“Work smarter, not harder,” they always say.
But what does that really mean in practice? For Eriona Bajrakurtaj, Managing Director of Majors Accounts & Co and Founder of Volt Digital Transformations, this mantra isn’t just a catchy phrase, it’s a lived reality.
Majors Accounts wasn’t always a digitally savvy firm. Picture this: a traditional accountancy practice, paperwork spilling out from every corner, stacks so high you’d have to squeeze sideways just to enter the office. At their peak, Eriona’s family business served around 3,000 clients, with an exhausting seven-days-a-week workload, 14 years straight without a single day off. Holidays? Those were interrupted by urgent client calls in the backseat of the family car.
Something needed to change.
Their digital journey began before the chaos of COVID-19, and as Eriona recalls, it wasn’t an easy road. Digitising mountains of paper, documenting processes that had never been written down, and getting a whole team to embrace a new digital-first culture took commitment. But when COVID struck, Majors Accounts wasn’t just prepared, they thrived. As others panicked about furlough schemes and legislation, Eriona’s firm became the dependable lifeline their clients desperately needed.
Today, their client base may be smaller (down from 3,000 to just under 1,000), but it’s happier, more engaged, and willing to pay more for proactive advice. It wasn’t tech for tech’s sake, it was technology freeing the team to do what they do best: helping clients thrive.
Now, Eriona helps other firms replicate this digital success with Volt Digital Transformations, guiding accountants and bookkeepers through the daunting maze of digitalisation. And the number one lesson she teaches? Commit fully or don’t bother starting. “Don’t dabble,” Eriona insists. Half-in doesn’t work.
She highlights four critical stages of digital transformation clearly, from making a firm commitment, to process documentation, digitisation, team and client training, and finally continuous improvement and monitoring. Her own experiences make it clear that while many firms fear their clients’ resistance, it’s often the team that’s more hesitant. With the right approach, showing the benefits clearly and patiently, everyone eventually sees the value.
The end result? Firms like Majors Accounts & Co now operate more efficiently and profitably, offering high-value advisory services rather than being bogged down by admin. Eriona emphasises that digitalisation isn’t about removing the human touch. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, it’s about giving accountants and bookkeepers the time, freedom, and headspace to engage more deeply and meaningfully with their clients.
The digital transformation journey is ongoing, Eriona stresses. “We digitised years ago,” she explains, “but I’m still always looking out for new software, new ways of improving our processes.” It’s a journey of constant evolution.
Volt’s ambitious mission goes beyond just processes and profitability. Eriona wants to completely rebrand accountancy, shifting perceptions from “Oh, you’re an accountant?” to “Wow, you help businesses achieve their dreams!” She highlights the immense untapped potential of accountants as genuine business advisors, trusted to drive clients forward, to understand their ambitions, and help them meet their goals.
Eriona’s rallying cry to accountants and bookkeepers? Embrace digital change fully, don’t dabble. Be intentional, retrain consistently, and communicate clearly. The reward is not just more profit, but a more fulfilling, balanced life where the focus shifts from paperwork to genuine relationships and meaningful advice.
With technology as your ally, you’ll rediscover why you became an accountant or bookkeeper in the first place: to make a real difference.
If you’d like to hear more from Eriona and Volt Digital Transformations, you can watch her inspiring session below:
Ready to start your own journey towards digital transformation? Reach out to Eriona for insights, practical advice, or just a friendly chat.
Because in accounting today, working smarter, not harder, is finally within your grasp.
