Accountants doing away with time-based fees

CBA accountant

19 June 2018
| By Hannah Wootton |
image
image
expand image

The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has predicted a 12 per cent decline in the use of time-based fees by accountants over the next two years, as almost 90 per cent of firms attempt to diversify their service offering.

The latest Commonwealth Bank Accounting Market Pulse found that time-based billing would go from representing 62 per cent of overall firm billings to 50 per cent. At the same time, accountants were looking to grow the proportion of fixed fees, value-based fees and retainers over those two years.

At larger firms, time-based and fixed fees already almost accounted for the same portion of revenue on average, at 42 and 38 per cent respectively. The same firms forecast that, for them, time-based billing would represent just 28 per cent within two years.

CBA’s national manager of professional services, Marc Totaro said that the shift could benefit firms as there was demand for more transparent fee structures.

“Industry feedback suggests that a push among firms for greater fee transparency and predictability has been largely driven by clients, but it can also bring significant benefits to firms themselves,” he said.

“Through replacing time-based fee structures with other remuneration models, firms can harness efficiency and automation to sustainably enhance profitability, while continuing to deliver superior value to their clients.”

The report also found that accountants have confidence around future business conditions, with a net confidence reading of 51 per cent in 2018, up from 33 per cent last year. Firms expected conditions to improve within the next year before moderating the year after.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest news and developments in wealth management industry

MARKET INSIGHTS

Completely agree Peter. The definition of 'significant change is circumstances relevant to the scope of the advice' is s...

3 weeks 3 days ago

This verdict highlights something deeply wrong and rotten at the heart of the FSCP. We are witnessing a heavy-handed, op...

4 weeks 1 day ago

Interesting. Would be good to know the details of the StrategyOne deal....

1 month ago

Insignia Financial has confirmed it is considering a preliminary non-binding proposal received from a US private equity giant to acquire the firm. ...

1 week 1 day ago

Six of the seven listed financial advice licensees have reported positive share price growth in 2024, with AMP and Insignia successfully reversing earlier losses. ...

4 days 9 hours ago

Specialist wealth platform provider Mason Stevens has become the latest target of an acquisition as it enters a binding agreement with a leading Sydney-based private equi...

3 days 13 hours ago