{"id":23045,"date":"2021-06-03T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxprocenter.proconnect.intuit.com\/?p=23045"},"modified":"2022-04-12T12:38:58","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:38:58","slug":"how-has-covid-19-transformed-your-firm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accountants.intuit.com\/taxprocenter\/practice-management\/how-has-covid-19-transformed-your-firm\/","title":{"rendered":"How has COVID-19 transformed your firm?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who could have predicted that something such as COVID-19<\/a> would occur, let alone make such a huge impact to our personal lives and businesses? While some tax and accounting professionals recently finished up tax season and are determining when to return to their offices, many are still working remotely<\/a>. Either way, you\u2019re turning the traditional work model upside down.<\/p>\n

How has COVID-19 transformed your firm? We asked several of our Intuit\u00ae Tax Pro Center<\/a> authors for their feedback. Here\u2019s what they had to say.<\/p>\n

Joe Abesamis, CPA<\/b> \u2013 BaCo Group<\/a><\/p>\n

We have been more focused on what matters: our value<\/a> to the client. This means being present, whether we helped with Paycheck Protection Program loans or helped pivot their business model to stay alive. We led with empathy and compassion. COVID-19 has made our client service better because it helped us understand that our value is more than being able to provide accounting or tax advice; it\u2019s to have a relationship with our clients.<\/p>\n

Ford Baker, CPA<\/b> \u2013 BaCo Group<\/a> and BaCo Tech<\/a><\/p>\n

As we had to change our working environment, there are two valuable things I believe our firm gained over the last year:<\/p>\n

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  1. Prior to March 2020, I was more resistant to take on clients who we could not have an in-person relationship with because I doubted what kinds of benefits virtual platforms could deliver. Now, thanks to Slack, meeting software, and communications tools we use to answer client questions, I am confident we can deliver a high level of personal service to our clients, no matter where they are located.<\/li>\n
  2. The workflows we\u2019ve invested in over the last year allow us to automate<\/a> putting last year\u2019s numbers on last year\u2019s forms, with the degree of control we need to ensure the numbers are correct. In turn, this opened up our time to better serve all of our clients on the pressing issues that happen year to year. In 2020, that was more important than ever.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Elcorese Brown <\/b>\u2013 Charis Business Solutions LLC<\/a><\/p>\n

    COVID-19 transformed my firm in a way that I would have never attempted had the pandemic not existed. Not only has my firm had the opportunity to grow, but it has also flourished because I\u2019m no longer isolated to a specific location. I have had many opportunities to meet and network with business owners from all over the country through virtual coffee meetings. This has given me a new innovative way of thinking to transcend my profession. It is different from March 2020. I was able to leave my corporate job to pursue my business full time. I have learned how to use technology to maximize my efficiency and productivity, as well as multitask.<\/p>\n

    Cassidy Jakovickas, CPA<\/b> \u2013 MBS Accountancy Corporation<\/a><\/p>\n

    Despite the challenges we\u2019ve endured, COVID-19 was one of the best things to happen to our firm. That being said, in no way do I diminish the loss of life and the impact on the world\u2019s economy, and I wish COVID-19 would have never happened.<\/p>\n

    COVID-19 forced us to face systemic issues in our firm, and change our service model and client base:<\/p>\n