The profession of accountant in the age of digital transformation

The profession of chartered accountant must face many challenges, especially at a time of digital transformation. Added to this is the impact of the economic crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. For chartered accountants, it was necessary to adapt in order to meet the financial and social needs of companies. In Extenso, in particular, wants to limit the impact of the crisis for its customers through flawless solutions.

The group has thus adapted to the constraints of remote work. It further develops the digital transformation movement. Customers were very satisfied with the group’s approach. 63% of them expressed their satisfaction with the Inexweb platform. It was set up in 2016. Today it is a real steering tool for business leaders. In particular, it helps them in their decision-making. In real time they can access their financial indicators.

Chartered accountants, focus on digital

Thus, digital has once again shown its advantages in a context of health crisis. It ensured the maintenance of the group’s services. The profession of chartered accountant is turning to digital. It dematerializes accounting documents and electronic signatures. This service benefits the profession of chartered accountant. It is also an opportunity for companies. Indeed, it invites them to accelerate their involvement in the movement in a constantly changing world.

Accounting entry is increasingly automatic. On the other hand, the profile of entrepreneurs is becoming more digital. Thus, the very profession of chartered accountant must adapt to offer relevant consulting offers. This is the turn that InExtenso is taking. The group is often less known than the Deloitte name of which it was a member. However, the firm In Extenso is a reference of the accounting expertise in France.

The group is strong in its development and a turnover of 396 million euros in 2018. It is up from 2017. In Extenso, whose operational headquarters are in Lyon, is now independent from Deloitte. After 27 years of partnership, it becomes the first independent national firm owned by its 220 partners. The opportunity for Bordeaux Business to look back on the internal and external growth of the chartered accountant profession, which is increasingly focusing on digitaltechnology.

management finance challenge companies

A winning strategy for French SMEs and SMEs

In Extenso’s internal and external growth responds to an original development model. It is based on the notion of interlocutor. The customer relationship is the central element in the profession of chartered accountant. Thus the development of In Extenso is carried out on two levels. First, at the national level, two criteria are studied to select the regions of implantation. There is the potential and dynamism of the marketing target. Secondly, agencies are created by each regional entity. Their main asset is proximity. Indeed, agencies must be located less than an hour from the regional headquarters and less than half an hour from their most distant client.

Thus, the group opened a new agency in Angoulême in September 2021. With its experience of more than 33 years with the actors of the region, the team of the firm Pavie is recognized on the Charente territory for its skills and its support. In total, in the South-West region, In Extenso has 24 branches in 9 departments and 420 employees.

Through this new facility, our goal is to offer all our customers, VSEs, SMEs, liberal professions and associations, a complete and local service thanks to our fine understanding of local issues.

Eric Palat, President In Extenso Sud-Ouest

This strategy is also found internally. Within the group, the implementation of the accounting and social treatment is positive. It allows the various professions of chartered accountants and portfolio managers to focus on customer relations. This is the guideline of Eric Palat, appointed President of In Extenso Southwest in 2018. He wants to build on In Extenso’s organic growth in the southwest. In this sense, human resources and digital are highlighted. Already in 2016, In Extenso had reviewed its employer brand around the HR strategy. Thus, it becomes “Passion Inside” in order to attract new listeners and experts.

For example, the Deloitte group enjoys a good aura and a good image vis-à-vis young graduates of grandes écoles. In Extenso has a well-identified development strategy. The group thus shows that it does not focus solely on the short term and accounting production. In Extenso invests in the development of services for MSPEs. He handles all areas of accounting and related fields: legal, social, management consulting, IT, mergers and acquisitions. Thus, Inextenso has launched a turnkey digital solution with Inexlab. The solution is aimed at entrepreneurs who commit to zero paper.

The essential profession of chartered accountant in the South-West region

In the region In Extenso represents 450 employees and more than 10,000 customers. By forming true autonomous entities, accounting expertise becomes autonomous and becomes an ally of the company. This change of business was already there with Deloitte. In particular, it had launched a solution adapted to VSE\SME with its InExtenso entity, but this is also the case with KPMG. Indeed, chartered accountants must adapt to a well-identified change. The sector is taking the digital turn. It can thus benefit from this paradigm shift. Indeed, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, chartered accountants support nearly 2 million corporate clients. In addition, public accountants are essential to the vitality of an economy.

At the local level, they make it possible to measure the health of companies and economic dynamism. This is the case of the Economic Barometer set up by the Order of Chartered Accountants. It is calculated according to two essential data. It includes the monthly and quarterly evolution of the turnover of the territory concerned and the amount of investments made by the companies. At the end of 2018, there were social tensions in the territory. Thus, the barometer showed results at half-mast for economic activity in France. On the contrary, for the fourth quarter of 2018, business activity in the region was up 2.4%. Finally, since 2016, the Barometer notes that the growth of the region’s economy has been better than that of the French economy.

digital accountants

In the digital age, MSPEs call on accountants to be supported. According to a 2015 Harris Interactive study, 80% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) trust their accountants as a priority to support them in the digital transition of their business. Whatever the subject of a transition, digital here, it is good for a company to choose experts. They have a global and sustainable vision of their business both legal and tax. The profession of chartered accountant is the most suitable to manage this change.

Sources

Expert communication, Economic Barometer, OEC Aquitaine

InExtenso press kit

In Extenso unveils its new employer brand, November 2016

Join InExtenso

In Extenso Sud-Ouest announces the opening of a second branch in Angoulême, InExtenso, press release of 9 September 2021

Study “The Challenges of Digital Transition in the Eyes of TPE – SME Executives,” Harris Interactive, Order of Accountants, 2015

Xerfi study “Accounting and auditing by 2019 – Blockchain, digitalization, consulting, consolidation: what opportunities for firms and CMOs?”

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