Posts by Carrie Steffen
It’s Time to Embrace Virtual Learning
If you’re one of the thousands of people who has recently transitioned to a remote work environment, hopefully you’re beginning to find your rhythm. The current pandemic has forced some professionals to adopt work from home (WFH) protocols, and some firms to support it perhaps before being “ready”. There is no doubt that the accounting…
Read MoreIt’s Time to Embrace Virtual Learning
If you’re one of the thousands of people who has recently transitioned to a remote work environment, hopefully you’re beginning to find your rhythm. The current pandemic has forced some professionals to adopt work from home (WFH) protocols, and some firms to support it perhaps before being “ready”. There is no doubt that the accounting…
Read MoreSecuring Client Loyalty in Uncertain Times
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty. In addition to our daily routines being thrown into disorder, the accounting profession is uniquely affected in so many ways. Deadlines are shifting. Rules are changing. Even that which seemed straightforward is open to interpretation (like payroll costs!). There is comfort and security in routine,…
Read MoreBe the Firm You Want to Be.
Every organization is perfectly designed to produce the results it’s producing. If you want a different result – you must change something. The originator of this phrase is debatable. Its premise is not. The business case for change is that firms that continue to do things as they always have always at some point…
Read MoreHow Firms are Winning Through Client Service
CPA firms of all shapes and sizes are taking a long look at their client service process. And it’s no wonder, considering that client service is THE differentiator among CPA firms and is the lynchpin in client loyalty. CPA firms often rely on revenue numbers, realization and chargeable hours to determine how business is going.…
Read MoreThe Hard Truth about Soft Skills
“We’re in a relationship business.” I’ve heard this more times than I can count during the 20+ years I’ve worked with CPAs firms. It’s the one constant in the CPA profession. But, I wonder…have we devalued relationship building? We have access to limitless technology tools as a means of communicating and finding the information and…
Read MoreGrowing and Developing Future Leaders is a Two-Way Street
Firms are at a crossroad when it comes to transitioning to the next generation of leaders. According to the CPACA study on Succession Readiness 48.3% of firms of all sizes cite “lack of future leadership talent” as a primary obstacle in their succession. While some partners believe there is a lack of leadership talent within…
Read MoreBe the Firm You Want to Be
Every organization is perfectly designed to produce the results it’s producing. If you want a different result – you must change something. The originator of this phrase is debatable. Its premise is not. The business case for change is that firms that continue to do things as they have always done at some point will…
Read MoreDeveloping a Culture of Growth in Your Firm
Many firms we talk to struggle to determine the best business development approach. Does it make sense to hire full-time sales people? Can’t we expect our marketing director to make sales for us? How will we compensate a full-time sales person? Here are some ideas to keep in mind when embarking on the process of…
Read MoreContent Marketing: A New Tool in Your Old Toolbox
If you’ve read anything about marketing strategy in the past year or so, you’ve probably noticed the term content marketing making its way into a lot of headlines. Also known as in-bound marketing, content marketing is creating or re-publishing relevant and valuable content online in order to attract and retain clients. Content can be anything…
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