New Clients

New Clients

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I attended a meeting today with a potential new client. They got my practice details from Business Pages. The meeting was dreadful - the clients requirements were different than when we had discussed them on the phone. Much more complex, significantly more work and I left with the feeling that they wanted a qualified accountant to produce Report and Accounts and management accountsoffice/dogsbody at bookkeeping prices(book keeping was how they described the work although they had a bookkeeper which they described as an admin assistant) or as they put it someone who could muck in and do anything if they were busy and come in at short notice. I spent the journey home worrying about how I would word the service level agreement to protect myself and manage the customers expectations. I didn't want summoning because someone hadn't turned up or was on holiday and I didn't want my existing clients to suffer.

When I was at the meeting - which turned out to be a two man interview panel I was asked if I'd brought my CV and the details of two referees. This made me wonder what do other accountants take out with them when visit new clients and do you expect to be grilled? I had done some research on the company before I went so I had done some preparation and I've no problems supplying referees from amongst my clients but I was a bit gobsmacked when they asked me why I wanted the job, how I would fit in to their organisation and asked to talk about previous employment.

As I was leaving they told me that they were interviewing some more candidates(wonder if they know whats coming) and they would let me know if I'd been successful. I've everything crossed that I'm not successful because I've had time to reflect and I can do without the problems this client might bring.

LB

Replies (20)

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By User deleted
22nd Feb 2008 19:53

Beware of Clipboard Clients
I too have fallen prey to this sort of client. When I first started in practice several years ago I naively went to be "interviewed" by a potential new client, was offered the job, and soon came to regret it. They spoke to me with contempt, tried to bully me and generally treated me like their lackey. After one particulary abrasive meeting which left me literally shaking, I realised I was a long way from the respected professional adviser I intended to be, composed a disengagement letter, and never looked back. Since then I have seen other "clipboard clients", as I like to call them - the ones who come to the intial meeting armed with a list of personal questions to prove I am worthy to be their accountant. Some do actually come armed with the proverbial clipboard! I am always quick to take control of the meeting, and point out politely but firmly that it is not appropriate for them to interview me. You soon realise that not all clients are worth taking on.

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By User deleted
20th Feb 2008 18:24

Difficult one
LB you probably were onto a no win with these sexist individuals and have made a lucky escape.

Its difficult to judge a potential client sometimes. Do you think they sensed you were desperate for work if you were prepared to travel 2 hours to meet with them. I dont think many established profitable firms would have entertained the idea and they took advantage. Not nice people! Perhaps the only lesson is not to offer to go so far to meet a potential client next time - make them come to you.

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David Winch
By David Winch
20th Feb 2008 18:21


I hope you told them that being gay and HIV positive there was not much chance of your having children - but you would be requiring wheelchair access to the office some time in the next 12 months or so!

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By pauljohnston
20th Feb 2008 17:37

So sorry
that you lost the contract. As others have said you wikll be able to sleep at night and make a profit.

But just think of the lucky blighter that got the job. I would guess that some of his clients will be lookingto move as their current accountant will be out of the office 1 day a week.

I think that we have all learnt from your experience and I wonder how many readers have taken on such a client but did not find out until too late - I did and suffered.

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By User deleted
20th Feb 2008 13:23

Great
Sex AND age discrimination all rolled into one!

Take them to a tribunal. I dare you!

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By User deleted
20th Feb 2008 12:30

The client ask me to attend their premises
Point taken - but I normally see clients in the office but in this case I was asked to attend the clients premises a two hour round trip. I charge for book keeping inline with the local rates. When I attended the meeting the work turned out not to be bookkeeping and would have been charged at a higher rate and they were asking for a qualified accountant. to work in their office. I presume I was not flexible because they wanted an even cheaper rate than bookkeeping because it was regular work and I wasn't available at the drop of a hat.

A selection of some of the questions as well as CV etc were - number of children, did I plan any more, my age, what my husband did and when I planned to retire. When I questioned what this had to do with anything I was told they once employed a clerk who was nearly 50 when she had a baby, they kept her job open and then she didn't come back!

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 18:27

No thanks
I am in total agreement with others on this one - stay well clear. As for asking for a CV...!

I think the only useful point to come from this is just perhaps you are giving potential clients the wrong impression. I strongly suspect a firm perceived to be professional firm, that charges accordingly, wouldnt have been subjected to the grilling you had.

I dont mean this with any disrespect whatsover but I imagine you work from home and the client mis-judged you accordingly. If it had been a potential client visiting an accountants office I'd be very surprised if this had happened.

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By AnonymousUser
19th Feb 2008 13:32

sorry you didn't get the job
keep sending out your CV and better luck next time.

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 13:18

Panic over
I didn't get time to post the letter. I've had a call to say they didn't wish to engage me - I'm not flexible enough. I'm currently cartwheeling round the room. Lesson learned if this ever happens again I'll stop the interview and quietly leave.

