Tribal knowledge is a term that frequently refers to how knowledge is retained in a firm. You can train everybody in the firm all you want, but if people aren't deploying what you have prepared them for, that’s a significant challenge. It can also be…
When I’m coaching people within a firm to position themselves for success and ultimately be promoted to Partner level, I recognize that everybody has different strengths and areas for improvement. My job is to help them realize their potential. However, with each one, we discuss…
What’s the secret to having a positive trajectory in your growth as an accountant? I’ve spoken plenty about the power of exceptional client service, but there’s also the power of being aligned with the leadership of your CPA firm. It sounds simple enough to do,…
We frequently say that giving the utmost client service is the best new business strategy because you may not only retain that client but also expand their business with your firm. Most CPA firms would agree with that statement. Yet, many of those same firms…
Generally speaking, CPA firms will almost always respond to an RFP – whether they should or shouldn’t. So they act like there’s no cost to responding to an RFP, when in fact, there certainly can be in terms of out-of-pocket costs for producing printing materials,…
One of the sadder days in the life of a CPA firm comes when a Partner has to leave the firm. Why? Picture a Partner who has some nice clients and maybe a nice book of business. All appears to be well. They keep plugging…
There should never be a time that a CPA firm isn't thinking about its growth plan. No matter what kind of times we're living in, you're either growing or you're dying. That may sound harsh or extreme, but it's a mindset that managing partners would…
When I tell people I made Partner in a CPA firm at 31 years old, people ask what my “secret” was. Did I know the right people internally? Did I land one particular client that was monumental to the firm’s success? I guess you could…
In practically every CPA firm, you can count on many different generations being represented and, with that, several different communication styles. The way you communicate to millennials versus Generation X versus Boomers can create unique challenges each time. Whereas some people want facts delivered to…
As CPA firms begin to reacclimate themselves to the workplace beyond COVID-19, they will need to look upon the idea of engaging with their people with a fresh set of eyes. With the assumption that a significant portion of your firm may wish to work…
