Smithink - helping accountants turn their practices into great businesses

David Smith discusses with OpenInvest co-founder Andrew Varlamos how clients unwilling to pay for financial advice often make poor investment choices, potentially damaging their chances of a financially secure retirement. The webinar will highlight how accounting firms can help while also avoiding the regulatory burden that comes with the financial advice regime.

Many small businesses struggle with the strategic management of their business. They are often in the here and now of solving today's issues. Yet, we all know that taking a regular step back to review progress, set targets and develop plans is highly beneficial to ensure focus is maintained on the issues that matter over the longer term. Many small business people do not have the skills to establi...

Today's accountants and consultants need to consider providing high-level advisory services as well as compliance services to their selected clients. In this webinar we will cover how to be a proficient financial storyteller, extracting meaning from the numbers and help clients understand their financial story, using web-based techniques like the 4 Chapters, the Power of One, and the 3 Big Cash Fl...

Most firms find their senior people are often overloaded with work and have very little spare time. Yet it is these same people that need time to drive further growth and development of the firm. This webinar will highlight how firms can improve delegation so that additional capacity can be unlocked for your senior people. Presented by: David Smith, Smithink

Having completed the Exceptional Leadership, Recruitment, Selection and Training and Exceptional Customer Service programs at Disney University in Anaheim, California, Mark shares his insights on the hugely successful Disney management model of "on stage and off stage" service delivery and "over managing" through an attention to detail that drives success. Mark will also articulate the learnings i...

Recruitment seems to be getting harder and harder. Traditional channels have dried up. This webinar will explore different alternatives firms can consider as they hunt for staff and how firms can be positioned to give a competitive edge in recruitment.

Being in business is a constant battle of key decision making for an accounting firm's clients. Decisions like; "should I or should I not?" or "do I commit or do I not?" are often a regular occurrence. This session will show you the impact of key financial decisions before they are made using a simple graphical software solution. Any debit or credit can be shown and the consequences considered bef...

Driving the right behaviours from your people should be the objective of any accountability framework. In this webinar, David will highlight the accountability measures that firms can adopt that can be readily managed and drive desired outcomes. PRESENTED BY: David Smith

What will an accounting firm look like in the future? What will clients expect from us? Let's look forward and consider the future of the profession and what firms should be doing now to be successfully positioned in the years to come. Presented by: David Smith + Mark Holton, Smithink

With the advent of cloud technology, there are now a vast amount of dynamic, client focussed business advisory software solutions in the accounting market. Which one is best? Which one suits your firm and its current and planned service offerings? In this webinar, we will look at the primary solutions available at this time and link them to the type of services you currently want to offer in your...

Historical financial information is an important and often safe part in the provision of advice on business improvement, however, is it all that we should be using? Do clients really want to be looking backwards each quarter and discussing items they cannot change? Further, what happens if a firm cannot correlate the compliance data into advisory services? This webinar will concentrate on how to p...

Since the dawn of the profession, debate has raged about the optimum team structure for firms. In this webinar, David will highlight pros and cons of various structures and why one structure tends to create the best outcomes in terms of team member performance, delegation and accountability. PRESENTED BY: David Smith

With the new rules about audit independence for SMSFs now is the time for every firm to review their SMSF audit arrangements and choose an auditor that will deliver high quality services at the right price. David will review the issues and consider the options for firms wishing to get the most out of their SMSF audits and the criteria that should be used in selecting an auditor. PRESENTED BY: Davi...

This session will concentrate on the need for a business advisory implementation plan for accounting firms when undertaking business advisory work. Material covered will include; managing commitment and capacity issues, developing a proven implementation system for advisory work, selecting the right staff, appointing a business advisory champion and resourcing them, overcoming confidence and the c...

One of the best ways to get clients engaged and on deck with ongoing advisory services is by using strategic planning and engagement services. This webinar will demonstrate online how to engage clients and get them thinking about future business visions, goals and directions and your firm offering more recurrent advisory services. PRESENTED BY: Mark Holton, Smithink

Are you thinking about hiring external resources to assist you in your marketing? Before you do, listen to this webinar where we highlight the 17 things you should do before external help should be considered. Much of marketing is about process and consistency. We will highlight the key things you should consider in an effective marketing plan. Presented by: David Smith, Smithink

If you want to re-engineer your processes you need a goal. Perhaps that goal is to now eliminate the paper in your firm. It is possible - an increasing number of firms have been doing it. It needs a commitment to process change and a variety of technology solutions. Hear how firms have achieved their goals. PRESENTED BY: Mark Holton, Director

In this low growth world, it is difficult for firms to achieve substantial organic growth. An approach taken by many is to look to acquire fees to improve economies of scale and create a book for emerging leaders. However, care is needed. An ill conceived acquisition can be a disaster costing by time and money. In this webinar, we will highlight the key issues to be considered if you're thinking o...

Often in the accounting industry, we are asked to sit on boards of not for profit organisations. One consideration is "should I accept the appointment?" The other is the benefit of helping others, doing "your bit" for the community and growing your network of contacts. This web session will focus on my experience and the personal benefits gained from working with charities and other not for profit...

David will share his predictions on what he thinks accounting firms will be implementing ongoing coming out of COVID-19. PRESENTED BY: David Smith

We have changed our May topic to consider what firms are doing in quasi-advisory to support clients in these unforeseen times. Mark will summarise his observations and highlight some ideas that you may wish to build into your business advisory plans leading out of the COVID-19 crisis. Presented by: Mark Holton, Smithink

We changed our April webinar topic to consider what firms are doing practically in these unusual times. David will summarise his observations to highlight some ideas that you may wish to build into your plans. Presented by: David Smith, Smithink

Dealing with succession can often be a very stressful time. Many often put their head in the sand not wanting to acknowledge the problem. Many resist the idea that they need to plan to exit the firm. Firms that have a well considered plan have achieved an almost seamless succession with no angst or disruption. In this webinar, David will highlight the elements of a successful succession plan which...

Historical financial information is an important and often safe part in the provision of advice on business improvement, however, is it what we should be using? Do clients really want to be looking backwards each quarter and discussing the same old points? Should we be using up to date representative data? These are all great questions however what happens if the data is not totally accurate or ma...

Every practitioner has a desire to be a holistic adviser to their clients to assist them in building their business and addressing their whole financial needs. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. Resource, deadline and regulatory constraints get in the way. Skills to engage effectively with clients to unlock their goals and concerns are required. Success can be achieved but it requires a plan...