Episode 72

Accounting Qualifications - Do Clients Really Care You Are FCCA or CPA?

Episode 72. In today's news episode, the Accounting Influencers Podcast asks whether clients care about accounting qualifications like FCCA or CPA, or they prefer certifications in software.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

▶ Asking if and why accountants might lose a potential new client to an unqualified professional

▶ Why a business owners may prefer accountancy support from someone certified in certain software or apps than a qualified CPA

▶ Accountants - when was the last time a potential client factored in your accountancy qualifications as part of their decision to hire you?

▶ Do business clients do any due diligence or research on the credentials of their accounting advisors?

▶ What might happen if general ledger companies and software vendors decide to designate their own professional qualification alongside the accounting ones

▶ What might be the purpose of accounting qualifications of clients themselves don't ask about them or care about them

▶ Whether qualifications in an accounting software package might become more relevant to the buyer than a professional accountancy designation

▶ Who cares most about accounting qualifications (it's not the client!)

▶ The advertising and marketing plays by software vendors to bypass the accountant in reaching the client

▶ Why clients don't care how hard an accountancy degree is or how long a CPA studies to become a professional

▶ What accounting clients actually care about if it's not qualifications

▶ The perceived power of 'certified partner' or 'gold partner' etc with software certifications

▶ Why many accountants see letters after their name and professional qualifications as a comfort blanket and career tool

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

Every Tuesday the show gives you a relevant news topic from the accounting and fintech world with a direct application to accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay informed and build your commercial acumen.

Martin and Rob love to hear from the show's 7000+ listeners in 144 countries around the world. If you like the show, leave a review wherever you listen, and please recommend the show to your friends and colleagues.

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About the Podcast

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Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.

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About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.