Advisory Part 1: Framing Advisory work

These three modules lay out how to best frame your advisory work: what advising is and how it differs from bookkeeping, consulting, and general accounting; how to ensure your advisory work is truly proactive and adds additional value your clients will want to pay for; and how to select a target audience and industry. You’ll leave this series ready to define your advisory services in a compelling, inspiring manner that will help you find and connect with the clients you want to work with.

MODULE 1: Defining Advisory

This module explains the different characteristics, work, and skills involved in bookkeeping, consulting services, and advisory services. You will learn how to create service packages to better scope your engagements and charge based on the value you provide your clients.

Learning Objectives: 

• Develop a plan to ensure the ongoing viability, growth, and profitability of your firm
• Understand why you need to incorporate consulting and advisory services to maximize what you can charge clients
• Walk through the qualities and skills needed to succeed in the three roles of bookkeeper, consultant, and advisor
• Examine how clients perceive the value of the services they receive
• Differentiate among the various services and roles that accountants provide

MODULE 2: Reactive vs Proactive Accounting 

This module explains the difference between reactive and proactive accounting and why the ability to combine both skill sets can set you apart and help boost your career. The module explains the many different roles proactive accounting can take and explains how to define your role clearly when working with a new client.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between traditional reactive accounting and proactive accounting
• Learn why advisory services can provide such value to clients
• Explore different ways and roles for providing proactive advisory services
• Learn how to define the role to play with your clients
• Gain insight into how to design projects and identify the job to be done with clients

MODULE 3: Target Audience and Industry Insights 

In this module, you'll learn all about how to choose your specialty as an accounting professional. Specialties can take many forms, from industry to the types of problems you solve. Learn how to choose the specialty that best fits you, connect with your target audience, and create a compelling introduction via your unique positioning statement. We’ll end by covering how you can provide insights unique to your industry.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the value of choosing a target audience and industry to specialize in
• Learn different factors to consider when choosing a specialty and methods for choosing
• Craft a unique positioning statement that crisply defines your specialty
• Learn tips for success in how you can effectively serve a specialized target audience 

Course Length: 4.5 hrs