The role of an accountant is going through an enormous period of change. Long gone are the days of the pin-stripe-suited professional who simply produced payrolls, annual accounts and VAT returns.

Today’s accountant needs to be an intrinsic part of their clients’ business life, an extended member of their team. Yes, you still need to provide the reports, accounts and compliance-meeting paperwork the modern world requires. But you also need to provide strategy and business plans at start-up level, finance and investment advice when times are good and crisis management skills when they’re not. To do that well, you need to know and understand your clients’ business from top to bottom. And to do that you need to be able to communicate with your clients, directly, effectively and empathetically.” Raymond Walters. Founder, senior partner, R. Walters & Co.