Facilitating business planning is an important role.
Business Advisory Services Update
Accountants can add real value to an SME by proactively facilitating the business planning process. Most businesses relate far better in the business planning process if it is facilitated by an advisor that the business knows but is not involved as part of the day to day team within the business.
This concept fits very well into the understanding of accountants providing virtual CFO services.
It is a good idea to encourage your client to think about their business prior to a formal meeting with the remainder of the leadership team. The CEO of an SME is involved in a wide range of business activities day-in-day-out. What is needed is for the CEO to be able to turn up to the business planning process with a clear mind and an outline of issues for discussion, so that the entire leadership team is part of the development of the firm’s vision.
You could supply some background briefing notes on the issues that you believe require further attention.
As a facilitator in conjunction with your client, you would be the organiser of the agenda for the business planning meeting. There are many benefits for having the business planning meeting remote from the office – interruptions are minimised. There are benefits from distributing the briefing material 3 days beforehand including:
- Financial accounts for the previous financial year
- Interim financial accounts for the current year
- Cash flow analysis
- Overview of major projects that have been commenced
- Comparisons to budget in the current financial year
- Customers
- Suppliers
- Team
- New projects
ESS BIZTOOLS has developed a comprehensive range of resources, including extensive material relative to the preparation of the business plan that will assist accountants to offer Business Advisory Services to SME clients.
