According to the white paper, a diversification of service offerings is the key for accountants to take advantage of “a golden opportunity” in a changing environment.

“Progressive firms are now aware that to avoid losing revenue you need to provide more advisory services in order to grow your client base and help those clients achieve their financial goals,” Mr Madder said.

“The clear message is that while accounting firms aren’t offering a diversity of service they will struggle."

The white paper also detailed the need for technology to be employed as an important strategic counter-balance as the compliance end of services is “eroded”.

“If accounting firms don’t start addressing technology and outsourcing to seek to reduce the cost of their compliance work, becoming more competitive and freeing up their teams' time to engage and value add for clients, then they’re going to miss the opportunity and they will lose their position as the client’s trusted adviser,” the paper said.

Mr Madder added that with financial advisers setting up accounting divisions while simultaneously offering lending solutions, “the lines between bookkeeping and the traditional accounting space are blurring”.

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