partners’ percentages surge substantially.
by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research
the rosenberg map study
financially, it’s been a good year for accountants – especially at the partner level.
more: outlook 2023: compensation gets creative | what new leaders want in ownership | getting partners to accept a new pricing philosophy | survey results: partners rejoice on surging fee growth | headcounts grow 5%; pay rates surge at 7% pace | fourteen rules for lateral partner hires
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revenues are up. the income per partner (ipp) is up. profitability is up. firms that qualify as “elite” are more elite than ever. and, yes, size matters.
the rise in ipp has been bullish since 2013, when, according to the 2022 rosenberg survey, the average was a measly $382,00. now it’s up to $583,824 and rising fast, swelling by $60,000 (almost equivalent to the average family income in the u.s.) since last year, a 12 percent increase. the year before that saw a mere 5 percent increase.
let’s examine how much better larger firms are doing, why they are doing better, and what makes an elite firm “elite.”
size does matter
generally, the larger the firm, the higher the ipp.
- at firms with annual fees over $20 million, partners are raking in a respectable $770,000.
- partners at firms in the $10-20 million range aren’t making as much – just $612,000 – but that’s up a staggering 18 percent since last year.
- in the $5 million to $10 million range, partners are making substantially less than those at bigger firms, just $528,000, having increased only 5 percent since last year.
- partners in $2 million to $5 million firms are making only $470,000, but that’s waaaaay up from the previous year when it was $343,000, a breathtaking increase of 37 percent.
and here’s a new twist in the trend. between 2007 and 2020, revenue growth always exceeded ipp growth. but now, for the first time, ipp growth is outpacing revenue growth, rising 12 percent for the former, and 9.5 percent for the latter.
why does size count?
the survey, conducted by the growth partnership, identifies some of the attributes of profitability at large firms.
- they offer more advisory services.
- they engage in marketing and practice development.
- they attract larger clients.
- they attract and retain staff.
- they devote more resources to training.
- they adhere to a strong set of core values.
- they plan strategically.
- they maintain partner accountability.
- they develop staff and groom leaders.
- they have better technology infrastructure.
the elite get eliter
the survey looks closely at firms that qualify as “elite.” the sole qualifying criteria is ipp over $700,000.
this year, 22 percent of participating firms rose into the ranks of the elite, an increase of 5 percent over last year. their average ipp was a comfy $1,066,000, nearly twice the mainstream average.
between last year and this year, all the key numbers for firms and non-equity partners are way up for the elite firms.
- net fees per partner are up 12 percent.
- overall revenue growth is up 22 percent.
- the number of firms offering investment advisory services is up 19 percent.
- compensation for new partners is up 21 percent.
- the percentage of elite firms expecting to acquire another firm in the next three years rose from 51 percent to 61 percent.
the survey identified two main drivers of the higher ipp at elite firms:
- leverage
- the staff-to-partner ratio at elite firms is 11.3, versus just 6.8 among the sub-elite.
- the net fees per equity partner are $3.4 million for the elite, compared with an average of $1.9 million at the mainstream firms.
- the fees per person is $244,000 at elite firms versus $200,000 among the rest.
- rates
- elite partners bill at a stiff $423, 11 percent higher than the $354 charged at mainstream firms.
- net fees per partner average out to $3,378,116, compared to $1,881,312 for all participating firms.
- overall net firm billing rates are $200.60 for the elite, just $168.84 on average for all firms.
significantly, average charge hours for equity partners are almost the same for the elite and the regular. likewise, for professional staff. ditto for average total work hours.
people at elite firms aren’t working more; they’re working smarter.