In the world of enterprise accounting, software has become the backbone of how firms deliver value. It's where all compliance work is streamlined, where insight is uncovered, and increasingly, where advisory conversations are shaped.

Think of it in sporting terms – for example, a football team made up of elite players. While every one of them might be an exceptional athlete, without a training programme that teaches them tactics or learning how to exploit the full breadth of their collective strengths, they will struggle to perform as a team. 

It's not about whether the individuals are talented enough, but whether that talent is being deployed in the smartest possible way. Software in an accounting firm is no different. It has the potential to be transformative, but only when those using it have spent time learning how to get the very best from it.

This is not to say that advisors are unaware of the need – most already know there are features in their existing tech stack that remain underutilised. It is the old problem of priorities: client work fills the diary, and training is pushed back to “when things quieten down”, which, of course, they rarely do. 

What gets lost in the process is the opportunity cost. A single hour of training might reveal a new reporting or forecasting capability, AI functionality, or in-built automation that saves hours each week, or a feature that sparks an entirely different advisory conversation with a client. We see this play out most of the time when our training is deployed; the commercial impact of additional knowledge and know-how is not only significant, but frequently transformative.

Certification carries additional weight. Beyond the product skill, it demonstrates credibility to clients and signals that your firm is not standing still. In a market where competition is fierce, my personal opinion as a CFO is that certification is a way of showing that you are ahead of the curve, not simply keeping up. It provides a visible return on investment, not just in efficiency but in client trust.

It's also worth remembering that many of the firms who get the most from their technology are not necessarily the ones who invest the most in software. They are the ones who invest in their people’s ability to use it well. Training turns a piece of software from a functional tool into a strategic lever. 

The question is not whether training is important. It's whether you can afford to leave the potential of your software untapped. For most firms, the answer is clear!

We tell our customers that when you commit to Spotlight Reporting at the SuperVCFO level or higher, you gain a dedicated team who guides and supports you every step of the way, so you never feel on your own. 

• Our Education, Training and Support team steps in from day one, providing structured professional training that is also recorded for future reference, alongside round-the-clock support when you need it most. 3 x hourly sessions are included in the SuperVCFO package.
• Alongside this, and again at SuperVCFO level, a dedicated Customer Success Manager partners with your firm to focus on strategy, implementation, monetisation and team capability, so the software translates directly into value for your clients. 
• You will also gain access to our library of thought leadership and the Transform in Action programme, designed to embed advisory at scale. 

This level of investment in your success after the contract is signed is rare in the industry, and it's a fast way to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table with your investment in accounting software! Talk to us today.

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