Get the head right and the body will follow

Richard Brewin • January 31, 2018

We all started with a dream, with a vision of how we wanted things to be.

For me it came in two parts. I was lured into the profession in 1981 by brochures showing accountants in hard hats on building sites, in wellies talking to farmers, in white coats talking to engineers, in suits talking to industrialists. I wanted to be that man engaging with his clients.

Part two came 12 years later. By then I was that partner in the photographs but I wasn’t happy and neither were my clients. The relationship wasn’t right. The profession had lost client focus.

So, I and my partner went alone with a clear vision, with the drive and motivation to create the firm of our dreams.

25 year later and we’ve ran our own firms ever since. We’ve learned many things through trial and error, luck and judgement. But the one thing we learned that made the difference, was that the phrase ‘going it alone’ was the ever-lurking weakness.

Being successful as your own boss means being an effective leader – of your business, of your team, of your clients.

Being an effective leader means being at the top of your game all day, every day. It means driving forwards with vision, confidence, clear communication, decisive decision making and clarity of purpose.

It means never losing sight of that dream.

And you can’t do that by ‘going it alone’.

There are times of self-doubt and indecision. Times when your confidence, energy and motivation slip. Times when the tiredness blurs your thoughts. Times when the pressure gets to you. Times when the dream seems out of reach or the path ahead looks foggy or just too damn hard.

Your leadership dips. Your performance dips. Your firm dips. Your relationships dip.

At those times, having a mentor to talk to, to put you back on track, is the difference between ‘good’ and ‘great’, the difference between ‘okay’ and ‘happy’, the difference between ‘it’s just how it is’ and ‘success’.

We know. We’ve been there.

Get you back on track and we get your firm back on track.

Our one 2 one mentoring sessions do just that.

Together.

The Art of Saying No Without Losing Clients

By Richard Brewin • December 5, 2025
In the Accountant/client relationship, “yes” often feels like the default. Yes to urgent requests. Yes to timeline shifts. Yes to “just one more thing” added to the scope. We want to say yes to our clients. We want to support them, be helpful and build more work, but every unqualified additional yes becomes an invisible cost; on your time, your margins, and your wellbeing.  Bold accountants think differently. They know that “no” isn’t rejection. It’s honest and professional. It’s a strategic decision that protects quality, strengthens relationships, and reinforces your value.

From compliance filer to trusted coach: The role waiting for accountants willing to start the client conversation

By Richard Brewin • November 28, 2025
Let’s be honest, most business owners have a perception of an accountant that probably falls far short of our ambitions. They want someone who helps them make sense of the chaos, plan for growth, and sleep better at night knowing someone’s got their back, but their accountant doesn’t usually spring to mind as this person. What they dream of is a coach, not an accountant, but, weirdly, they often don’t trust coaches but do trust their accountant. Their accountant can be both, so the client gets the trust and the coaching

AI in Accounting Firms: Key Considerations for Leaders Today

By Richard Brewin • November 17, 2025
Artificial Intelligence isn’t the future of accounting — it’s here now. From automating repetitive tasks to delivering deeper insights, AI is transforming the way we work, serve clients, and lead teams. But for firm leaders, success isn’t just about implementing technology; it’s about doing it strategically, responsibly, and humanely .  Before diving into the ‘how’ and making piecemeal decisions, accounting firm leaders need to consider the ‘why’…and its not as simple as “because everyone else is”.