Meet Emma Fabbro our 2023 International ProAdvisor - Non-Americas Award Winner
Emma Fabbro
From the land 'down under' comes Emma Fabbro who is not only an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor but a certified practicing accountant.
'Fusion Accountants' which she established in 2014, works with micro and small businesses – they offer accounting, training, advisory, and taxation services.
Emma loves working closely with small business clients, providing bookkeeping and accounting services. We sat down with Emma to get her thoughts on being the 2023 International ProAdvisor: Non-Americas Award Winner, her journey, her path to success, and helping her clients understand the numbers behind their business.
Give us a snapshot of your business.
Fusion Accountants
My firm (Fusion Accountants) is a small accounting firm, based in Adelaide Australia but representing clients throughout Australia. We work with Mirco and small businesses and offer accounting, training, advisory, and taxation services. We support clients with their cloud data and offer proactive business advice and planning.
Share your personal journey in the accounting industry
I did my accounting degree the long way around. After school, I attended University but failed the first year, as to many people. I pivoted to an Associate Diploma in Accounting and began working in administration roles part-time. I worked my way very slowly up the ladder and combined full-time work, and part-time University studies and eventually added my wife and mother into the mix. Finally, I was degree-qualified and further went on to undertake my CPA studies. I have a passion for numbers and love that numbers are a commonality that every business has - regardless of what the business does or offers. I love using the numbers to “tell the story” as to where the business is, where it has been, and more importantly where it could potentially be going.
Why did you become a QuickBooks ProAdvisor?
When I came across the QuickBooks online software, I was very impressed. It was user friendly, easy to manage and most importantly cloud based. Didn't take me long after finding the software to do my ProAdvisor certifications and I've never looked back!
Do you have a niche that you focus on or do you have a particular service that is key to your practice?
The niche is working with very small business who are often overlooked at a larger accounting firm. I also work with clients who understand and appreciate the value of their books, numbers and reports.
What are your main goals for yourself or your business for 2024?
We will continue to grow and take on more clients and expand our staffing.
Discuss any notable trends or changes you've observed in the accounting industry.
AI is the biggest trend right now. It’s a great one to get on board with - Accountants who do not will be left behind.
Share your thoughts on how these trends may impact accounting professionals.
Accountants not willing to embrace AI will fall behind. This is not only because their own business will suffer, but also because they will not be adept at showing AI and its potential to their own clients
Share some best practices that have contributed to the success of your firm.
One of our best practices has been establishing a cloud-based firm - And setting a non-negotiable with clients who still use desktop-based software solutions
Discuss any innovative approaches or strategies that have proven effective.
Giving clients a choice between face-to-face or virtual meetings and using e-signature solutions for all elements of our business means that we can be efficient at all parts of our processes. We actively use various AI in our practice to further enhance efficiencies.
Identify common challenges that accounting firms face, and how does your firm address them?
One of the most common challenges is simply keeping up to date with various legislation changes regarding taxation law. It seems that every year there is something different and it's important to be on top of these changes to understand their impacts on our clients.
What are your insights into overcoming obstacles and adapting to industry changes?
In terms of overcoming obstacles and adapting to industry changes, the best advice I have is to take it one step at a time. Changes, challenges, etc. can be overwhelming, as can too many choices, for example with alternative software choices, so it’s important to slow down and take things one step at a time. If you are looking to use a new tech for a particular purpose, look just at one solution first, rather than looking at multiple choices. This tends to take away the overwhelm and make it easier to then move forward.
Are there any particularly rewarding client experiences or success stories?
The best client experiences are watching a client be successful in their business, whether this is financial success or success in terms of time, freedom, or something else. Other highlights are when a client is confused by their numbers and not understanding their financial position - After a session (or two) things fall into place and they have that 'light bulb' moment! It's very rewarding to be a part of.
How does your firm add value to clients beyond traditional accounting services?
Being cloud-based we pride ourselves on being able to be proactive with our clients’ numbers. We like to understand our client’s financial position today and plan for their future position.
Get In Touch with Emma!
