our ideal clients
I’ve found over the years that the clients who benefit most from the work we do for them are described by these characteristics:
Appreciation of the finance function, willing to understand it better and engage with it appropriately. Our role is to minimize the time you spend on accounting details, but there is certain information that only you can provide. Our best clients are those whose senior leadership recognize the connection of the finance function to the mission.
Dynamic and creative, welcoming of changes. We aim for our work to be transformative, to take your financial management to the next level, and then the next, next level. Transformation involves change, and the clients who benefit most from our work are open to change.
Committed to a culture of compliance; following compliance requirements and nonprofit best practices. We believe the health of the nonprofit sector as a whole depends on each organization’s respect for the accountability and transparency that tax exemption confers. We keep our clients apprised of requirements and best practices that affect you, and as we discuss how they affect you, the outcome of the conversation is to identify the best solution for your organization.
Committed to a wholistic relationship in which we have a seat at the table. For instance, we should read minutes of your board meetings, and either your lead accountant on my team or myself should join meetings of executive staff, finance committee, and board of directors as appropriate. We should be involved at some level in your strategic planning work. These examples are key mechanisms for ensuring we’re in the loop on your strategy and any other matters that affect finance, governance, and/or compliance. This is how we identify issues that may need a response from us.
Committed to a long-term close collaboration, in which we communicate frequently and candidly. We invest deeply in our client relationships, and our best clients are the ones who reciprocate that investment.
Able to honor agreed-upon timelines. For each routine monthly and quarterly process, we mutually agree on a timeline. Although unavoidable delays sometimes occur, the better we can all stick to the plan, the lower the risk that we will get into a deadline crisis situation.
I hope this describes you, and I would welcome your thoughts on the criteria that define your ideal external partner relationships.
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