Editor's Note: This is another installment in our ongoing series highlighting this year's Insightful Accountant's "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.
Ask Robin Hall to best describe the role of today's accounting professional, and her answer may surprise you – it's to work yourself out of a job. Do your job right, and that will be a comfort to all parties involved.
The goal, as Robin says, is to give your clients the confidence they need to come back to you for additional needs, even if those needs come up a week, a month or a year later.
As the president and principal consultant of VARC Solutions, Robin is the driving force behind the Friendswood, Texas, firm, which specializes in QuickBooks and QuickBase training and consulting. VARC’s mission is simple – to focus on taking its small and large business clients to the next level, and teaching them to be self-sufficient within their businesses.
The efforts have netted Robin and her team myriad honors, including Intuit’s "Partner of the Year," "All Stars Award" and "Customer Satisfaction" awards, among many others. VARC also has hosted the Regional QuickBooks Conference.
The awards are indicative of Robin's ability to keep her company focused on changing with the industry's changing landscape. An Intuit Advisory Board member and one of the original Intuit Solution Providers, Robin is a much sought after instructor and speaker for industry engagements such as "Scaling New Heights," the Intuit Solution Provider Conference, as well as for business-related mediums like CNN Radio and Radio Free QuickBooks.
And if that's not enough, Robin also is a Quick Base Solution Provider. She developed VARC Solutions’ signature product using Quick Base, NAN Practice Manager, a CRM designed specifically for Intuit ProAdvisors, Intuit Solution Providers, CPAs and others in the accounting profession.
What does it mean to be recognized out of more than 200,000 ProAdvisors in the world?
I see this as an astounding accomplishment. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me as a Top ProAdvisor and congratulate all of the others in the Top 100.
Your first thoughts on getting news of the honor?
I am deeply honored to be considered one of the top ProAdvisors in my profession by my peers.
How has your ProAdvisor practice changed or evolved over the last couple of years?
My practice has grown. This award and the others over the years have enabled my practice to employ several other Certified ProAdvisors, one who was also named to the Top 100 this year. As Intuit products have changed over the years, especially with the advance of QBO, we have taken on additional staff to focus on things like QBO.
Why is continuing to enhance your skills and acumen critical to staying one step ahead of the curve?
It is always best to stay apprised on any updates to software, trends in the industry and how clients are reacting to change. The only way to serve our clients at the highest level possible is to be as knowledgeable as possible about Intuit products. We strive to stay on the cutting edge and be prepared for any situation that might arise.
What do you do?
VARC Solutions is an Intuit Premier Reseller focused on getting our clients into the right software solution, and then training them on that. Our goal is to help our clients get what they need, from software selection, to training, to bookkeeping, and anything in between.
Give us a snapshot of today's accounting landscape.
We are seeing that the accounting space is changing. It is becoming more technology based, so being able to help our clients with the accounting is critical. You need to look forward to the technology they will need.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received?
Always put your clients’ needs ahead of your own. We are there to serve them. If we do this in a professional manner, we will continue to grow as a practice.
What is the story that best describes how you help your clients?
With technology, we are so accessible. As much as I want to be there for my clients every step of the way, rarely is there an accounting “emergency.” Generally, it is a lack of planning on their part. (This took me a long time to learn) I make sure I do everything I can each and every day, and respond to my clients in timely manner. That also affords me the ability to set boundaries on my weekends and/or vacations.
What's on your to-do list the rest of 2017?
This year, I want to do more writing, I have time carved out each month, but on a personal level, I have not given the attention I need to this year.
Special thanks to our program sponsors, including Canon imageFORMULA Document Scanners, ADP, Finagraph, "Scaling New Heights" and Intuit's QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program.