And the winner is ... Intuit recognized the finalists of its "2016 Global Firm of the Future Contest" during QuickBooks Connect 2016 in San Jose, Calif.
This year’s winner is U.S.-based 24hr Bookkeeper, headed by Karine Woodman. The three finalists are Hemingway Bailey (Alan Hemingway) of the United Kingdom, Moore Details Bookkeeping (Jennifer Moore) of Canada, and New Wave Business Solutions (Reuben Bergola) of Australia.
2016 Firm of the Future Winner and Finalists
From the left, finalist Jennifer Moore, finalist Alan Hemingway, winner Karine Woodman, finalist Reuben Bergola.
Following the announcement during the Opening Keynote, Insightful Accountant had the opportunity to visit with the respective firms.
When Karine Woodman was asked what this year's winner, 24 Hr Bookkeeper, could do for an encore, she said her firm would continue to expand upon its marketing efforts in an attempt to gain even greater recognition of its service and its brand.
Karine plans to grow her practice significantly. In fact, she envisions the day when you might see 24hr Bookkeeper all over the place. Featuring a magnetic drive and ambition, along with a strong focus on doing what's best for her clients, I can definitely see her with a lot more than her current 80 clients – perhaps 80 to the 80th power.
Finalist Jennifer Moore plans to use her firm's $5,000 prize money to help with the "Food for Learning" program in Canada, which helps give children a healthy meal so that they can learn while in school.
With an intense focus on Moore Details Bookkeeping, her team and her clients, as well as her community, you can start to understand why Jennifer (and the others in this select group) were chosen as the "best of the best."
From a system in which many high school kids are "apprenticed" in to positions (think Ebenezer Scrooge in "Old Fuzzywink’s Accounting Shop"), when I hear Alan Hemingway say he's excited about how technology is changing the lives of so many individuals, it’s easy to see why the fresh approach he's taking within the United Kingdom is indeed changing lives.
When Alan speaks of his "team" and that he wants to reward them for their contributions, you can tell he recognizes that they are the biggest part of Hemingway Bailey’s success.
From the phenomenal level of service and customer support New Wave Business Solutions provides, to its desire to grow and go beyond its current standing, Reuben Bergola is not only riding the wave of success, but generating a mighty one that may very well impact the entire Pacific Rim.
He and his team recently expanded into the Philippines. And, as they grow and thrive there, as well as in Australia, they will continue to expand in multi-directional ways to reach more and more satisfied clients.
I have seen a lot of accountants, bookkeepers and business consultants in my day, and I can honestly say that this is as an impressive group of people I have ever had the pleasure and honor of meeting. If all the up-and-comers within our profession are like these four, we certainly will be able to look forward to a better way of doing things.