Issue #26 - It's most likely an alignment problem
Build a Chatbot in 10 Minutes + A Sound Bath for Your Brain?
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Small change, big difference
It’s two weeks before the tax deadline, and Sarah, a tax preparer, is racing through last-minute filings. She opens a file from the firm’s bookkeeper, expecting a smooth review, only to find missing details, unclear categorizations, and transactions that need clarification. Now, she’s stuck in a frustrating email chain, waiting for answers while the deadline looms.
The problem? A system built for conflict.
Bookkeepers and tax pros approach financials from different angles. Bookkeepers focus on daily transactions, categorizing expenses, and keeping records clean, while tax preparers zero in on compliance, tax strategy, and minimizing liabilities. But when these roles work in silos, misalignment happens, creating extra work, frustration, and delays.
Sound familiar? It doesn’t have to be this way.
One small change can make a big difference: Create a structured workflow that keeps bookkeepers and tax pros aligned.
✅ Clear responsibilities—no guessing or duplicate work
✅ Proactive communication—fewer last-minute questions
✅ Consistent documentation—so tax season runs smoothly
When workflows are structured, bookkeepers avoid surprise changes, tax pros get cleaner books, and clients stay out of the crossfire.
Bookkeepers get frustrated when tax pros change things without explanation. Tax pros get frustrated when they inherit messy books. And clients? They just want things done right without being stuck in the crossfire.
Nancy McClelland, CPA
Get the full scoop from Nancy McClelland and start improving collaboration today!
Community 🫶
Get Ready to GET ORGANIZED!
Feeling scattered, overwhelmed, and drowning in client work? It’s time to take control! Join Justine Lackey for The GET ORGANIZED! Challenge—a free 3-day event designed to help bookkeepers and accountants streamline workflows, deliver 5-star client service, and finally get organized for good.
Don’t let disorganization hold you back from building a profitable business. Register now and take the first step toward a business that works for YOU.
Build a ChatBot in Under 10 Minutes Like Kellie Parks
Thinking about adding a chatbot to your website but worried it’s too complicated? Think again! Kellie Parks, CPB, recently set up a chatbot in under 10 minutes, proving that automation doesn’t have to be intimidating. Whether you do it yourself or delegate, a chatbot can modernize your site, engage visitors, and provide instant assistance with minimal effort.
So why not give it a go? It’s easier (and more fun) than you think.
Read Kellie’s experience and see how simple it is!
Financial Cents' Tax Season Wellness Breaks: Sound Bath Tomorrow!
Join us tomorrow, March 7, for a Sound Bath session—a 30-minute virtual wellness break designed to help you recharge. Close your eyes, breathe deep, and let the calming sounds melt away tension.
How to Set Up for the Best Experience: Use headphones or speakers, turn off sound notifications, and get comfy!
PS: Right after tomorrow's session, we’ll hold a fun live raffle and give away a wellness gift pack to one lucky participant, as well as our limited edition "Tax Season Hero Swag!”
H🔥t today
The Future of Work: Redefining the Office by 2025
In a recent Journal of Accountancy podcast, Jennifer Wilson, CEO of ConvergenceCoaching LLC, discussed the evolving dynamics of workplace models and their implications for the accounting profession.
Key Insights:
Diverse Perspectives on Work Models: There's a growing divide between firms advocating a return to traditional office settings and those embracing remote or hybrid models. This divergence presents both challenges and opportunities in talent management and operational efficiency.
Emphasis on Language: Wilson advises against using the term "back" when discussing work arrangements, suggesting it may imply regression rather than progress.
Shared Responsibility in Development: Both organizations and employees share the responsibility for continuous learning and skill enhancement, regardless of the chosen work model.
Fostering Team Unity: In dispersed work environments, intentional efforts are crucial to maintaining team cohesion and a unified organizational culture.
As firms navigate these shifts, understanding and adapting to diverse work preferences will be essential in shaping the future workplace.
Leadership Insight: Creating a Culture That Retains Top Talent
Employee departures often stem from more than just salary concerns—they’re about workplace culture, growth opportunities, and feeling valued. Amy Vetter shares how firms can foster an environment where employees want to stay and thrive.
Key Strategies:
Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer adaptable schedules and remote work options to support employees' personal commitments and well-being.
Professional Development: Invest in continuous learning opportunities, mentorship programs, and clear career progression paths to keep employees engaged and motivated.
Positive Work Environment: Cultivate a culture of recognition, open communication, and mutual respect to enhance job satisfaction and loyalty.
By focusing on these areas, firms can create a culture that attracts and retains top talent, leading to sustained success and growth.
Read Amy Vetter’s full insights: Why Your People Leave: Creating a Culture That Makes Them Want to Stay
Swipe this workflow template
Swipe John Miscavage’s Not-for-Profit Audit Request List Workflow Template.
Get more templates from firm owners like you in our community template library.
Meme
Relatable? 😂
Busy Season Corner
Join #HealthyEatsForTaxSeason Challenge this month
Here’s how to join:
📸 Share a pic or video of the meals you ate this week with the hashtag #HealthyEatsForTaxSeason.
🏷️ Tag us @FinancialCents on LinkedIn, Facebook, & X, OR you can send us the pictures via DM/email address (social@financial-cents.com)
🎁 We’ll randomly pick winners for some awesome prizes, including a bakeware set, grilling thermometer, etc.
Let’s make tax season easier, one healthy bite at a time.
Wall of Positivity
Share a word of encouragement or motivation with thousands of accountants and bookkeepers on the Wall of Positivity!
Noteworthy
Workflow Live with Jenna Rodriguez": Calm, Collected and Compliant!
Tax season chaos? Not on Jenna Rodriguez’s watch. In this deep dive, Jenna, Managing Accountant, walks through her go-to 1040 and 1120 Tax Return templates, the same ones that keep her team organized and on track year after year.
If you’re looking for a proven system to streamline tax prep, reduce errors, and keep your sanity intact, you won’t want to miss this.
Watch the full breakdown here!
Get Jenna’s 1040 & 1120 workflow templates
Firm Spotlight: How Nash Financial Solutions Keeps Up with 300 Tax Clients
Kathy Nash has been in the tax game for over 30 years, running Nash Financial Solutions with a small but mighty team. With 300 clients to serve, staying on top of everything used to be a juggling act—chasing down documents, managing tasks, and keeping track of who needed what.
That all changed when she ditched the manual chaos and set up workflows that actually worked. Automated client requests? Game-changer. Centralized task tracking? No more things slipping through the cracks. The result? Less stress, more efficiency, and a firm that runs smoothly, even during the busiest seasons.
If you’re still drowning in emails and sticky notes, maybe it’s time to rethink how you work.
Until Next Time,
