Why this is important

As a business owner, you know how important it is to make sure your accounting is set up correctly and managed well. But unless you’re a finance professional, you probably aren’t in business to do that type of work. That’s why it’s important to develop relationships with people who understand (and can help you understand) the ins and outs of your business’ finances.

But in a world as vast as accounting and finance, how do you know who you need on your side? Here is a list of the 5 professionals growing businesses need in order to thrive.

💪 Helpful hint: Many professionals specialize in several different areas of accounting. Make sure when you’re interviewing a finance person, you ask what they do. You may be able to find someone who fits the bill for multiple things you need.

Who You Need On Your Team

Wealth advisor

A wealth advisor helps you set and manage goals for your wealth, whether they are to save up for something big, develop a particular lifestyle, or retire early. They look at all your personal and business investments and help formulate strategies to stay on track of your goals.

Tax advisor

This is your go to person for tax obligations. They help you with personal and/or business taxes and can help you strategize on the best way to structure your personal and business reporting for your benefit. Your tax advisor will help make sure you’re in legal compliance and that your taxes are filed correctly so you don’t fall behind.

Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper records all your transactions, prepares financial statements, and might even manage accounts payable and receivable. Accurate bookkeeping is important for your business- not just for taxes, but for tracking metrics and trends in your business as well.

💪 Tip: Bookkeepers could also take on some payroll and human resource functions for your business. It all depends on their specialties and what you need. Decide what tasks you need help with and search for bookkeepers that offer more than just a once-a-year cleaning.

Financial controller

A financial controller is the operational manager in charge of the financial activities within your business. They prep financial statements, draw up balance sheets, run cash flow reports, and even create budgets so you can track your financial trends. Your financial controller is in charge of the system to manage your finances: the workflow, the people, and the processes.

CFO

CFO= Chief Financial Officer. Your CFO is your strategist. They help you look forward into your business’ future by analyzing your company’s strengths and weaknesses. They look at your business’ activities that impact the financial health of the company. CFOs typically look at metrics, like your cash flow to help with financial planning and how to invest in assets in your business.

Download our 5 Professional Essentials to Your Business checklist on our resources page