Russell Bedford response to COVID-19

March 2020

CENTRAL OFFICE

Under the advice of the UK government, our CEO and the Russell Bedford Central Office all started working remotely from the start of the week commencing 16 March.

Our main office phone line has a permanent message explaining that we cannot take calls right now and to email "info@russellbedford.com". This is diverted directly to the emails of the Central Office team and, therefore, enquiries are being dealt with promptly, as normal.  

SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR MEMBER FIRMS

Russell Bedford has launched a new platform on our intranet dedicated to COVID-19. This is being used to upload general guidance documents (what to think about if you are still working in the office, and how to adjust to working from home), as well as regular specific updates from around the world, which our members are providing or sourcing from public websites in their respective jurisdictions.

Additionally, we have teamed up with a media company who are issuing daily press briefings to pass onto our firms, highlighting the latest developments directly related to COVID-19, summarising what is going on around the world. As we know, matters are changing rapidly and such publication provides our members with details of the most up-to-date global information on a daily basis.

In times like these, we need to stick together (in a 'virtual manner' of course!) and so we have created a specific communication facility for members to share their concerns, ideas and suggested solutions to the challenges we are now facing. We are encouraging all to freely discuss how they are tackling difficult issues; and to generally chat about their experiences, as a business and as an individual.

REPLACING PHYSICAL EVENTS

Physical events are indeed being cancelled, but we have online forums, webinars, and platforms to keep the network alive, relevant, and communicative. We shall also start to produce ‘virtual events’, getting people together over video conferencing.

There are so many effects of this pandemic: physical, financial and psychological. It is important that our firms know they have the support from not only the Central Office, but from each other around the world; plus that their clients have the support from their firms. We are sharing ways of how to provide that support and advice. This includes offering access to various webinars on this exact subject via relationships we have with training providers and via our own internal experts.

We continue to be in the strong position to share resources, expertise and ideas from over 100 countries.

UPDATES AND MEASURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Our firms all over the world have been busy producing articles on the various fiscal and economic measures being taken by their governments, to help businesses and individuals who are suffering financially. Their commentary on these and other resulting impacts can be found on their respective websites.

We shall soon be collating all of this, and other such advice from our members, and providing access via a special page on our public website.

MESSAGE OF POSITIVITY AND PROACTION

Our message is always one of positivity. We have to be there for our clients and we have to ensure they feel (and indeed, ARE) supported. 

Accounting firms are in a fortuitous position, as providers of professional services, geared up for working remotely, able to function virtually from any location and we will continue to provide the expert services that clients of Russell Bedford firms have come to expect.

Communication is key; and we shall continue to reach out to our members and, in turn, they shall connect with their clients, via modern technology.

It is more important than ever to be in a global network at a time like this; and not to feel alone!