AI is impacting us all – in both our personal lives and in business – and we can guarantee that every single company is utilising it at some level. AI can process large amounts of data in a matter of moments, automate repetitive tasks and find patterns that the human eye simply can’t detect.
While we acknowledge that AI can be beneficial when handling routine bookkeeping and flagging errors – can it replace your accountant entirely? We think not.
Here are some reasons to work with us, rather than depending on AI to support you with your accounts.
The client relationship
Many of our clients have been with Lewis & Co for many years and, when we speak with them on the phone, the majority of the conversation isn’t about bookkeeping and their VAT return – it’s about their recent holiday, how their children are getting on, what the football results were like last weekend etc. Yes, we can provide excellent accountancy support but our clients need to like us as people and, importantly, trust us.
Running a business can be an emotional journey and we are there for our clients during good and bad times. If they trust us and feel comfortable enough to pick up the phone to us when there’s something difficult to discuss, then we’ve got a far better chance of supporting them through that period.
Ultimately, it’s down to trust and AI is not capable of building a ‘real’ relationship with you, even if it might do a good impression of being ‘your friend’.
Judgement
AI might suggest some solutions to your accountancy query but does it actually know and understand you and your business? Has AI been there since the very beginning and does it fully appreciate the goals you’ve set for your business?
At Lewis & Co, we pride ourselves on getting to know you and your business, so we are well placed to provide support and appropriate strategic business advice for your particular situation.
Sometimes in business, there isn’t a right answer when it comes to which path to take and we know our clients really value our judgment. Accountancy often involves making judgement calls that require years of professional experience and an in-depth knowledge of our client and their particular objectives. Two companies can ask AI the same question and receive the same answer. But, two of our clients might do the same and we would typically adapt our response, based on our knowledge of those clients.
We are with you on the journey
With many of our clients, we feel part of their business and we really care about how things pan out for them. At the end of the day, AI isn’t as invested in you as we are!
We are proactive
We are there to remind our clients of all the important deadlines in their business calendar. While AI can also provide prompts when there’s something to be submitted, we will give additional support and suggest some strategies to adopt ahead of hitting those dates.
Compliance
Tax laws in the UK aren’t static and there are regular updates and changes. We keep up to date with any regulations and can let you know how they could impact you and your business. AI data can sometimes run a little behind, so you might miss out on something important to take into account.
AI is a tool with myriad advantages but it is not a substitute for proper advice from an experienced professional, based on a client relationship built over time.
If you’d like to speak to a real person in our team, call 01892 513515.