Do You Know a Good Accountant?

If you're an accountant, chances are you've been asked this question at least once this week.
 

"Do you know a good accountant?" 

Or perhaps: 

"Do you know a good bookkeeper?" 

"We’re hiring in our accounting department, do you know anyone?" 

For years, in my accounting firm, these questions came down the phone or through my email with remarkable consistency. Clients trusted us, so naturally they assumed we had an endless supply of talented accountants, bookkeepers, payroll specialists, and finance managers tucked away somewhere. 

The reality was a little different. 

Like most firms, we had a handful of trusted people we'd worked with before. A few "pet" candidates who had proven themselves over the years. But there are only so many times you can recommend the same people before they're fully occupied. 

Eventually the conversation would move to the next stage. 

"We've found someone. Can you have a quick look at their résumé and tell us if they're any good?" 

Now things start to get awkward. 

If you enthusiastically say "yes" and the person turns out to be hopeless, you've unintentionally put your reputation on the line. If you refuse to comment, you're not being particularly helpful to a valued client.  It’s a lose lose. 

The challenge is that a résumé only tells part of the story. Most candidates know how to present themselves well on paper and often at interview as well. But what our clients really wanted to know was whether the person could actually do the job, and whether they'd fit into their team. 

That's where objective evidence can be incredibly useful. 

One accounting firm we work with recently helped a growing retail focused client recruit an internal staff accountant. The client had narrowed the field to three candidates but was struggling to separate them. All three had similar experience and presented well during interviews.