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 12:47

Grillings
LB (I hate it when people use thier initials!), you asked a question, whether accountants expect to be grilled? From my experience, it is a resounding no!

I very rarely get asked about my background, occassionally about my qualifications; "so are you chartered?" "I'm a chartered management accountant" "that's good enough for me"

Most clients when choosing an accountant don't even see more than one.

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 10:50

You are self employed!
You are not an employee, you do not do everything a client asks without question. What self employed professionals do is consider whether they can (or want to) provide what the client wants and if the answer is no they can decline to act for them at any time. I'd be willing to provide testimonials and a background summary but never a reference and full cv unless it was an employment with the associated guaranteed hours, pay, sick leave etc.

What this client is looking for is someone desperate for work (eg newly set up) who will run at their beck and call without charging them for it.

If you agree you can bet your bottom dollar they will be trying to keep you at this low rate, or even lower next time. Let them find someone else as you will always resent how little you get out of it and they will always moan whatever you do (this type tend to not supply information needed and then blame you for not completing your now impossible task). This type are usually bad at paying on time and taking on someone else as well. Have confidence in yourself and look for other more suitable work. You'll be glad you did.

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By shaunmcguinness
19th Feb 2008 10:34

Steer clear!
As othere people have said it sounds like a recipe for disaster and I agree. Don't touch it unless you want loads of hassle. Or if you do then make sure the fee is veryhigh to reflect what sort of service they will DEMAND!
Good luck - I know what I would do.

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 10:31

Thanks for the replies
Thank you I needed a hug from fellow accountants - I was wondering if I was out of step and people were now produced lavish CV's etc. I've never had such a horrible experience whilst being self employed. My original plan was that the bookkeeping could have been done by the bookkeeper in my practice. When I went to see the client they made it clear this wouldn't do. They wanted a qualified accountant who would work in their office, no doubt with a quill pen and figureless gloves. I calculated that for an eight hour day I would take home £75 after tax, national ins, the cost of getting there and travelling time. This doesn't factor in any other overheads associated with running my office and a loss of existing client goodwill when I'm not in to take phonecalls for a day.

I'm going to write to them and tell them I'm not interested I'll stack supermarket shelves first.

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Me!
By nigelburge
19th Feb 2008 10:02

AS others have said.........
Don't touch this with a bargepole and steer well clear.

It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen and one of those jobs that will take up an inordinate amount of time, effort and worry for which you will not get paid (very much).

Also, if ANYTHING goes wrong with this client, who do you think they are going to blame? That's right - YOU!!! Even if it is absolutely nothing to do with you.

Let some other mug take on this client and just breathe a big sigh of relief that it is not you. I know it is hard to refuse work but you do have to do so sometimes.

(I speak from personal experience of exactly this sort of potential client)

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By neileg
19th Feb 2008 09:50

Don't wait
I would write a straightforward, but polite letter, pointing out that you don't want to work with them.

Now we have to do MLR checks on clients, I don't think that a reverse process should put you off. But the content of the interview has clearly left you unsettled and that's not a good way to start a long term relationship.

Life's too short to worry about things like this.

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By AnonymousUser
19th Feb 2008 09:41

eww!
Sounds awful, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.
I had a client like that once, and felt infinitely better once I'd left. If you're self employed, you don't want to feel like an employee, nor that you're not in control.
If you do 'get the job', I'd tell them you don't want them!

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 09:07

you can always refuse....
If you are unlucky enough to be offered this work there is no reason why you cannot simply say "no thanks".

I know that means turning down income but some income is simply not worth the hassle, and you would be blocking up time which could be more profitably used on other (future) clients.

And you would almost certainly regret taking it on.

It seems that the potential client (employer?) doesn't understand what is on offer and you could/should have made that clear to him at the interview (meeting?).

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By simong0516
19th Feb 2008 09:03

Surely it's up to you?
Either tell them you're not interested if you really don't want it or price the work accordingly and make it worth your while if you do get it.

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By AnonymousUser
19th Feb 2008 08:35

CV etc
when I go along to see potential new clients, I bring my CV, passport, drivers licence and 2 household bills for ID etc.
When I am being interviewed I try and not fidget too much. I also try and maintain eye contact as well.
I think it is important to build a good rapport and I refer to them as sir and madam etc.
The day before I do a little research.
I tend not to ask too many questions as I feel they might think I am a little nosy.
I am not sure my interview technique is very good, as I have had no new clients for almost 2 years now.
With a bit of luck you will sign that one up.

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By User deleted
19th Feb 2008 08:15

Hope it doesnt pay off
Sounds like the type of client that wants everything done, when they want it done, but are not wiling to pay for it.

From experience, this is the type of client that will never respect the job you do for them, and will blame you for any errors that occur, whether or not your own fault, as you are the accountant.

I would also steer well clear

G

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