Peer to peer groups: providing inspiration to those who share

Richard Brewin • March 12, 2018

There are two types of practicing accountant.

There are those who build walls around their firms. These accountants take an insular approach. They see all other accountants as competitors, the world as something to defend themselves against. Their ideas, successes, challenges and problems are things to be hidden away in their office for their eyes and ears only. They go it alone.

Then we have those who look to the horizons and see a wider profession, greater opportunities and new routes to be explored and learned. They see the differences in other accountants and what that may mean for themselves.  They see accountants as part of a community and not simply a foe.

Now, in any community we have likeminded people and we have people who simply don’t get us. We have people we like and those we are less keen on. We have people who make us feel comfortable in their company and those who don’t.

For those accountants who are like-minded, who understand us, who we like and who we are comfortable with, why would we not seek them out and spent time with them. They ‘get’ our world and we get there’s. That’s a good thing. It gives us a different perspective. It gives us an opportunity to be independent but not alone, a chance to belong to a community.

Peer group learning is widely recognised as an effective way of taking your firm forwards.

It’s creative, motivating, reassuring.

It’s also a lot of fun.

And fun matters. To quote one of our regulars, John Elstub, owner of Crimson Harvest in St Ives, Cambs:-

“ Like me (and my peers in the mastermind group) you can find that practice life can be so much better”

We facilitate and guide regular Mastermind group sessions in a positive, energetic and fun environment with groups of like-minded accountants all focussed on the common goal of improving their firms in the modern digital age.

‘Going it alone’ doesn’t have to mean working in isolation.

Open your horizons.

Being proactive is a culture, not a slogan

By Richard Brewin • June 27, 2025
Look at any accounting firm website and there is a fair chance that the word ‘proactive’ will be prominent. Ask some business owners and taxpayers whether they consider their accountant to be proactive.  There is commonly a gap between the two, between the intent of the accountant and the expectations of the client.

How tech helps us to rebuild our trusted advisor role

By Richard Brewin • June 23, 2025
The tag ‘Trusted Advisor’ gets bandied around a lot. Without trying to be deliberately contentious, I often challenge its use. Undoubtedly, accountants were once the trusted advisor to their clients. When I came into the profession 44 years ago now, the older partners, especially, were seen by their clients as their trusted advisor, their ‘go to’ person on any issues, business, family or personal, that were troubling them. Without the filing deadlines of today, these clients were with their accountant primarily because they valued the relationship rather than the products.

Why your accounting firm is unique

By Richard Brewin • June 5, 2025
All accountants are the same! We’ve all heard it said. It’s nonsense, of course, but, when you are asked what it is that your firm does that differentiates it from other accounting firms, it can be a challenge to come up with something tangible.  Accounting firms tend to offer similar services, that’s what makes them accounting firms. Differentiating from competitors based upon services provided is therefore an issue.