can use on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Long term strategy session. Once we have identified key indicators and short-term business drivers we step back and take in the big picture. We discuss and formalize the client's plans for the next several years. Only then can we help them get there.

Quarterly tax planning. We take a look at our clients' financial picture every three months and help them decide whether estimated tax payments need to be made and what resources they need to have on tap for future payments.

Compensation and benefits analysis. Whether you are hiring new employees or trying to motivate existing managers, compensation is a critical factor. We have helped clients quantify the exact after tax cost of various scenarios and then select the one that best meets both the financial and business needs of the organization.

Software configuration. With expertise in QuickBooks, Excel and Access we often assist clients in setting up new reports and data analysis methods. CPA's today have to take advantage of the latest technology to deliver efficient,powerful, analysis driven answers for their clients.

Problem framing and analysis. Sometimes unique problems and concerns keep you awake at night. We have helped our clients get their arms around interesting problems and discover what makes them tick. We do not presume to know more about your business than you do, but we do believe that two heads are better than one. We can bring structure and analysis to a problem so that solutions are more easily identified.

On-site process mapping. Taking the time to follow an order or customer interaction all the way through your organization can yield powerful insights and areas for improvement. We have been hired to do the detective work and get answers that employees and managers may not give to someone inside the company.

Unlimited access. Not so much a service as the way we do business. We have chosen to use an engagement model that fosters communication rather than inhibits it. Our clients love this type of arrangement because they have the freedom to tell us what is really going on. We have the time to explore issues that often go untouched because clients do not fear being on the clock for every little conversation.