Accountants

SERVICES TO ACCOUNTANTS

A Letter to the Professional Accountant from our Senior Partner:

As the Professional Accountant, you are usually the first to recognize a business problem at your client. You have probably pointed the problem out to your client's managers or owners and may have suggested some remedies.

As happens in all too many instances, the client has not taken your concerns to heart. I have found over the years that many outside accountants are reluctant to "push" these matters too hard for fear of aggravating the client to the point where they may look for other accountants.

What is even more frustrating (to me) is the reluctance on the part of many outside accountants to recommend another business professional to their client. Perhaps this stems from a feeling on the part of the accountant to the effect that..."we can handle any business or financial problems of our client.." to the fear of bringing in anyone that has a strong financial as well as an operating background.

Sometimes, there is also the concern over sending in your people to perform special work with the twin fears that your client will not be happy and that you will face a write-off.

I spent ten years in public accounting as well as six years as a CFO of a public company before devoting my full efforts to working with troubled companies. I have dealt with these events from both sides of the ledger, so to speak.

We share the same objective: Helping your client to run a more successful business. In addition, we both know that the sooner one attacks a problem the better the chances of solving it. By recommending an experienced specialist to a troubled client, you are enhancing your position with the client and will be part of the solution rather than an obstacle to it. Doesn't it make more sense for you to suggest and lead the effort to bring in a specialist than allow someone else to have the opportunity to work around you?

I invite you to review some of the more blunt queries that have been put to us and our responses thereto by clicking on "Who We Are." For a more comprehensive description of our approach and what it is that we bring to the table, click here. Click on "Experience" for a sampling of the industries in which we have operated and synopses of cases.

Robert N. Seidman
Bob@rnseidman.com

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