Relationships Drive Results
Every successful practice has one thing in common. It’s not the fanciest accounting system or the biggest client list. It’s strong relationships.
Clients, regulators, suppliers, staff, and partners can either make your life easy—or make it very hard. “Stakeholder Power Moves” is about learning how to turn those relationships into real results that help you grow your practice, protect your clients, and build lasting influence.
This is not soft talk. It’s a hard-skill session for accountants who want fewer fights with SARS, more loyal clients, and a practice that runs smoother and earns more.
Why Stakeholder Power Matters
As a CBAP, you don’t just balance books. You deal with people.
Every tax submission, compliance review, or client meeting involves someone whose decision affects your work. If they trust you, things move fast. If they don’t, even simple tasks become uphill battles.
Stakeholder power means using professional influence in honest, practical ways, so that you and your clients win together. It’s about building a reputation that gets things done.
The Client Connection: From Supplier to Partner
Many accountants see clients as transactions. Great accountants see them as partners.
When you manage relationships well, clients stop questioning your fees. They start asking for your advice.
Power Moves in client management include:
Listening first. Let clients talk before you sell or explain.
Speaking their language. Drop the accounting jargon. Explain what a SARS rule means for their cash flow.
Setting boundaries early. Clients respect clarity. Tell them what you can and can’t do.
Showing consistency. Clients trust accountants who deliver what they promise—every single month.
When clients see you as their go-to person for calm, reliable guidance, you’ve turned a relationship into recurring income. That’s stakeholder power in action.
Working with SARS and Other Regulators
Few relationships test your patience like the one with SARS or CIPC. Yet your ability to manage these stakeholders directly affects your clients’ peace of mind, and your own workload.
Stakeholder Power Moves teach you how to:
Communicate with officials clearly and respectfully.
Keep documentation watertight so you’re always ready for queries.
Escalate smartly without burning bridges.
Build a reputation for accuracy and honesty that earns quicker responses.
SARS staff deal with thousands of taxpayers. When they know your name stands for accuracy and professionalism, your clients’ cases often move faster.
That’s not luck, it’s relationship capital built over time.
Inside Your Own Practice
If you lead a small team, stakeholder management starts at home.
Junior staff, admin assistants, and part-time bookkeepers are your internal stakeholders. When they feel respected and clear about expectations, your clients feel the difference.
Simple habits make a huge difference:
Keep everyone in the loop about deadlines and client feedback.
Ask for input before changing systems or processes.
Recognise good work. Even a quick “thank you” builds loyalty.
A motivated team means fewer errors, better turnaround times, and happier clients. You don’t need expensive incentives, just good communication and fairness.
Turning Conflict into Cooperation
Every accountant faces difficult clients. Some are late with documents; others refuse to follow advice.
Stakeholder Power Moves give you tools to handle conflict professionally. The key is to separate the person from the issue.
Stay calm. Emotion creates escalation. Facts create solutions.
Acknowledge frustration. Sometimes people just need to feel heard.
Restate your shared goal. “We both want SARS off your back.”
Offer choices. Give clear next steps instead of blame.
When clients see you as a problem-solver rather than a critic, they stay loyal even when times are tough.
Reputation: Your Strongest Currency
In accounting, reputation is capital. A single act of professionalism can turn a regulator into an ally or a client into a lifelong ambassador. Power Moves help you protect and grow that reputation through consistent behaviour:
Keeping promises.
Communicating early when delays happen.
Owning mistakes and fixing them fast.
Staying updated on laws so your advice is never out of date.
CIBA believes accountants are nation-builders, not just number-crunchers
Every interaction you have shapes trust in the profession and in the broader financial system. That’s why stakeholder power is not optional, it’s a professional responsibility.
The Ethics Link
Influence must always stay ethical.
The CIBA Code of Conduct reminds us that credibility depends on integrity and objectivity.
Stakeholder power isn’t about manipulation. It’s about earning trust through transparency and consistency.
When you use influence to help clients act responsibly and stay compliant, you strengthen both your practice and South Africa’s business environment.
Practical Benefits You’ll Notice
CBAPs who apply Stakeholder Power Moves report immediate improvements:
Fewer misunderstandings with clients and SARS.
Faster payments because clients see your value.
More referrals thanks to improved trust.
Higher staff morale from clear communication.
Better risk control because you spot issues early through open relationships.
Every one of these outcomes has a direct impact on profit, efficiency, and peace of mind.
CIBA’s Bigger Picture
CIBA’s philosophy is simple: accountants drive economic growth.
When practitioners build strong networks of trust, with clients, regulators, and communities, they help small businesses survive, grow, and employ more people.
That’s why CIBA invests in sessions like Stakeholder Power Moves. They strengthen the profession’s real influence: practical credibility.
Relationship skills turn those values into action. They ensure that CBAPs are not only compliant professionals but also trusted advisors who shape South Africa’s financial future.
How to Put It into Practice Today
Map your stakeholders. List clients, suppliers, team members, and officials who influence your success.
Identify pain points. Where do delays, confusion, or friction happen most?
Pick one quick fix. A clearer email, a shorter report, a thank-you message, it all counts.
Review monthly. Ask yourself what changed after you improved your relationship.
Keep learning. Attend the session and apply one lesson immediately.
Small, consistent actions build long-term credibility. Over time, they multiply into smoother operations, stronger client loyalty, and a reputation that opens doors.
Final Word
Stakeholder power is not about personality. It’s about purpose.
When you manage relationships with skill and respect, you protect your clients, grow your income, and strengthen your role as a professional who keeps the economy moving.
Join CIBA here for a CPD on Stakeholder Power Moves, Turning Relationships into Results – 20 October 2025
Stakeholder Power Moves – Turning Relationships into Results
Why do some accountants consistently earn client trust, win regulator respect, and lead teams with ease, while others face constant pushback?
It’s not luck. It’s stakeholder management.
Join me on 20 October 2025 for a 1-hour live CIBA session that shows you how to:
✅ Win buy-in from clients, regulators, and teams
✅ Turn compliance pressure into collaboration
✅ Build credibility that drives growth
✅ Communicate with confidence—even in conflict
This isn’t theory. It’s a practical toolkit for accountants who want to stand out as trusted advisors and turn relationships into measurable business results.
📅 Date: 20 October 2025
🕒 Time: 15:00
🎓 CPD: 2 Units | Category: Catalyst, Practice Management
💻 Format: Live Event
💰 Cost: R230 VAT incl.
👉 Register here
