Tony Stockdale (national managing partner of Bentley Jennison) comments; “I am proud to announce the arrival of BJ-Online, a unique and revolutionary service which provides our clients with an affordable and easy way to access the information and systems needed to manage and develop their business”.
Over the past decade accounting services have not moved with the pace of technological change. The days when the proverbial “bean-counter” shuffled though piles of old paper records and receipts have only been enhanced through the use of word-processors and spreadsheets.
The relationship between accountant and client remains largely based around the concept of year-end reporting. As such the sole deliverable of historic year-end accounts is a service that provides little value to the client. To a large extent businesses are being charged for a re-active service that doesn’t add value and accountants are doing very little to help their clients succeed.
As a provider of "knowledge", accountancy practices are commonly referred to as "people businesses"; the product they sell is the advice they give and the collective knowledge of their team. Re-positioning themselves as "business advisors", accountancy firms have placed increasing emphasis on understanding their clients and the issues they face. There can be no doubt that the recent emphasis on "added value" has greatly improved the quality of advice, yet the base product delivered in terms of value remains fundamentally the same.
With the accountancy sector continuing to consolidate and it is becoming increasingly competitive, accountancy firms need to provide more to their clients so that they can positively differentiate themselves.
Bentley Jennison claims its unique new service sets a precedent as it is the first offering built around accounting software which is permanently connected to a "living and breathing" accountant via a web based portal. In addition, the portal provides Bentley Jennison clients with an easy to use system for designing and managing their web-site, e-mail facilities, and a central resource for regular updates on financial, legal and business information with additional features such as an online safety deposit box.
Tony Stockdale continues "We have invested heavily in developing a groundbreaking service that improves the quality and efficiencies of our working practices while providing our clients with the tools they need to manage and develop an efficient and successful business. I firmly believe we are in a unique position to contribute to our client’s success. "
Registered users have a choice of accounting systems that will allow for business growth, provide real time financial analysis and reporting, and enable faster and more cost-effective monthly and year-end procedures.
"We are a ‘people business.’ We focus on the needs of our clients and look for ways to offer them cost-effective business-improvement processes. BJ Online provides our clients with an innovative, value-added service that has flexible functionality. It will eliminate duplication of data, improve efficiencies and reduces clients’ compliance costs" said Mr Stockdale.
