What Makes a Proactive Accountant Different?
A proactive accountant contacts you before you have to ask. They flag the tax planning opportunity in April, not after 30 June. They call when they spot something in your numbers, not just when it’s time to lodge. The difference between a proactive accountant and a reactive one is not personality. It is process, capacity, and whether they have built their firm to have time for you.
Who this is for: Business owners in Brisbane who are not sure whether their current accountant is really working for them, or who are looking for an accountant and want to know what to actually look for.
Most accountants call themselves proactive. Very few are.
Read any accounting firm’s website in Brisbane and you will read the same words. Proactive. Strategic. Trusted advisers. They are in every bio, every homepage, and every LinkedIn profile.
The problem is that proactivity is easy to say and very hard to deliver. It requires your accountant to have time. Time to look at your numbers outside of tax season. Time to read the ATO’s compliance updates and think about what they mean for your situation. Time to call you in May and say: here is something worth doing before 30 June.
Most firms are too busy to do that. Not because they don’t care, but because they have taken on more clients than they can genuinely serve well. When that happens, you get compliance when you ask for it and advice when you chase it. That is not proactive, its reactive.
The research: When Acctivate asked its own clients what proactive actually means to them, the answer was not complicated. ‘Proactive means two things: deadlines done before I ask, and occasional useful ideas when they matter.’ That is a low bar. Most firms still miss it.
Reactive vs. Proactive: What Each One Looks Like in Practice
| Service Offering | Reactive accountant | Proactive accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Tax planning | Tells you what you owe after the year ends | Contacts you in April with specific strategies for before 30 June |
| Superannuation | Tells you when to process your super contributions. From 1 July Payday Super is now law. | Reminds you each pay run: here is your Payday Super obligation and the updated concessional cap. From 1 July 2026 Employers must pay Super Guarantee with each pay run. |
| Structure reviews | Reviews your structure when you request it | Flags when your income growth means your structure needs revisiting |
| ATO changes | You find out about new rules from the news | They contact you when a rule change affects your situation specifically |
| Instant asset write-off | Mentioned at tax time, without a plan for how to use the permanent $20,000 threshold | Raised in advance: here is what qualifies under the permanent $20,000 threshold and how to time purchases for maximum benefit. |
| BAS and deadlines | Lodged on time, no communication unless something goes wrong | You know it is done before the deadline because they tell you |
| Business decisions | You make a major purchase or hire, then mention it at tax time | They ask to be consulted before major decisions that have tax implications |
| Responsiveness | Response time is days. Sometimes longer during busy periods. | Acknowledged within 24 hours. You are never left wondering. |
| Year-end meeting | Summary of what happened. Returns lodged. See you next year. | Review of the year, plan for the next one, specific actions for the next 90 days |
BUDGET REFORMS: The 2026-27 Budget introduced major changes that are now law (passed Parliament 25 June 2026): CGT reform replacing the 50% discount with CPI indexation and a 30% minimum tax (from 1 July 2027); negative gearing restricted to new builds (from 1 July 2027); Payday Super (from 1 July 2026); discretionary trust 30% minimum tax (from 1 July 2028). A proactive accountant would have already contacted affected clients about each of these.
Signs your current accountant is reactive (not proactive)
None of these mean your accountant is bad at their job. They may be excellent at compliance. But compliance is the floor, not the ceiling.
| Signs your accountant is reactive | Signs your accountant is proactive |
|---|---|
| You only hear from them at tax time | They contact you in April or May about EOFY planning |
| You find out about rule changes from the news, not from them | They reach out when an ATO change affects your situation |
| You initiate every conversation | They bring ideas to you, not just answers |
| Meetings are backward-looking: here is what happened | Meetings include a plan for what to do next |
| You are not sure what your accountant actually does day-to-day | You know exactly what they are working on and when |
| Questions go unanswered for days | Acknowledged within 24 hours, every time |
| Tax planning means filing your return correctly | Tax planning means strategy before the year ends, not after |
| You would not feel comfortable calling them with a quick question | You call them. They pick up or call back the same day. |
What proactive does not mean
Worth clearing up, because the word gets misused.
- It does not mean calling you every week to check in. Most business owners do not want that. Proactive means contacting you when something actually matters, before you have to think of it yourself.
- It does not mean generating more fees. A proactive accountant helps you plan ahead so you are not scrambling. That often saves money, not costs more.
- It does not mean doing your job. Proactivity in accounting is about information and timing. Knowing what is coming, telling you in advance, and being available when you need to act.
- It does not mean complexity. The most proactive thing an accountant can do is give you a clear answer. Not ten options. Not a three-page memo full of hedging. A recommendation, and the rationale for it.
From Acctivate’s clients: “Tell me A or B. Don’t give me ten options. I want black-and-white recommendations.” That is what proactive looks like from the client’s side. Not volume. Clarity.
Questions to ask before you switch accountants
If you are looking for a new accountant, or reconsidering your current one, these questions will tell you more than any website or brochure.
On responsiveness
- What is your typical response time when a client emails you with a question?
- Do clients have a direct line to you, or do they go through reception?
