Our profession is undergoing an enormous shift in attitude, from relatively impersonal compliance-based processes towards a deepening of authentic human relationships. It takes us back, in a way, to how accountancy started, where people and relationships drove our work, and how we judged success.

Make no mistake. Faced with important challenges in tech, compliance practice and accounting services over the coming decade, our firms must change or go under. As new developments change how we work, and automate the mundane, we need to embrace them to give a better quality and more personal service. The human-centric approach is the only logical step.

Those firms that continue to bury their heads in the sand and do nothing will see clients leave. And that is fine. Follow the guidelines I’ve set out in this book and those clients will be coming to you.

This book outlines the thinking, context, approach, and examples of how to differentiate your new Human Firm in a constantly evolving and increasingly competitive environment, including:

• How to differentiate your firm
• The importance of changing your mindset
• The difference between growth and scaling, and how to scale effectively
• The importance of purpose and metrics that help you get there
• The importance of culture, personality, and timely data for client insights
• How to navigate the practical and philosophical barriers in a client-centric progression
• How to navigate the many choices in the accountancy-related app ecosystem
• Insights, perspectives, and the big picture