{"id":6645,"date":"2020-04-16T16:52:16","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T15:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=6645"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:05:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T15:05:31","slug":"coronavirus-accountants-support-clients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/coronavirus-accountants-support-clients\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: How accountants can offer support to their clients"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStrategy, Legal & Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCoronavirus: How accountants can offer support to their clients\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Keir\t\t\t\tKeir Thomas-Bryant<\/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\n\n

There\u2019s little doubt that the disruption created by coronavirus (COVID-19) presents challenges to businesses. But how can your accountancy practice offer support to your clients at this time of uncertainty?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By putting a series of steps in place to support your clients and offer value, not only will you be able to help them, you\u2019ll also be able to position your practice and your team as trusted advisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we share some pointers that will help your clients. Plus, there\u2019s advice from accountants on what they are doing to support their client bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five ways to support your clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia Wedgwood is the product manager for accountants at Sage and a familiar face within the accountant community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, she suggests several things your practice can do to give your clients the support they are looking for as they tackle challenges due to coronavirus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Provide the right knowledge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Understand what client knowledge of some areas around the emergency coronavirus government legislation might be limited \u2013 and be prepared to fill that gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, furloughing staff may require knowledge of employment and contract law. Accountants may already have this knowledge and, if not, they\u2019re better placed to learn about it than the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Offer clarity around financial support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Help your clients understand what financial support is available to them, and that measures are at their disposal, such as the COVID-19 Working Capital Loan Scheme<\/a> and grant offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to segment your client base based on who is likely to require more help, or who may need certain kinds of funding or support from the emergency legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might even create group video meetings with these clients, or webinars, to discuss what they can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Support with loan applications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Be prepared to offer the support clients need to get through grant or loan applications. You may need to provide key financial reports for them, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these applications are going to be vital for their continuation in these trying times, and is therefore vital for them remaining as a client for your firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Provide technical support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With in-person client meetings on hold for now, your clients will be working with you remotely to go over their financials. If they need support with their cloud accounting software to do this, you\u2019ll be in a good position to help them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By providing support around this area of remote working<\/a>, you could offer a valuable service to your clients. Any help you can offer will be undoubtedly warmly received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Communicate regularly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ensure you keep in touch with your clients so they don\u2019t feel abandoned. Some of the conversations you have could be more emotional than usual, and will certainly cover different topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But your ability to provide an overview of a company\u2019s finances and to apply this to the emergency offerings from the government and elsewhere has never been more vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Webinar: Coronavirus business financial support<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Join our free webinar to understand what Irish government financial help is available and how to access it.<\/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\tFind out more<\/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\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tips from accountants working with their clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to two accountants to see what plans they have in place and to see how they\u2019re handling the disruption with regard to their clients and their own practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicky Larkin is managing director and founder of Goringe Accountants<\/a>. Emily Smith is practice manager at Finlayson & Co<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with Wedgwood, Larkin and Smith share some tips you can use at your practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Be there for your clients by listening and offering advice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy practice as a whole is making sure that we\u2019re talking to all of our clients,\u201d says Larkin. \u201cWe\u2019re finding every single possible way to ensure that their businesses can survive the next 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m splitting my time between doing that with the clients and also providing different webinars and guidance to the business community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic and common-sense measures are needed, says Wedgwood, but it\u2019s not always the case that they\u2019re in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She adds: \u201cI\u2019ve seen a few instances where the accountants are saying the office is closed. But is that the right way of phrasing it? Most are still functioning. Think about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo clients have mobile contact numbers, so they\u2019re able to get in touch with you? Is the main office number diverted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccountants are used to working in offices. However, what\u2019s called for is a whole change in environment. So make use of the resources and support that\u2019s available to help. But keep in touch. Find ways to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has not been a problem for Finlayson & Co, which has taken a proactive approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re being there for our clients,\u201d says Smith. \u201cWe\u2019re engaging with them by email and our Facebook page daily. We\u2019re assisting where we can with loan applications and any details required for grants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unchartered territory for us all but being able to help clients provides a good feeling during these troubling times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clients are likely to need help with knowledge of the government schemes put in place due to the coronavirus outbreak, many of which have caveats attached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom clients comments, they are very appreciative of our efforts,\u201d continues Smith. \u201cWe\u2019ve even had non-clients contact us because of our streamlined advice on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re offering telephone support even outside of work hours, so if they\u2019re struggling processing grant applications or help with accounts to access a loan, we\u2019re there for them when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larkin adds that her firm began taking an advisory role when the seriousness of coronavirus became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: \u201cThe first thing we asked them was: \u2018Can you diversify?\u2019 For example, some of the restaurants are now doing home delivery services instead and things like that. There are hotels offering beds temporarily to hospital staff. Because we\u2019ve all got to just help each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Enable home working for you and your clients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing in the cloud has made the change to working from home seamless,\u201d says Smith. \u201cIt means the outbreak had almost had no effect on what work we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that\u2019s needed for cloud software is some kind of computing device. For most practices, this might be a laptop, but it could just as easily be a tablet computer. Of course, a standard desktop computer can also be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those practices not yet in the cloud \u2013 or perhaps not fully \u2013 there are other solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got clients that are on desktop apps,\u201d says Larkin. \u201cA virtual desktop is the solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A virtual desktop lets you access a desktop PC from outside the office by viewing its screen as if you\u2019re sitting in front of it. Microsoft Windows 10 comes with this feature built-in<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The technology that\u2019s in place today means you and your clients have the tools to keep moving. And you can maintain social distancing too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: \u201cIf you\u2019ve been sending payslips out, distribute them online. If clients are in the habit of dropping off receipts, get them to take pictures and send them to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have the automation tools there ready and waiting. Rather than sending out invoices and quotes, get them to generate the documents electronically and distribute them electronically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wedgwood adds that some organisations are using video conferencing for their meetings. There\u2019s no reason why your practice can\u2019t do this too when meeting with clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: \u201cFree video services are available but remember that some of these are less than secure. However, Microsoft Teams is a great choice and comes as part of an existing Office 365 subscription, so you will almost certainly find you have what you need already.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Help in the short term and look to the future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Wedgwood, practices are likely seeing high client demand for short-term guidance. Much of this will be non-revenue generating but there\u2019s never been a more important time to be responsive to client demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She adds: \u201cThere\u2019s obviously an immediate need to help clients keep trading and to reassure them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey need help with the pressure on working capital and relationships. They need help with forecasting cash flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMuch of your traditional compliance work, such as helping with VAT and income tax, can take a back seat because the government has postponed immediate requirements \u2013 although clients still need to know the impact of coronavirus on their tax timelines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larkin adds: \u201cThe first thing has to be creating a cash flow forecast to ensure clients can see what gaps they may have. Then they can work out how to fill it \u2013 for example, via loans, upfront payments, or diversifying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion on supporting your clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The concept of a trusted adviser has never been more relevant. As your clients seek guidance during difficult times, offering support to help their businesses keep moving is vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By going the extra mile to provide the assistance that your clients \u2013 both existing and new \u2013 require at this time, not only will you be helping them to get through times of uncertainty, you\u2019ll also give your practice the best opportunity to keep thriving both now and in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And your role as a trusted adviser will be there for all to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coronavirus and your business<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve gathered information and resources to help navigate this situation. You can also find out about support for Sage solutions, including enabling home working.<\/p>\n

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