{"id":3623,"date":"2018-01-18T16:00:40","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T16:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=3623"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:41:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:41:49","slug":"successful-virtual-accountant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/successful-virtual-accountant\/","title":{"rendered":"What you need to do to be successful as a virtual accountant"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/growth-customers\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Growth &amp; Customers<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat you need to do to be successful as a virtual accountant\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2018-01-18T16:00:40+00:00\">18 January, 2018<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What you need to do to be successful as a virtual accountant\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/successful-virtual-accountant\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/jennifer-warawa\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/01\/Jennifer_SAGE_097_full_Edited-150x150.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Jennifer Warawa<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The digital accountancy profession has evolved at a remarkable pace over the past few years. This evolution has been driven by the accelerated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-cloud-computing\/\">adoption of the cloud<\/a>, which allows accountants to work more flexibly, remotely and virtually. As as virtual accountant, you are transforming the way that services are offered, creating some great opportunities for businesses and accountancy firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alongside this fast-paced digital innovation, however, are some key issues that you need to consider, particularly around best practices.&nbsp;What are the best practices for a virtual accountancy service and what are the really important things that you need to be doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-communicate-well-and-use-the-right-accounting-solutions\"><strong>Communicate well and use the right accounting solutions <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When accountants work on-site, they\u2019re part of the team and communication is pretty straightforward. Working virtually, as a virtual adviser or CFO, requires communication to be more digital, making greater use of tools and apps such as instant messaging, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/five-things-clients-want-from-their-accountant\/\">Good communication<\/a> is crucial and having the right <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-business-cloud\/accounting\/\">accounting software<\/a>, as well as the right solutions to allow you to work effectively remotely, really underpins the success of a virtual accountancy service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When an accountant is physically present, clients can see them doing work, which creates value that the client can understand. In a virtual setting when the accountant is not there, the value provided can be less evident to the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of time served, the focus moves to achieving the end result without putting in all that time \u2013 especially time spent face-to-face. This is how you as a virtual accountant can make sure your clients are receiving value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-3378 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1675\" height=\"1275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-687698857_super.jpg\" alt=\"Superfast growth involves making the right decisions\" class=\"wp-image-3378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-687698857_super.jpg 1675w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-687698857_super-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-687698857_super-1064x810.jpg 1064w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-687698857_super-1536x1169.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1675px) 100vw, 1675px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Good communication and showing how you can adding value will help you be successful as a virtual accountant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-show-how-you-can-have-a-better-overview-of-the-accounts\"><strong>Show how you can have a better overview of the accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many businesses will typically have an accountant on the team to do the day-to-day tasks, the month-end, prepare the year-end, tax filing and so on. Having you on-board as a virtual accountant creates an opportunity that wasn\u2019t there before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The in-house person provides a vital service for the business but they may not see something happening that could trigger an audit or impact cash flow in a year because they are too close to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By contracting a virtual CFO or accountant, the client business gets a new higher value service that can oversee the finance function and provide an element of mentoring to the in-house accountant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can help the staff accountant move beyond day-to-day detail and start thinking and working more strategically on a longer-term outlook \u2013 resulting in a hugely positive impact on the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For businesses, they can have an accountant with great experience, living in a smaller town, who can serve their needs for half the price of a typical CFO or accountant.&nbsp;For firms, virtual accountancy enables them to expand their own talent pool by looking at a much broader geography and casting their net much wider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-highlight-your-value-for-money-as-a-virtual-accountant\"><strong>Highlight your value for money as a virtual accountant<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With your virtual accountant proposition, there is scope for flexibility in terms of pricing and service bundles. Given the choice between the uncertainty of a monthly fee that varies with their fluctuating service requirements (that they can\u2019t budget for) and a fixed-price package combining all the services they need, including a virtual accountant, business owners are more comfortable with the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, communication of your added value has to be spot on. Otherwise, what prevents a client from deciding to use a practice just down the street instead of your services? If clients don\u2019t understand what they\u2019re getting for what they\u2019re paying, your virtual firm is going to run into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Demand for virtual accountancy services is growing, driven by clients who understand the role that a virtual CFO or accountant could play, without having to pay a full-time salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, that old adage \u201cout of sight, out of mind\u201d can still ring true. So make sure your communication works, that you are continuing to provide value and that your clients can clearly see the business benefits of the virtual services you are providing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The digital accountancy profession has evolved at a remarkable pace over the past few years. This evolution has been driven by the accelerated adoption of the cloud, which allows accountants to work more flexibly, remotely and virtually. As as virtual accountant, you are transforming the way that services are offered, creating some great opportunities for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":3393,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[16],"business_type":[115],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[67],"imagine_tag":[220],"coauthors":[463],"class_list":["post-3623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growth-customers","tag-grow-accounting-practice","business_type-accountants"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Jennifer Warawa","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-642320213_super.jpg","imagine_tags":{"220":"Accountant accounting"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/3393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=3623"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}