After nine years of starting, building, and running my own accountancy practice, I thought it was time to jot down a few reflections. Nothing fancy – just some honest thoughts on what really matters in this line of work. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about the numbers.

1. It's All About Relationships

Like most businesses, accountancy is built on relationships. Yes, we deal with figures and forms, but what we really deal with is people.

2. People Like Talking to People

Clients don’t want to wrestle with call centres or wait days for a reply to a simple email. They want to talk to a nice, friendly, professional person who understands them. And fair enough, really!

3. Quick Replies Go a Long Way

Nobody likes to feel ignored. That’s why we keep our response times snappy – because even if the answer is "we're working on it," it's better than silence.

4. Make It Okay to Ask Questions

Many clients feel nervous or embarrassed asking questions – especially if they think it might be a ‘stupid’ one. But there’s no such thing! We do everything we can to make people feel comfortable. Ask away – we’ll explain it clearly, without the jargon.

5. Jargon-Free Zone

Speaking of jargon – we avoid it like the plague. If we do have to use it, we’ll explain what it means in plain English. You shouldn’t need a financial dictionary to work with your accountant.

6. Behind Every Business Is a Real Person

We never forget that there’s a real human being behind each business. Someone who has good days and bad days, who might feel anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed. We’re there for the hard times, and we’re there to raise a glass when the good times roll in.

7. Most Business Owners Just Want to Look After Their Families

At the end of the day, most business owners aren’t chasing yachts and private jets. They just want to earn enough to look after their loved ones, maybe buy a house, go on holiday, or retire comfortably one day. That’s what drives them – and us.

8. Get to Know Your Clients

This one’s simple but powerful: get to know your clients. Understand their businesses, their goals, and what keeps them up at night. That way, we can genuinely help – not just tick boxes.

9. Beware the "Tax-Saving Superstars"

And finally – if an accountant claims they can save you more tax than anyone else, be cautious. In our experience, they’re usually either full of it or, well… not exactly following the rulebook. We believe in smart, sensible tax planning – not shady shortcuts.

So there you have it – a few things I’ve learnt over the past nine years. If you’re a client of ours, thank you. We really do care about you, your business, and your goals. And if you're not yet a client – but want an accountant who’ll treat you like a person, not a number – you know where to find us.

Here’s to the next nine years!

– Simon