John Savignano’s Take on the Importance of Human Element in Accounting

John Savignano CPA is an accomplished accountant and the CEO of Bottom Line Consulting, an accounting firm in New York that focuses on tax compliance, research, and consulting. He has been in the accounting industry for years and has previously worked with several firms in different accounting positions. He was a manager at the accounting giant PwC and worked with Carl Zeiss AG as a corporate controller. He also worked for MasterCard International as the president of tax.

According to Professor John Savignano, accounting goes beyond dealing with balance sheets, debits, and credits. He values creating personal relationships with his clients, which he has been practicing even when teaching at Fordham University Gabelli. He likes to personalize all his services for all clients because he believes that’s what people look for in an accountant. He teaches his students that accounting is about solving problems, building networks, and collaborating.

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Over the years, technological advancements have made it possible to use automation in accounting. This automation can perform tasks such as scanning invoices, retrieving bank statements from outside the firm, and reconciling ledgers with a high accuracy level. John Savignano, however, still advocates for the human element in accounting since technology can be costly.

Even with the advancement in technology, human connection is still vital in accounting. Accountants deeply understand what numbers mean for a company, which helps them develop relationships with their clients. These relationships help companies maintain their position in the market while staying up-to-date with the latest technologies.

Even though Savignano is an advocate for the human approach in accounting, he also appreciates and embraces technology. As technology replaces some manual jobs, firms need to develop other services that can generate revenue. He encourages junior staff members to embrace technology in creating relationships with customers through channels like emails and phone calls. He teaches them to create chemistry with clients to earn their loyalty.