Posts Tagged ‘leadership’
Rethinking Credit Card Merchant Fees
Today, we see the majority of firms reluctantly accepting credit cards from some clients to pay for their accounting services. A relatively small number of firms advertise this option and most only bring it up either when a client specifically asks to use their card or when the firm is trying to collect on a…
Read MoreCan You Feel The Power Shift?
78 million Baby Boomers, born from 1946-1964 need to transfer responsibility, wealth, and assets over the next 12-15 years. It might be easy to lull yourself into believing that the impact of this is a ways off. But studies estimate that 10,000 to 12,000 people are retiring every day and the impact in firms (and…
Read MoreA conversation with Managing Partners
I recently facilitated a panel discussion with three managing partners. The topic of discussion was around developing future leaders. They also shared best practices around creating a culture focused on creating value for clients, and not just what we ordinarily think of as value. True value and deep relationships that come from a focus on…
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…
Read MoreThe Fifth Step in Succession Planning-Develop and Execute a Transition Plan
In previous blogs, I discussed the need to assess the level of need you have for replacing retiring partners, how to assess your firm’s potential for partner level talent, developing that talent into viable successors, and making sure you have the right financial arrangement for buying out and admitting new partners. The final step is…
Read MoreDebrief Tax Season with these Five Questions
The Dust has Settled. April 15th is over a month behind you. Your people have probably had a chance to take at least a short breather before getting back into the swing of things. While this past busy season is still fresh in everyone’s mind, now is a great time to debrief and figure out…
Read MoreThe Myths of Diversity & Inclusion
Every day there is more conversation about diversity and inclusion in the accounting profession. The AICPA formed the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion[1] to begin looking at ethnic diversity which is only one aspect of diversity. The AICPA has also had a focus on gender diversity for over thirty years which continues with the…
Read MoreCommunicate To Drive Change
“Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it.” Reinhold Niebuhr Have you found the meaning of life? If we each had to define our meaning, the meanings we’d interpret would be as diverse as our backgrounds, experiences and beliefs. But no matter what you’re planning and expecting in this life, the one…
Read MorePerformance Reviews & Mentoring Sessions – A Way To Communicate
I have worked with many CPA firms to establish and/or re-engineer mentoring systems and their performance review process. These two things are such an important part of the culture within public accounting firms. Of course, there is a lot to talk about and a way to communicate in these areas. In fact, communication is one…
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