Newcomer

Client meeting — quarterly business review with small business owner

Lesson 2 of 4 in Client Advisory & Stakeholder Communication · 16 minutes

Realistic CPA-client meeting where IEP accountant reviews Q3 financials with small business owner. Demonstrates advisory communication patterns.

What you'll learn

  • Open and close client meetings professionally
  • Translate financial information for non-finance owner
  • Recommend specific actions
  • Build long-term advisory relationship

From the transcript

Aisha, IEP CPA at a mid-size Toronto firm, is meeting with her client Jeff, owner of Maple Pizza Co. (a 15-employee restaurant chain). Quarterly review meeting. Jeff is sharp business owner but not finance-trained. Q3 financials prepared by Aisha; meeting is to review and discuss strategic implications.

Aisha: Jeff, thanks for the time. I'd like to walk through Q3 numbers in about 30 minutes — first the highlights, then a couple of strategic decisions to talk through. Sound good?

Jeff: Sounds great. What's the headline?

Aisha: Q3 was strong. Revenue up 12% over Q2, margins stable. The store you opened in Markham is performing better than projected. Cash position is good — we have about…