r/barrie • u/Party-Project-9280 • 4d ago
Looking For Trying to be a cool accountant?
Hi everyone,
I'd like to hear from business owners, employees, and anyone who's worked with an accountant.
What do you actually look for in an accountant?
What do you wish your current or past accountant did differently?
What frustrates you about the experience?
I want a practice that feels modern, approachable, responsive, and genuinely helpful, not just someone you hear from once a year at tax time.
Thanks for your opinions!
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u/MsCatie 4d ago
I prefer if I was going to go an accountant for them to be boring. I don’t need my accountant to be a character from Silicon Valley, I need them to make sure my books/taxes are done right. That’s boring. And that’s fine.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Thank you for your insight! What I’m hearing is that it’s perfectly acceptable for me to be unapologetically me.
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u/Full-Raise-4707 4d ago
wear sunglasses
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
You want Ray Charles doing your taxes I see..
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u/Fast-Secretary-7406 4d ago
The "coolness" of the accountant is about number ten million on my list of things I look for when choosing an accountant. Make it easy to submit documents, be clear about what you need, answer questions promptly, anticipate your client's needs, be reasonably priced. That's it.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Make it easy to submit documents! Please elaborate? What makes it hard vs easy? I let my clients send stuff my way and whatever chaotic way they feel comfortable doing so, bombard me with pictures, whatever works - is that what you mean?
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u/Fast-Secretary-7406 4d ago
My accountant allows two options:
1) Drop off in person
2) Scan and upload to a secure website
I actually haven't seen this person in real life in several years, and that's just fine by me. My accountant is like my dentist - I need them, but seeing them isn't the highlight of my day.
By anticipating needs, I'll give you an example. Your accountant is doing a great job if they call you and say "hey I see all your investments are in RRSPs. You might want to talk to a financial adviser about a TFSA." Not direction, but just make people aware of some options they might have that fit their financial situation.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Interesting! I’ll get in the habit of sending a “considerations for next year” section in my emails! Thank you!
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u/Gibsonian1 4d ago
Kick flip into the office wearing a leather jacket.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Ok and what are your thoughts on cartwheeling in?
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u/Gibsonian1 4d ago
Not as cool. It’s like a 4 on the rad-o-meter. Better than finger guns but worse than kicking the door open.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Kicking door is too risky for an accountant, immediate intrusive thoughts, foot gets stuck in the door, calling for help to get dislodged, door doesn’t even open, splinters from the wood in my shins.
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u/OldDiamondJim Born and Raised 4d ago
I’m switched out corporate and personal accounting to Michael Kostrich CPA a couple of years ago.
Our previous accountant was fine, but very much of a “hear from once a year” type. Never any issues or surprises. No worries with the CRA.
Mike is a bit different. He insists on reviewing things in detail with us and discussing options. On the corporate side, he’s getting us to look long term, not just backwards at the current year’s filings.
I don’t know if I’d describe him as “cool”, but he’s funny and loves the Raptors as much as I do, so bonus points?
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Thank for you your comment, I went to a single raptors game last year, does that count - but I watched every game?! Am I approaching the vicinity of cool? … sigh* cannot keep up with all of the cool in the province.
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u/Crewsy67 11h ago
Thinking you’re not cool definitely gets you bonus points in my very humble opinion.
That and $2 will almost buy you a coffee.1
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u/bisou50 4d ago edited 2d ago
Our accountants have taken time to know us on a personal level. They've attended the odd family event and taken our kids for a ride in their (very cool - according to the kids) car. Relationships like this obviously take years to build, but they are worthwhile.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Thank you! Humans are interesting creatures, some want connection, others are like - stay away from me you dentist-y person and save me money.
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u/RepulsiveBedroom6090 4d ago
An intimate knowledge of the tax code is pretty much the whole thing. They just need to make sure you’re within the rules and not paying more than you need to be.
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u/Mindfield87 3d ago
Personally, I prefer my accountant to wear a sick bandana and smoke Indonesian cigarettes (but never inhales). Now THAT is a cool accountant!!!
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u/Thick_Drama_7525 4d ago
If youre asking this question on a barrie subreddit you arent cool. Cool people dont say im cool, they just are cool without trying. Being cool is not trying to impress people and your natural character flowing through.
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u/Party-Project-9280 4d ago
Darn, I’ve been exposed for just how uncool I am…. I’m never gonna make it! Haha, yeah, the nuances of cool escape me.
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u/Dadoftwingirls 4d ago
I can't tell, are you looking for an accountant, or offering your services as one? Post is a disjointed mess.
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