new report: the cpa shortage approaches a tipping point

shapiro
shapiro

how savvy cpa firms are fighting back.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

a new state cpa society report on the dwindling number of college graduates who are pursuing cpa credentials underscores an issue that’s already being confronted by some forward-thinking accounting firms.

the statistics are daunting:

  • nearly half of college accounting majors never sit for the cpa exam.
  • a third of those who take the cpa exam never complete it.
  • on average, it takes 6.5 attempts for candidates to pass all four parts.
  • only 27 percent of test-takers finish all four parts on the first try.
  • 75 percent of current cpas are projected to retire within the next 15 years.

todd shapiro, the illinois cpa society president and chief executive, calls the stagnating cpa pipeline “a threat that will only get worse and grow more troubling without action because there’s no slowdown in sight for accounting talent demand.”

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cpa salaries projected to advance 3.7% in 2017

excerpt from new robert half salary guide
excerpt from new robert half salary guide

firms jockey for best recruits.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

cpa firms should be braced to pay more and further improve their workplace offering perks to attract top talent, according to staffing firm robert half international.

the already hot market for hiring is stoked to get even more heated with rhi predicting that starting salaries for accounting and finance professionals will increase by an average 3.7 percent in 2017. that’s the second highest level of pay hikes projected for all major professional employment sectors nationwide, trailing only the white-hot technology sector, where it sees average starting pays rising 3.8 percent.

the menlo park, calif., firm warns that “competition for top talent can be fierce,” and notes that many firms are already increasing salaries and bonuses to be tops in their local market areas or business niches. “with skilled professionals in high demand and short supply, more employers are willing to negotiate compensation with potential hires,” said paul mcdonald, senior executive director at rhi.

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jobs report: hiring up. wages down.

cpatrendlines jobs report tilthourly earnings drop everywhere.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

maybe it’s the restlessness that comes with the shift from summer to fall. employment figures were up and down all over the place, according to new 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research.

more on staffing and careers:  two ways your strategic plan can reduce turnover  |  the three gears that drive success in the accounting business  |  how to pay non-equity partners  |  get staff to take ownership of work  |  the 44-point staff performance evaluation checklist  |  when staff accountants don’t want to supervise  |  chris allegretti makes retention a top priority at hbk  |  randy myeroff at cohen & co.: winning the youth movement  |  how can we keep new staff longer?  |
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

still, the industry as a whole hit a new high. and women are making huge gains – in accounting overall, in cpa firms and especially in payroll, where their jump from a year ago is an astonishing 16.2 percent.

in this report, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 highlights:

  • current hiring trends in each of the bookkeeping, payroll, tax and cpa segments of the industry.
  • average hourly wages for key segments.
  • typical hours worked per week, and
  • trends concerning women in the accounting workforce.

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different roles for different partners

image of charts in foreground and business partners in backgroundsome people should stick to technical roles, but there’s an impact on profitability.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

when you are a client relationship partner, regardless of your technical specialty, you take on the role of being that client’s general contractor for professional services – that is, his or her most trusted business advisor.

more on performance management: dealing with a-d clients (you know who we mean) | firms only grow when partners play their roles | the four basic parts of cpa firm partner agreements | younger partners see succession differently | how to compensate your managing partner | the job of managing partner: empowered or emasculated? | how the best managing partners turn ideas into reality
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

if you are unwilling to fulfill this role, then you shouldn’t be a client relationship manager; you should be a technical partner. we define these two roles broadly as follows:
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women, tax prep see workforce growth

cpatrendlines jobs report tiltsorry, payroll. life remains tough for you folks.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

the tax preparation sector of the industry is adding employees. hmm, why could that be?

payroll continues its swings, with numbers and hours up while earnings are down. women continue to see gains both overall and in cpa firms, while their numbers in payroll increased by double digits.

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

in this report, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 highlights:

  • current hiring trends in each of the bookkeeping, payroll, tax and cpa segments of the industry
  • average hourly wages for key segments
  • typical hours worked per week, and
  • trends concerning women in the accounting workforce

read more →

firms only grow when partners play their roles

money tree growing in the middle of green meadowhow often are you seeing your clients?

