Recent research from the Forum of Small Business revealed a 20 per cent drop in the number of clients going to practitioners for advice since 2004, highlighting the need for accountants to offer increasingly personalised and valued advice. With clients using the Internet to source information more often, accountants really need to combine their industry knowledge with an in depth awareness of clients’ individual needs. In addition, changing deadlines and the regular emergence of new legislation means that accountants need to be more adaptable than ever. Simon Crompton, General Manager of MYOB, comments on their evolving role.

“The fact that more clients are going to the internet for basic advice should not be too much of a worry for the adaptable accountant. It is true that small businesses and individuals alike are increasingly using the Web to source information but this does not make the accountant’s role as an advisor redundant.