Just kidding! I'm doing taxes again!
A few short months (ok, it seems like several years) ago, I wrote a blog about Why I Don’t Do Tax Returns. In that article, I pointed out that accountants who do tax returns often have to choose between spending time getting a complete and accurate tax return completed and finding tax strategies for their clients, versus having a positive ongoing relationship.
When we started Breakaway, we had a vision of working with clients’ tax advisors to form a well-rounded team to make sure the client was in the best tax position, as well as having meaningful data to make their day to day business decisions. However, I learned a couple of things about clients’ relationships with their tax preparers. Most of them didn’t have a good preparer, or if they did, they weren’t happy with the responsiveness or level of service they were receiving.
Additionally, part of the reason I started Breakaway was to bring joy to accountants. Many accountants enjoy preparing tax returns and giving tax advice, just not the compliance grind that goes with it. Therefore, I was not solving the JOY problem for a large percentage of the profession and that continued to bother me.
So when the opportunity arose to partner with my fellow Breakaway founder Shauna Zobrist in her tax practice, I had to think long and hard about whether I wanted to jump back into that world. Ultimately, the answer was yes. After 25+ years in the tax field, I wasn’t quite ready to walk away from advising clients on what can be such a big part of their financial picture and to give them a level of service that is sadly lacking in the industry. But I am not bashing on my tax colleagues! The system is set up so that accountants get burned out from the billable hour pressure and seemingly never ending deadlines.
My vision for the clients and staff at Sherwood Tax:
Year-round advice and tax planning so there are no surprises when the return is filed.
Leveraging technology and support staff to free up the professional staff to have higher-level interactions with their clients.
Using this leverage to enable the year-round workweek not to exceed 40 hours.
Remove billable hour/realization/utilization pressure so that providing amazing client service is the top priority.
Implement all the leadership principles that we founded Breakaway on and translate them into tax joy!
Kristen Keats
CEO/Founder
I have big plans for Sherwood Tax and cannot wait to see them grow alongside Breakaway. These two businesses will be able to work together to serve and advise clients not just in tax season, but throughout the year and in a way that is truly holistic. But perhaps most importantly, I can continue to change the accounting industry for my colleagues and make it a place that is inclusive, caring, innovative, and, above all, joyful.