2016 CPAFMA Technology Survey Findings-Tax Technology

The CPA Firm Management Association* recently conducted its first comprehensive technology survey tailored specifically to member firms with the goal of identifying the applications, products and processes utilized by peers.  The survey was conducted in January 2016, with 140 members participating, 90% of which had between 11 and 149 personnel and almost half being multi-office.  …

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Quick Recovery After April 15

April 15 has passed and for many, burnout is alive and well.  The long hours and intense deadlines have left you drained – physically and emotionally.  While you may indeed be secretly wishing you could go bury yourself in your home for a month and sleep,  the reality is that you may not feel you…

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What’s in Your Head Can Make, or Cost, You Millions

While I’ve long since given up my boyhood hopes of becoming a superhero, I continued to hold on to the notion that there was some special, magical “something” out there that allows us to have all the great things we want in life, and little or none of the bad stuff. Fortunately, to my surprise,…

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Building Your Bench for Succession – A Few Ideas to Help You

Thousands of firms are working through the succession and retirement of senior partners and deciding along the way whether or not they can pull it off internally and stay independent. The single most important factor for success is what we see when we look over our shoulder – is the bench of people there to…

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Find Out What It’s Like to Be Your Client

Ever wonder what it’s really like to be a client working with your firm? That’s important information and try as you might, you’re simply not going to find out by looking at your own experience or that of your staff. The solution is simple: engage professional help to conduct client interviews that will give you…

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Bridging the Gap-The Conclusion

On behalf of the members of the CPA Consultants’ Alliance, I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from our 2015 blog series focused on the central theme of Bridging the Gap-Strengthening the Connection Between Current and Emerging Leaders. The membership of the CPA Consultants’ Alliance is comprised of many of the top thought leaders in…

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A Call For Change: An Open Letter To Each Generation

With three distinct generations in the workplace today, the impacts are phenomenal.  Firm leaders are challenged to balance and blend each generation’s unique historical context, motivators and somewhat differing values systems to create a unified team and a sustainable firm.   To ensure that the generations co-exist and collaborate, it is helpful to understand the…

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Marketing is Not Just for Partners Anymore

Marketing in the accounting industry has an interesting, and fairly short, history. It is not unusual to find partners who still remember when it was against AICPA rules to advertise, market, directly solicit or even participate in competitive bidding. Virtually non-existent for most of the 20th century, accounting marketing has evolved at a rather slow…

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They Don’t Want to Be Owners!

In our ongoing series about bridging the gap between management and emerging leaders, we would be remiss in not addressing the topic of moving from emerging leader to owner.  The perception among many in our profession is that there are fewer individuals at the senior and manager levels who aspire to be an owner and,…

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Keeping Your Team Members Connected, Engaged and Energized

A recent survey conducted by the AICPA showed one of the biggest concerns accounting firms are facing today is employee retention and engagement. This is no surprise and is endemic throughout the entire profession.  As the economy takes a turn for the better, the rate at which team members are leaving their current employment or…

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