Lean on me: the benefits of hiring an accountant on call

Picture this: You’re driving along the road on the way to an important meeting. All of a sudden you hear your engine sputtering. Your car lurches forward and then grinds to a halt. You’re stuck on the side of a busy road and you really need to get to that meeting. Suddenly you think of a good friend who works nearby. You could call a taxi to get to your meeting, and then ask your friend to abandon whatever they’re doing and get your car towed to a nearby work station. Your mate is reliable and trustworthy, and you would be comfortable both with letting them choose a good repair shop and driving your car.

You dial up your friend, who agrees to help you out. They rush over and take the keys of your car just as your taxi arrives. You arrive at your destination in time and walk into your meeting with an air of triumph.

As you pictured this scenario, did a particular friend come to mind? A longstanding pal who would be willing to do anything for you, and whom you would trust with your life in return? If you thought of someone easily, count yourself lucky for having such a person in your life. If you didn’t, don’t worry – you can always get an accountant on call, which is kind of like the professional equivalent. Skeptical? Here are a few reasons why having an accountant on call is similar to having an old trusted friend you can call when you’re in a bind.

An accountant on call provides services unconditionally

We all know those “conditional” friends. If you invite them to a party, they want to know who else is coming before they accept. They’ll tell you to come over for a braai and then cancel last minute because they’re tired. There are professionals like that as well. For example, they’ll provide consulting services only if you sign a long list of terms and conditions. An accountant on call is there to help you in whatever way you need it, for as long as you need it, until you’re happy that the job is complete. They’re not caught up in the fine print, and they’re not trying to stick to a consulting brief and then on-sell more services at an additional cost.

An accountant on call keeps their service commitments

We’ve all had experiences with service providers who claim to provide “any day support” but when you phone up for help they’re “unfortunately unavailable until next week”. No one needs friends like that in their lives, and no one needs professionals like that either. The great news is that an accountant on call is neither. If they commit to helping you when you need it, they will come through for you when it still matters. Even if you’ve left it to the last day to submit your tax returns or your year-end coincides with the end of year break!

An accountant on call will help you complete the tasks you can’t do yourself

Let’s go back to our scenario. If your friend hadn’t been available at the time you needed them, and willing to make the sacrifice, you would never have been able to make your meeting. In the same way, an accountant on call will help take care of tasks you don’t have the time or skills for so that you can meet your organizational goals. Whether it be allowing you more time strategise or meet with the right people, or whether it be helping you with a complicated tax question or assisting you with the implications of a possible merger, they’re here to help you achieve more than you could have without them.

As the saying goes “I don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends I can be certain of”. Do your business the same favour and engage an accountant on call. Contact The Finance Team to find out how a finance professional can help you as and when you need it.

Photo credit: © Eugeniy Chernetcov | Dreamstime.com