The secret behind strong advice? Accountants who share knowledge

Digitization gives accountants the space to spend more time on advice, but technology alone is of course insufficient. The key to really strong advice lies in sharing knowledge within the team or various departments. By sharing expertise and insights with colleagues, not only for better collaboration, but also for advice that really benefits customers. In this article, you'll discover how knowledge sharing makes a difference — and how you can get started right away.

Digitization is the start, not the end goal

A lot of time used to go into processing figures, but in recent years, the role of accountants has changed dramatically. Today, digitization makes processes faster and more efficient than ever. The steep rise of AI is certainly having a major impact on this enormous drive for efficiency. The result? Accountants need to be able to focus more and more on their real added value: providing strategic and financial advice. But making a difference requires more than technology. Find out how they work at VGD make maximum use of technology for their knowledge management!

“Knowledge sharing is essential for accountants who really want to have an impact”

Today, advice comes from experience, research, refresher courses and expertise. A time-consuming but necessary process. However, when employees share knowledge smartly (and efficiently) with colleagues, they can also effectively make a difference compared to other accountants. In what follows, you'll find out why knowledge sharing is essential for accountants who want to have a real impact.

1. Technology creates time for advice — and that should be used optimally

Thanks to digitization, accountants have more time to discuss strategy and financial growth with their clients. When accountants can make optimal use of their expertise — such as reusing existing advice (from colleagues) — this saves a huge amount of time. Offices that have these know how to gather expertise and then easily accessible making for employees, thus taking a huge advantage.

“Digitization gives you time, but sharing knowledge ensures that time is really well spent.”

But here, of course, lies the big pitfall. If the knowledge within an office remains spread across different colleagues, systems or locations, you are not making optimal use of that extra time. Instead of separate advice, a customer needs insights that are widely supported — from taxation to business strategy. Digitization gives you time, but sharing knowledge ensures that time is really well spent.

2. Customers ask for more and want real engagement

The modern customer expects more than mere numbers. They want an accountant who thinks proactively, suggests alternatives and makes risks transparent. To give that kind of advice, you need to look beyond your own expertise. Perhaps a colleague in the tax department identifies just the one risk that makes your advice stronger. Find out how they're at By Havermaet continue working on existing expertise!

“You have to look beyond your own expertise”

By regularly sharing knowledge and discussing cases, you not only work more efficiently, but you also get a better grip on the wider context of a customer question. Scientific research has previously shown that when teams structurally share knowledge, they score much better (up to 30 percent) in solving (complex) issues. It's not just about working smarter, but about better customer results.

3. Sharing knowledge makes your work easier and more fun

How often do you run into a question that you don't immediately have the answer to? Maybe you're restructuring and want to make sure you don't overlook tax optimizations. Instead of figuring everything out for yourself, there might be a colleague who has worked on this matter before and anchored their expertise in the office's digital knowledge database.

After all, pointless duplication and loss of time cause frustrations. So you can save yourself this annoyance if knowledge sharing is common in the office. Read here how they add Lievens & Co built our own internal knowledge database!

4. Technology as a tool, not a substitute for people

Although technology is automating more and more work, sharing knowledge between people remains crucial. A software package can process data, but it makes no connections or asks strategic questions. That remains human work.

“Technology can facilitate knowledge sharing”

What technology can do is facilitate knowledge sharing. Think of shared knowledge bases where colleagues store insights, or project management tools that ensure that everyone always has access to the latest information. But technology only works when there is a culture where colleagues actively engage with each other and share knowledge.

5. A culture of knowledge sharing starts with trust

Sharing knowledge goes beyond just “asking questions”. It requires a culture where colleagues feel comfortable sharing their insights and getting help. There are often still invisible barriers here: accountants sometimes feel responsible to know everything themselves, or are afraid that a question will be seen as a weakness.

How do you break that? Start small. Organize informal knowledge sessions where you talk to each other about current cases or recent developments. Encourage an open attitude by rewarding knowledge sharing, for example by celebrating successes where a team has provided strong advice together.

6. What does it deliver? Better advice, more loyal customers and a stronger office

Sharing knowledge is not a waste of time, it is an investment in quality. Customers notice the difference when an office works together as one team. An expert who presents widely supported insights gives more confidence and adds more value.

“Sharing knowledge is not a waste of time, it is an investment in quality”

In addition, knowledge sharing creates internal benefits. By using each other's expertise, your work becomes more efficient, you make fewer mistakes and you can tackle more complex customer questions. This not only makes your customers happy, but also strengthens the reputation and growth of your office.

Conclusion: Together, we know more

Digitization has freed accountants from many repetitive tasks, but the real work is just beginning. Giving advice requires broad insights and cooperation. By sharing knowledge with your colleagues, you not only make your own work better, but also that of your office. The result? Happy customers, stronger advice and a workplace you're proud to be part of.

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