The Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC)  held it's first annual conference in Richmond, BC in late September 2012. One of many breakout sessions was a panel titled: "How bookkeepers can add value (and get paid more as a result)"

Track #5 How Bookkeepers can Add Value started promptly at @ 4:30pm PST, Friday afternoon September 21st 2012. The highlight for me was panelist Jeff MacFarlane with a bold statement that we need bookkeepers to act as 'relationship managers' between clients and accountants because accountants hate talking to clients and would rather work on the technical aspects and leave the relationship management to someone else.  

The participants broke into discussion groups to discuss ways that bookkeepers could become invaluable. Participants shared suggestions about what bookkeepers could do including:

1. Customer Relationship Management which could be scanning business cards, to upload to Outlook to data mine for options
2. Client Portal to provide clients and accountants with access to bookkeeper's data
3. Goal setting with clients
4. Using Client Track to remind both clients and accountants about deadlines
5. Developing strategic alliances
6. Monthly Newsletters
7. Estate and Power of Attorney record keeping
8. Providing advice and direction to clients and accountants about bookkeeping (believe it or not, many accountants don't do bookkeeping and aren't afraid to admit it...)

Thank you to the three accounting professionals experienced in adding value shared stories and provided tips for bookkeepers including these useful links for further reading:  appre 

Presentation PowerPoint Panelists Ken Richardson, CGA, Partner EPR Coquitlam Ken's Handout Jeff MacFarlane, CA, T2Canada.ca Susan Haines, CGA, Director of Finance, Kryton Susan's handout Government Parliament of Canada Auditor General of Canada Canadian Court System Finance Minister Canada Revenue Agency Go to the Site Map for an overview  Provincial gov't website links International International Taxation Office - CRA Tax Treaties: Canada's conventions Transfer Pricing Foreign Pensions IIA Internal Audits Libraries Fraser Valley Richmond Toronto Vancouver Zinio New: Digital copies of your favourite magazines now at your local library Professional Associations CGA Canada Public Practice Manual IPBC