1 Week Pro Bono Project: We conducted “Ask Accountants Anything”

From July to September 2017, 14 members of PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata LLC visited the coastal region of Iwate Prefecture, and conducted “Ask Accountants Anything,” a pro bono activity to support the accounting matters of sole proprietors who have been devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

In 2015, four years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, there were still many proprietors in the affected areas worried about their prospects of acquiring funding to rebuild their businesses and homes.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata LLC felt that the situation presented a prime opportunity for professionals to utilize their expertise, and in July 2015 commenced accounting consultation services for the local sole proprietors, in cooperation with Iwate Prefecture’s Coast Wide Area Promotion Bureau and Rikuzentakata Commercial and Industrial Association.

Now in its third year, it has expanded its scope of support to the whole coastal region of Iwate Prefecture and it is engaged in initiatives to build the foundations of the local economy.

“Ask Accountants Anything” provide personal consultation to sole proprietors by a two-member team comprising volunteers from PwC, and work together with the local proprietors to seek solutions to accounting problems such as costing and funding.

Accounting Consultation in Rikuzentakata-city

When we had one of the program in Rikuzentakata-city, Iwate Prefecture in September, one of disaster-affected businesses owners said “We’re looking for a manual to guide us.” at our first meeting. After that, two PwC members in charge discussed the solution until late at night in order to respond to his words and made him things like cash-flow simulation and more.

In order to allow them to be independent after the end of our support, PwC members explained how to use the cash-flow tables and stock-management tables. At the end of the consultation, small business owner said “It feels like light came over in future management. I gained confidence by receiving expert advice.”

On the one hand, there are cases where the business situation has changed after the accounting consultation and new issues have arisen. Therefore, we are planning to establish a follow-up scheme to achieve continuous support.

Partnership with Coastal Regional Development Bureau, Iwate Prefecture, Rikuzentakata-city, and Rikuzentakta-city Chamber of Commerce

PwC Japan group will continue to professional skills-based support in Tohoku area to make a big impact on getting local economies running smoothly.