On the hot seat: Another Answer - Large Practice of the Year 2019
While winning our second Luca back in November was fantastic, seeing a customer recognised for their outstanding achievements was even better. We caught up with Sylvia Bourhill, Managing Director of Another Answer, to get her reaction to their win.
AccountancyManager: Congratulations on the Luca! How does it feel?
Sylvia Bourhill: Just wonderful. I wasn't expecting it at all, it was a last minute decision to enter, but I'm so glad we did.
AM: Why do you think you won?
SB: It's a case of going deeper than just 'our clients say great things about us'. Over the past few years we've been committed to developing four key areas - business growth, training, digital accounting and - as always - the success of our clients. Winning the Luca for Small Practice of the Year in 2015 and now winning 2019's Large Practice of the Year means we've certainly achieved the business growth!
AM: What about the training, is that for staff or clients?
SB: Both. As well as a commitment to the development of Another Answer staff, I provide Quickbooks training to our clients - which crosses over with our focus on digital accounting. In terms of my personal growth, I recieve business coaching through ActionCOACH.
AM: And how about the digital accounting side of things?
SB: Our goal is a completely paperless office - with an equal focus on cyber security. We use AccountancyManager to store all our resources and client documentation.
AM: What made you choose AccountancyManager in the first place?
SB: Consolidation. We were using two separate systems for our engagement letters, client management and workflows. With AccountancyManager, we got all the features we needed in one. The integration with Companies House is handy too, for quickly pulling in data. When it integrates with QuickBooks too, the cycle will be complete.
AM: What's your favourite thing about AccountancyManager, now you've been using it for a while?
SB: That everything is in one place, if I need something, there's only one place I need to look. For my staff it's the workflow management and automation of client requests that keeps them happy. We use it for different purposes.
AM: So, what's next for Another Answer?
SB: More growth! As part of my coaching we write congratulatory letters to ourselves for goals we want to achieve, then open them a few months later. I need to make sure I deserve the next congratulations!