The Business Growth
Accountant
TRANSFORM YOUR ACCOUNTANCY PRACTICE INTO A PROFITABLE AND VALUABLE ADVISORY BUSINESS
Paul’s book provides a practical route map to a valuable way of delivering profitable advisory services to business clients.”

‘If you’re serious about growing and developing your accounting business, then Paul Shrimpling’s book is essential reading. Don’t just read it, take action. Do nothing at your own peril.’
The Business Growth Accountant is a treasure trove of advice on how to move your firm up the value curve – by giving your customers the services they need and want. In addition to Paul Shrimpling’s sage advice – and here I will reveal my bias – be sure to pay particular attention to three more Pauls quoted in the book: the late Paul O’Byrne, RIP, and his partner, Paul Kennedy, who continues to run what I believe is the most innovative accounting firm in the world, O’Byrne & Kennedy; and, of course, Paul Dunn, the man who blazed the trail and helped thousands of firms fulfill the transformational journey that is energetically articulated throughout this book.
“For any firm that is looking at staying ahead of the inevitable ‘march of automation’, this is the book for you.
Sharing knowledge and facts is no longer the role of the advisor, Google will do that far better. Your ability to remain relevant in the new digital age will depend on your skills in questioning, building rapport and connecting with your clients at a far deeper level.
As machines get better at answering questions… you need to get better at asking them. Paul’s book shows you just how to do that.”
The Business Growth Accountant is a comprehensive, plain-speaking guide to profitability and advisory business growth. Many theorise about this – Paul tells you how!
This book matters. And it matters because when you do what the book lays out for you, you will matter — as in seriously matter.
And that’s stunningly important. Seth Godin says it like this, “The challenge is not to be successful, the challenge is to matter.”
Just think about that for a moment. Perhaps even flip it around. When you do that you get that when you matter, success follows.
‘Mattering’ is essential. When you move from being dispensable to INdispensable, you matter.
Let me say it again: this book matters. when you do what it lays out for you, you will matter.
And like me, you’ll thank Paul Shrimpling for making you matter, changing your life and the lives of those around you.
Paul provides many answers to the mysteries of how to deliver advisory services in his book, The Business Growth Accountant. Accounting professionals have been being told for years to be an advisor, with no real training on the path to get there.
Paul provides the steps with his "Higher-Value Route Map" in his book, as well as, real life scenarios from experienced accountants that deliver advisory services from around the world. This book will help you take the steps needed to be comfortable with the critical conversations that are necessary to be a truly value-added strategic partner to your client that they couldn’t imagine living without.
"Paul Shrimpling has done an awesome job of identifying what it takes to be a Business Growth Accountant and how important it is as accountants to embrace the change from compliance work to business advisory. Whilst it's easy to read, it's packed full of detailed information. This is essential reading if you want your accounting practice to thrive in the future."
“Paul has interviewed some remarkably smart practitioners, and blended their remarkably practical insights with his own, to produce a remarkably useful book”
I have just read your fantastic book and have been inspired to re-write completely our internal business advisory manual.
The firm has 58 staff now and we are attacking the MTD market at the moment with a training package for clients using Quickbooks, Sage and Xero together with an in-housed data processing solution using the same software but within LP.
We have been providing outsourced FD services for over 12 years with 80% of the practice now providing higher level tax planning (30%), business advisory(30%) and financial services advice (20%) to the client base.We are exploring creating two brands/practices - one for compliance services and the other Business Advisory first and accountancy a close second.
I am really inspired by your book and thank you so much for writing it, it has been a life changing experience.
“It’s time for accountants to do more for business owners than just do accounts and tax returns! Wherever you are in your career, this book will give you the confidence, insights and knowledge to do just that. Easy to ready, it builds on your existing skill set. And, if you implement the ideas in the book, not only will it will position you as the go-to accountant, it will help you to make an incredible impact on your clients’ businesses and the lives of so many, ultimately creating a better World.”
“This is the book that the Accountancy Profession needs to wake itself up to what clients want.
It’s all in the book - how you start and deliver Business Growth Consultancy to your clients. It’s simply invaluable for those accountants that want to BE the change.
Well done Paul and this book needs to be read by every team member.”
"Having worked with Paul from afar, I can see that the dedication to his work is truly making a difference and inspiring the accountant's he works with. Which in turn is having an amazing impact on the client's that those accounting firms are working with. Do yourself a favour, pick up this book and learn how you can create meaningful impacts in your accounting business which allow you to grow profitably. "
“In his book Paul does not set out to be popular. He challenges you to be so much more than just another beige accountant. And let me tell you, the world doesn’t need any more of them!
In your hands is the book that every dull, boring accountant should read so they get a sense of what the wise ones are doing. Then why wouldn’t you leave mediocre and run-of-the-mill accounting behind you and take the actions and insights suggested by all the contributors to Paul’s book?
If I were an accountant I’d buy every available copy of this book so that the competition can’t get hold of a copy.
Paul, and the firms he’s interviewed for the book, re-invigorate my belief that the accountancy profession can deliver on its potential to change the way that businesses perform.”
I was inspired to be a Chartered Accountant by seeing what a business-savvy accountant called David did for my parents and their business. My parents worked hard, but the success of their business enabled me to enjoy a better life and certainly an upgrade on my holidays! They never made a major decision without David’s input. He was their sounding board, corporate finance man and friend.
One summer in his office David showed me he had a team delivering numbers. A team that meant he could spend his time understanding the numbers, talking to clients and using them to bring greater success to his clients.
Firms need to understand that being just an accountant was never enough and now, in the world of cloud accounting, the need to demonstrate you add value is more important than ever.
This book won’t make you into a business savvy accountant, but it will challenge everything you’ve learnt and done in the profession to date. And then show you how others have done it successfully so that you can follow their lead.”
“Inspiration comes first and that is exactly what Paul’s book provides, along with his positive and realistic enthusiasm teamed with his refreshing energy to transform your accountancy practice into a more valuable one”
“Paul’s timely book – very readable and well presented – is another wake up call to the accountancy profession.
Change fast or become irrelevant. Your call. Simple as.
And Paul shows you how you can make significant change quickly so you will thrive. His guidance and advice has always been first class.”
“I worked with Paul for a number of years. He was coach, consultant, adviser, friend and trusted aide all at the same time. Paul’s knowledge, experience and expertise of the accountancy profession is simply brilliant.
He helped transform our firm and I’m forever indebted to him for all his support. I’m thrilled that Paul has written this book where he openly and transparently shares key insights into how to create an exceptional accountancy firm.
I think the book is a must-read for all accountants who are serious about running a remarkable practice.”
Having worked with Paul for a number of years and read many of the books, which are referred to here, it’s great to see how Paul has pulled so much of this stuff together in one place. What is crystal clear and connected with me, is the importance of changing your mindset and being that advisor first, and an accountant second. We have already taken steps to reflect this and are changing our branding.”