We know that Australia’s economic outlook and future prosperity will rely heavily on the growth and productivity of the small-business sector. At the recent Xerocon event in Melbourne, I delivered a keynote address to hundreds of accountants and provided a vision of the future role of accountants in ensuring the future of small business in Australia is one of growth and prosperity. Accountants have
the capacity to be the future, trusted productivity adviser to small business and have a direct input to Australia’s economic wellbeing.
However, the role of trusted productivity adviser does not mean that accountants can provide all of the support and advice necessary to sustain the future of all small businesses. Rather, I believe accountants can play the central role in delivering a more holistic service to help small business grow.
This central role is about placing accountants in the centre of the circle of trusted advisers, connecting small businesses to other much needed services. So, rather than being a soloist, the accountant brings the whole orchestra to the table. I ask you to consider your networks and marry the many talents within your networks to meet the needs of your small-business clients.
This may include marketing and web-based services, lending arrangements, legal services – the list goes on. Some or all of these services may mean the diff erence between a small business growing or collapsing. However, our research shows that here in Australia, nine out of ten small businesses will turn to their accountants for advice. This is about understanding the needs of the client and expanding the role and the horizon of the trusted adviser.
Our Australian Small Business White Paper provides many sound policy recommendations and while we have presented this to the former minister for small business and other government officials, the role of fixing our looming productivity crisis, is not one for government alone. We must all do our part if we want to continue with the Australian lifestyle that we have enjoyed so much over the past 15 years.
I would encourage you to have a read of the white paper, which can be viewed at www.publicaccountants.org.au/whitepaper, and share it within your trusted circle of advisers as together we can all make a huge difference going forward.
Andrew Conway, FIPA FFA, is the IPA’s CEO