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

whether you simply desire to improve your firm’s operations, or identify and implement a new long-term strategy, you need to be clear about the role that the owner(s), partners or shareholders should be playing in your firm.

more on performance management: how big ‘books’ hurt firms | how small ‘books’ hurt firms | why the partner agreement matters | merging for the wrong reasons | accountability includes partners | 7 succession questions to ignore for now | develop your employees or suffer the consequences
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the roles and responsibilities we’ve suggested are based on the best practices we’ve had the opportunity to observe and be involved with in our work with cpa firms throughout north america.
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how big ‘books’ hurt firms

young businessman with forehead resting on handsthe invisible hazards of book of business.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

as we stated in our last column, balancing “book of business” is one of the largest stumbling blocks for cpa firms.

more on performance management: how small ‘books’ hurt firms | the four basic parts of cpa firm partner agreements | younger partners see succession differently | how to compensate your managing partner | the job of managing partner: empowered or emasculated? | how the best managing partners turn ideas into reality | make accountability a process | accountability requires clear expectations | base retirement on today’s operations | how involved should retired owners be? | how to find a partner’s replacement
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

it is difficult to resolve because it is symptomatic, for most firms, of some real trouble brewing.
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how small ‘books’ hurt firms

businessman sitting at desk, looking forward and smilingleverage, capacity and overservice are just some of the issues.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

balancing “book of business” is one of the largest stumbling blocks for cpa firms. it is difficult to resolve because it is symptomatic, for most firms, of some real trouble brewing.

more on performance management: the four basic parts of cpa firm partner agreements | developing a three-year vision [video] | mps: how to elect them … and fire them | managing the managing partner | accountability is for everyone | firms say what would change retirement pay | how retirement issues affect succession planning | develop your employees or suffer the consequences | job 1 for the practice owner: client management
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

optimal book size

the optimum condition for firms to flourish is for books of business to be balanced throughout the firm. from the largest book to the smallest, the percentage gap between them should be fairly small (about 20-25 percent or less than a couple hundred thousand in fees).
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when partners leave: what to do today, to be prepared for tomorrow

man taking medication from caretakerset policies now based on business, not emotion.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

let’s review departure/termination policies.

more on performance management: the four basic parts of cpa firm partner agreements | developing a three-year vision [video] | mps: how to elect them … and fire them | firms say what would change retirement pay | action plans for transitioning partners | how retirement issues affect succession planning
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

these may include:
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how can we keep new staff longer?

four young happy office employeesregardless of your hire, there will be training involved.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

question: i know you advocate hiring out of school, but that seems to present a danger when they leave after we have invested so much training them. what can be done to retain them longer, if that is possible?

more practice doctor q&a: how cpas provide a reference | what’s in a title? | managing partners should drop their book of business | what’s lousy, the client or your approach? | not the mp, still a ‘managing’ partner | checklist for running a practice | hate meeting people? try improv (no joke) | help clients, increase revenue: make sure everyone on staff knows your firm’s full menu of services | how to sell your practice | when a client balks at necessary work
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

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accounting industry sets new hiring record

cpatrendlines jobs report tiltvolatility in payroll sector keeps rolling.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

payroll hit a new high in hours worked even as hourly wages continue to slide, according to new 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research. for payroll staff, numbers and hours are up at about the same rate that wages are down. meanwhile, women keep making huge gains.

in this report, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 highlights:

  • current hiring trends in each of the bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and cpa segments of the industry.
  • average hourly wages for key segments.
  • typical hours worked per week, and
  • trends concerning women in the accounting workforce.

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

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the four basic parts of cpa firm partner agreements

time to retire clock faceit’s complicated. but proper policies ease buyouts and transitions.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

here is a list of common policies regarding partner/shareholder agreements that we cover with our firms, as well as some common issues that are important to address in the policies.

more on performance management: developing a three-year vision [video] | why the partner agreement matters | younger partners see succession differently | how to compensate your managing partner | the job of managing partner: empowered or emasculated? | how the best managing partners turn ideas into reality | how retired partners are robbing their own firms | action plans for transitioning partners | how retirement issues affect succession planning | develop your employees or suffer the consequences
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the sop (standard operating policy) categories are:
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why the partner agreement matters

illuminated glass pyramid at the louvre, paris at nightmany agreements have long outlived a reasonable foundation for the firm’s current success level and size.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

most of the time when we are called in to work with firms, it is to help them plan for or implement significant change. the dialogue may start out with a general firm retreat, or it might simply be a session devoted to solving a few specific problems.

more on performance management: younger partners see succession differently | how to compensate your managing partner | the job of managing partner: empowered or emasculated? | how the best managing partners turn ideas into reality | make accountability a process | accountability requires clear expectations | base retirement on today’s operations

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

visionary firms are always looking to make changes long before their operating environment forces them to, from enhancing their ability to compete, making changes to improve profitability, building infrastructure to support succession, upgrading their people development, modifying the compensation process, increasing revenues and more.
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