Why Fairness Builds Trust: Lessons from Accountant Andre Shammas

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The Foundation of Trust

Fairness is the quiet engine behind trust. It’s not a policy, a contract, or a checklist — it’s an action repeated every day. In business, it separates people who are respected from those who are simply known.

For accountant and tax preparer Andre Shammas, fairness isn’t just a part of the job; it’s the job itself. Based in El Cajon, California, he’s spent years helping individuals, families, and small business owners manage their taxes and budgeting with honesty and care. “If I succeed but the people around me don’t, then I haven’t really succeeded,” he says.

That attitude has made him not just a reliable accountant but a trusted advisor in his community. It’s a mindset that leaders across every industry — from accounting to entrepreneurship — can learn from.

Why Fairness Matters in Business

Fairness might sound like common sense, but research shows it’s often missing. According to Edelman’s Trust Barometer, 62% of people say they trust businesses less when they feel leaders are unfair or inconsistent. Fairness builds stability. It gives people a reason to return, refer others, and believe in your work.

For Shammas, fairness starts with clear communication. “I’ve had clients walk in with a pile of receipts and panic in their eyes,” he says. “My job isn’t to judge them — it’s to help them make sense of it.”

He remembers one contractor who showed up convinced he’d ruined his taxes. After sorting through months of records, Shammas helped him build a simple system to stay organised. “He sent me an email six months later,” he says. “He wasn’t stressed anymore. That’s what fairness looks like in real life — helping someone feel in control again.”

Fairness isn’t about doing favours. It’s about creating a level field where people know they’ll be treated with the same respect, no matter their background, income, or experience.

Lessons from an Auditor

Before joining Shammas Bureau, Andre worked as an auditor for the State of California. The job taught him how easily numbers can go wrong — and how much fairness matters when they do.

He recalls reviewing a small retail business that made an honest mistake on its filings. “I could’ve just written it up,” he says. “But I looked closer, realised what happened, and walked the owner through the fix.”

That choice built trust. “They didn’t forget that,” he adds. “A few years later, they came to me for accounting help.”

It’s a reminder that being fair doesn’t mean being soft. It means doing what’s right, even when it’s harder or takes longer.

How Fairness Builds Long-Term Trust

It Creates Reliability

When people know what to expect from you, they relax. They stop wondering if you’re hiding something. A consistent, fair approach makes every interaction easier. According to a Harvard Business Review study, companies with higher perceived fairness retain 25% more clients than those that don’t prioritise it.

It Encourages Openness

When clients feel they won’t be judged, they share more. That means fewer surprises and better solutions. “I always tell people, ‘The more you tell me, the more I can help,’” says Shammas. “But they’ll only do that if they trust you.”

It Builds Community

Fairness doesn’t end with one person. When a business operates fairly, it strengthens the whole community. Clients talk. Employees talk. People remember who treated them well when it mattered most.

A Lesson from His Roots

Andre’s sense of fairness didn’t start with spreadsheets — it started at home. Born in Malaga, Spain, he moved to the United States in the 1990s with his family. “I used to fill out forms for my parents because they didn’t understand the language yet,” he says. “That’s when I learned how confusing systems can be.”

That early experience shaped his empathy for clients who feel overwhelmed. “I know what it’s like to sit there with papers you don’t understand,” he says. “That’s why I explain everything in plain language.”

His story is a simple reminder that fairness often begins with understanding. You can’t help people if you don’t see where they’re coming from.

Making Fairness Part of Everyday Work

1. Communicate Clearly

Use simple, direct language. Avoid jargon. Whether you’re an accountant or an app designer, fairness means clarity.

2. Be Consistent

Don’t change your tone or treatment depending on who’s in front of you. Fairness is equality in action.

3. Fix Mistakes Transparently

Everyone makes errors. What matters is how you handle them. Own them, explain them, and show how you’ll prevent them in the future.

4. Listen Before Acting

Fairness starts with listening. Take time to understand people’s stories before making decisions that affect them.

5. Teach, Don’t Judge

Shammas often spends extra time explaining why certain tax rules exist instead of just enforcing them. “If people understand the ‘why,’ they’re more likely to follow through,” he says.

The Role of Fairness in Modern Leadership

In today’s world of automation and online communication, fairness is what keeps relationships human. A report by PwC found that 86% of customers are willing to pay more for a business that treats them fairly and transparently.

That’s not surprising. Fairness turns transactions into relationships. People remember how you made them feel, not how fast you processed their payment.

Shammas puts it simply: “You can’t build trust with shortcuts. You build it by showing up, explaining things, and being fair — even when it takes more time.”

Fairness Beyond Numbers

Andre’s approach isn’t limited to accounting. He applies the same principles in everyday life — from helping friends plan budgets to coaching family through decisions. “Fairness doesn’t switch off when I leave the office,” he says. “It’s who I am.”

He spends weekends BBQing and exploring San Diego with his family. Those quiet moments remind him why fairness matters. “When you treat people right,” he says, “they treat you right back. That’s true at work and at home.”

What Others Can Learn

Fairness builds trust because it’s universal. You don’t need a title, certification, or fancy software to practice it. You just need consistency, honesty, and patience.

Whether you run a start-up in London or a shop in California, the same rule applies: be transparent, stay steady, and keep your promises.

“If someone walks away feeling more confident than when they came in,” Shammas says, “that’s success. That’s what fairness does.”