INCREASING NEED FROM SMES FOR ADVISORY SERVICES: the answers of „good SMPs“

Abstract

I had already the opportunity to comment on the new profile the accounting profession is seeking to reach in order to give better answers to the needs of their SME clients with respect of non-compliance services. “Beyond compliance” could well be the slogan for the Accounting Profession is next decade. The way this can be addressed is not sufficiently clear and implies changes and actions in different fields; for example education and training, tone at the top for the firms and soft-skills for practitioners, con- tinuing professional development and so on. What should not be also forgotten are the ethical implications of any professional activity trying to satisfy increasing and new needs from clients. Both during economic developments and economic crisis the risk for SMPs to put aside ethics to stay closer to the clients’ needs is high.