- What happens when you are on leave? Who covers your clients?
On proactivity
- When do you contact clients about EOFY tax planning? What does that conversation look like?
- How do you stay across ATO changes and communicate them to clients?
- Give me an example of a time you contacted a client with an idea they had not thought of.
On capacity
- How many clients do you personally look after?
- During May and June, how available are you to have planning conversations?
- What is your workflow when you take on a new client? How do you get across their situation?
On fit
- Do you work with many businesses in my industry?
- What are the main things you would want to change about how my accounts are currently set up?
- How do you charge? Is it fixed fees or hourly?
One thing to pay attention to: The best accountants answer these questions specifically, not generically. ‘We prioritise responsiveness’ is a brochure answer. ‘We acknowledge every email within 24 hours as a policy’ is an accountant who has thought about this and built a system for it.
How Acctivate Approaches Proactive Accounting
Acctivate is a CA-qualified business accounting firm in Brisbane, working with established SMEs across trades, allied health, professional services, and property.
The firm is deliberately small. Not because of lack of ambition, but because keeping the client list tight is the only way to actually deliver what clients say they want: someone who knows their business, responds quickly, and brings ideas before they are asked.
What Acctivate does differently:
- 24-hour acknowledgement on every email and message You will always know we have received your question. Not days later.
- EOFY tax planning conversations happen in April, not July We initiate this. You should not have to chase us for a pre-30 June review.
- CA-qualified team with Xero advisory certification Chartered Accountants is the highest accounting qualification in Australia.
- Fixed fees with no bill shock You know what you are paying before we start. No surprises at year end.
- Direct access to senior accountants You deal with the people who actually know your file, not a rotating junior.
- Industry specialisation in trades, allied health, professional services, and property General advice for any business is rarely the best advice for your business.
- Strategy sessions, not just compliance meetings Every meeting ends with specific actions for the next 90 days, not just a summary of what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Straight answers to the questions business owners usually ask about switching accountants or finding a better one.
What is a proactive accountant?
A proactive accountant contacts you before you have to ask. They flag tax planning opportunities before 30 June, not after. They tell you about ATO rule changes that affect your situation before you read about them online. They initiate conversations about your structure, your super, and your cashflow rather than waiting for you to bring it up. The opposite is a reactive accountant, which is what most people have: competent at compliance, but only available when contacted.
How do I know if my accountant is proactive or reactive?
The simplest test is this: in the last 12 months, how many times did your accountant contact you with something you had not already raised? If the answer is zero, or close to it, you have a reactive accountant. Other signs include never hearing from them between lodgement dates, finding out about rule changes from the news rather than from them, and meetings that look back at what happened without planning what to do next.
Is a proactive accountant more expensive?
Not necessarily. A reactive accountant who charges hourly and does extra work because issues were not caught early can cost more than a proactive firm on a fixed fee. The real question is what you are getting for your money. If your accountant only contacts you at tax time and does not initiate planning conversations, you are paying for compliance only. That may be fine for some businesses. For a growing SME making major financial decisions, the cost of the wrong decision usually exceeds the cost of better advice.
What is the difference between an accountant and a business adviser?
An accountant prepares your financial statements, lodges your returns, and keeps you compliant with the ATO. A business adviser uses those numbers to help you make better decisions: when to restructure, how to manage cashflow, whether to take on debt, what a sale or acquisition might look like. A proactive accountant does both. Compliance is handled without drama, and the advisory conversation happens throughout the year rather than only at tax time.
How many clients should a good accountant look after?
There is no single right number, but it is a question worth asking. An accountant managing 300 or more clients personally has very little time for proactive contact with any of them. A firm that keeps its client list smaller, by design, can afford to actually know your business. When you interview a new accountant, ask directly how many clients they personally look after and what their typical communication frequency is with each one.
What should I bring to my first meeting with a new accountant?
Your last two years of tax returns and financial statements, your current Xero or bookkeeping file if you have one, a list of any major decisions you are thinking about in the next 12 to 24 months, and any questions about your current structure or tax position that have not been answered to your satisfaction. A good accountant will use the first meeting to get across your situation and tell you what they would do differently, not just to pitch their services.
Is Acctivate right for my business?
Acctivate works best for established businesses in Brisbane, typically generating $500,000 or more in annual revenue, that have outgrown basic compliance-only accounting. The firm specialises in trades, allied health, professional services, and property. If you are a sole trader with straightforward returns and no employees, Acctivate may not be the right fit. If you are a growing business that wants an accountant who knows your numbers and contacts you before you have to ask, it is worth a conversation.
Elle Green, CA
Elle Green is a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ) and Co-Founder of Acctivate Business Accountants, with over a decade of experience supporting small businesses across taxation and cash flow management. Holding a Bachelor of Commerce and a Xero Advisor certification, Elle is known for translating complex financial concepts into clear, practical guidance for business owners.
Want to talk this through?
If your accountant has not contacted you about EOFY planning, you have not had a structure review in the last two years, or you are simply not sure whether your current firm is really working for you, Acctivate is happy to have a straight conversation about it. No jargon, no obligation.
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