Category: AVN Insights

By Jenny Lukas, AVN Director and Practice Growth Expert What does the news that KPMG is cutting 200 jobs in the UK mean for the accountancy skills shortage? It’s not the only one to make redundancies. In the last 18 months, across all of the Big 4, more than 9,000 employees have been let go…

By Shane Lukas, Managing Director, AVN So the UK is having a general election (in case you hadn’t noticed). Which of course means an absolute deluge of news, comment, claims and counter-claims. I feel exhausted already and there’s another 4 weeks to go! Whoever you vote for and whatever the result, this constitutes a reset.…

By Shane Lukas, Managing Director, AVN It’s fair to say that for most of us (except for a very lucky few), success doesn’t come without hard work. But when does hard work actually hinder your progress, rather than moving you forwards? Working harder isn’t always the answer. As Einstein wisely pointed out, doing the same…

AVN’s resident wellness expert, Kerry Riley, helps you understand the connection. Stress has become a common part of daily life for many people. From work deadlines to family responsibilities, the pressures of modern living can take a toll on our mental and physical well-being. And one area where stress can have a significant impact is…

By Shane Lukas, Managing Director, AVN Time management techniques that actually work aren’t complicated. But that doesn’t mean they’re easy to implement. When you’re running an accounting firm, it’s crucial to strike the right balance between operational tasks and strategic activities. But many owners/partners find they’re overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks and just can’t find the…

By Jenny Lukas, Practice Growth Expert, AVN The other day I heard a song I hadn’t listened to in a long time, “Cats in the Cradle” by Ugly Kid Joe. Although it was written in 1974 (by Harry Chapin), the words and their message couldn’t be more relevant to now. If you don’t know it,…

The meeting agenda that helps you get the right outcome. By Shane Lukas, Managing Director AVN Do you ever feel you aren’t in control of your client or prospect meetings? You go in with the intention to win additional fees or to bring in a new client, but somehow the meeting runs away from you.…

By Shane Lukas, Managing Director, AVN Are you undercharging for your services? Undercharging is all too common in the world of accountancy. And, while the most obvious impact of this is on your profitability, it goes much further than that. Undercharging affects the way your clients perceive your accountancy practice and the kind of prospects…

Networking for introverts can be hard – here’s how to make it productive and even enjoyable! By Shane Lukas, Managing Director AVN Networking. Don’t you just love it? Have you ever actually gained a new client directly from a networking event? No? The truth is that most of us find networking challenging and unproductive. And…

By Shane Lukas, Managing Director AVN Are you steering your accounting firm strategically as the business owner, planning for growth, with clear goals in sight? Or are you simply working as a business operator, caught in an endless cycle of day-to-day tasks? Knowing the difference can make or break your business. The difference between a…