Editor’s Note: As the nominations for the "2022 Top ProAdvisors of the Year" roll in, we wanted to shine the spotlight on last year's winners. This is another installment in a series of profiles of our esteemed candidates.
When Account Ability Consulting opened its doors to her business in 1987, the Mashpee, Massachusetts’ firm was a full-service bookkeeping, tax, and payroll services firm. But before long, founder Susan Cook realized she could have the greatest impact in her local business community by specializing in custom accounting software solutions and in-depth training.
Today, Susan and her team provide accounting system reviews, technical support, and one-on-one education for businesses across the Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Cape Cod area, as well as the greater US. Account Ability Consulting growth over the years has seen it grow into an invaluable resource for clients looking to establish more efficient accounting processes and execute seamless software transitions.
The firm’s reputation for quality and service is driven by her extensive knowledge in accounting software, particularly the QuickBooks ecosystem, where she holds multiple QuickBooks ProAdvisor certifications. For the past eight years, she also has held the esteemed titles of Intuit Strategic Partner and Insightful Accountant “Top 100 ProAdvisor of the Year” honors.
And if that is not enough, her passion for education and problem-solving has garnered myriad speaking opportunities at venues like the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technology School, Geek Girls Bootcamp and Coastal Community Capital's Smart Money Workshop.
We sat down with her to get her thoughts on the year ahead.
Give us a snapshot of your business.
Account Ability Consulting empowers small businesses to find success through optimal selection of and training in accounting technologies. We specialize in serving businesses in retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, construction and field services.
How long have you been in business?
35 years and counting.
How does your ProAdvisor award fit into your overall business mission statement?
It reflects my commitment to provide our clients with a comprehensive understanding of the QuickBooks product suite and a superior customer support experience.
How are you leveraging it in your continued success?
It sets me apart as an expert QuickBooks Desktop specialist, allowing clients to feel confident they have the best consultant for their needs.
We expect to see great growth in the mid-market sector and are poised to support organizations that need the accounting infrastructure to sustain their rapid growth.
What are some of your strategies/initiatives for 2022? Business? Personal?
One initiative is accepting selective ProAdvisors and business consultants to join my team as Affiliate QuickBooks Solution Providers. I also have recently partnered with an expert Microsoft Consultant and will be cross-referring clients with her. I’m building my network to bring the best experts in each field together, for the benefit of our clients.
On the personal side, we’re expecting a new granddaughter, so one of my biggest priorities is carving out quality time for family. It is so important to be intentional with our time so we can be present for life's most important moments.
I look forward to helping my customers optimize their accounting processes so that they too can cultivate a healthy work-life balance.
What are your expectations for this year?
We expect to see great growth in the mid-market sector and are poised to support organizations that need the accounting infrastructure to sustain their rapid growth.
What’s the best piece of advice you can offer your clients for 2022?
Get a good grasp of your finances now. Make sure you can rely on the numbers you see and that you are getting them in a timely way. Outline your business goals for the next year and make sure you are confident in the financial reporting.
The past year taught us the importance of resiliency. Have a good team of consultants that will help you navigate unexpected events.
Is there a story/anecdote that really sums up the work you do for your clients?
This year I helped a mid-size chemical manufacturing company that had decades of business success migrate from an old, unsupported version of Sage Accounting to QuickBooks Enterprise with Advanced Inventory. They had a complex conversion ahead of them due to their unique business needs, but knew they needed to make a change.
Software migrations can be painful and unsuccessful without the right guidance. By hiring us as expert consultants to architect the entire migration, the end result was successful rather than stressful.
We started by fully comprehending their current accounting processes, anticipating future needs, acknowledging potential pitfalls and charting the path forward. Once we went live, the work didn't stop; after implementation. We stayed with the client's team for further training, continuing to support them as new needs arose.
When we architect a migration, we know it takes time and serious attention in order to be successful. Ultimately, our clients need more than the right tools for the job; they need help understanding these tools thoroughly so they feel confident in both their daily tasks and their financial analysis results.