Editor's Note: This is another installment in our ongoing series highlighting this year's Insightful Accountant's "2018 Top 100 ProAdvisors." Over the remainder of the year, we will introduce you to our winners, getting their insights on a wide range of topics, including what it is like to be a leader in their profession, how to stay on top and what the future holds.
Tim Grant
Tim Grant is the CEO, President and 'Business Software Pilot,' for Business Solution Providers, Inc. "It’s primarily myself. I started off being primarily a generalist QuickBooks ProAdvisor. However, I’m a geek at heart, so I was always interested in the third-party products, how they integrated to QB, and what they did." He went on to say, "Then, about seven years ago, I decided to specialize in just the inventory, and later manufacturing, clients who use QuickBooks. Today, I work with all of the major inventory and manufacturing software vendors whose products integrate with QuickBooks."
What is your role in your practice?
I call myself a, ‘business software pilot,’ because I take clients on a journey, there may be some turbulence, but hopefully, I‘ll get them to where they want to go.
Tell us about how you got started in the business.
I got laid off from a Controllership position of a manufacturing company that was going out of business. It was 2003, and QuickBooks was starting to take off. Thought I would try working for several small businesses until I landed a new position. That was 15 years ago!
What are three areas every accountant should keep an eye on next year?
1) Ecommerce. Do you want to end up like one of those brick ‘n mortar malls that get torn down every other week? Learn as much as you can about Ecommerce, because that’s where the business is going. 2) Changes to sales tax. 3) Third-party integration with QB.
Name the biggest technological advancements you saw this year.
Automation is really taking over. Right now, it’s in a lot of subtle ways, but the wave is coming. Entire processes are now being done without human interaction, although we’re still needed for review and anomaly checking.
What does it mean to you to be recognized out of more than 300,000 ProAdvisors in the world?
I don’t feel like I do anything more ‘special’ than anyone else. I just stick to my commitments, put the client first, have a LOT of patience, and keep plugging away.
Your first thoughts on getting news of the honor?
Who, me?
How has your ProAdvisor practice changed or evolved over the last couple of years?
Finding a 'niche’ (inventory/manufacturing clients) was the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s an area that interests me, and I came to find out that these types of clients need a lot of help. I’ve seen other advisors who have been successful because they found a 'niche’ and worked hard at it to become an expert in their area. It’s really necessary to differentiate your practice.
What is the story that best describes how you help your clients?
A client contacted me about inventory issues he was having. He thought he had many issues, and needed help right away. I did a remote logon session with him, and was able to get to the root of his main problem. He thought it was going to take hours – turns out it took 45 minutes to diagnose, and he could correct the problem on his own. Most clients just need a little guidance in the right direction, and that problems are not as big as they usually make them.
Why is continuing to enhance your skills and acumen critical to staying one step ahead of the curve?
Technology is driving all of our markets. Businesses and consumers want ‘quicker, easier, faster.’ Technology is what brings that. We don’t have to be developers to support that. We just have to understand how the software works, then be that person who helps the clients to walk and talk through the process. That’s something that automation will never take away. And yes, sometimes I’m 15 minutes ahead of the client in understanding the technology because it’s getting updated so fast, but that’s OK for me because I thrive on what’s new.
How do you create balance in your work and personal life?
I moved out of the big city, and I work from home. I put time in between my appointments, so I can gather my notes, and ‘decompress’ from meetings. I get plenty of sleep, and I don’t let problems or clients keep me up at night. Life is too short for that. I used to work 65-70 hour weeks, and I was spinning my ‘wheels.’ Today, I work 40-45, make more money, and retain my sanity.
What advice would you give to today's accountants?
Learn as much as you can about technology. Our jobs now are about so much more than just debits, credits and taxes. People who grasp technology and have practical skills (like transferring data) are going to be way ahead.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received?
Don’t worry about where you came from or what college you went to. People want to know, ‘what can you do for me now?’ Learn what people want to know, and you’ll always be in demand.
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