‘dealing with the recession has not been pleasant or easy.’ steve erickson www.steveericksonllc.com the “great recession” has reduced the spending of countless millions that has a negative impact on the clients we serve. as a result, our revenues have been … continued
recession-resistant performance linked to continuous staff development. you can’t wait for the next economic boom to accelerate recruiting, nurture leadership training for future leaders, and assemble formal succession plans for your top partners, according to a massive, year-long study. you … continued
thanks to the economic bust, the staffing crisis for cpa firms seems to have evaporated. so here’s the question: does creating a “great place to work” still mean anything these days? lisa tierney tierney coaching & consulting i spent twenty … continued
when salaries are tight, corporate culture becomes competitive differentiator. by rick telberg the days of concierge service and back rubs for accounting staffers may be over. but has building the so-called “great place to work” fallen by the wayside as … continued
thanks to the economic bust, the staffing crisis for cpa firms seems to have evaporated. so here’s the question: does creating a “great place to work” still mean anything these days? richard g. rinehart grant partners llc without a doubt, … continued
and how you can avoid the pitfalls. by rick telberg as state and federal governments struggle against an ailing economy, many accountants are bracing for a new surge of work from new tax and regulatory changes. but all that new … continued
if you think you’re immune, think again. the harvard business review has listed the top 10 fatal flaws that derail business leaders. while some may seem obvious, the study revealed something else about ineffective leaders that may surprise you: the … continued
making partner in an accounting firm is not what it used to be.
by rick telberg
traditionally, becoming a partner in a cpa firm meant the end of a long, hard slog of grunt work and extended hours. but in today’s competitive environment, making partner is only the beginning of a new chapter of risks and challenges. and the work isn’t getting any easier.
today’s top cpa firm leaders are looking for new ways of building successful, enduring organizations. according to accounting firm management consultant august aquila, the culture of collegiality that gave way to a culture of entitlement is giving way to a new culture of performance and accountability.
“the lack of accountability can have a real impact on a firm’s profits,” aquila says. and with today’s shortage of high-level talent, new pressures to produce value for clients, and a white-knuckled squeeze on profits, holding leaders accountable has rarely been more critical to survival and success.
“but accountability is hard to implement,” aquila says, leading firms to make some common mistakes, like turning it into a checklist, or simply logging more information about evermore-minute activities.
how does your workplace compare? nearly two-thirds of working americans seriously doubt they’ll ever be able to retire. and while they are satisfied with their work, many fear taking time off from their jobs and feel disconnected from their companies, … continued
technical skills alone aren’t enough.
by rick telberg
rarely has leadership-level talent been so important to the cpa profession and yet, perhaps, so difficult to find.
“technical knowledge used to be the only thing a firm really needed,” says rex gatto, a ph.d. in organizational psychology and a personnel consultant to cpa firms.
“but now you have to have somebody who can communicate, mentor and coach,” he says. “someone who knows how to build a team and a succession plan and work with others to make it happen.”
litmus test: do you believe you can achieve more together than individually?
by august aquila
aquilaadvisors.com
everyone knows that partner unity is one of the keys for success. and we know the benefits of having greater partner unity than the next firm – better client service, less employee turnover, superior profitability.
the problem than many firms face is this – they don’t know how to create partner unity.
first, let’s define what partner unity is not.
now, let’s define what unity is. read more →
… in a new world of connectivity.
by rick telberg
as technology reshapes the world, accounting firms and finance executives must aggressively reshape their business strategies and their own corporate hierarchies, according to a new manifesto from leading thinkers at mckinsey & company.
given mckinsey’s “reach and influence in the senior executive community” (as even a competing gartner analyst admits), finance and accounting professionals need to know the firm’s new list of “10 tech-enabled business trends to watch.” pay attention: your boss or your client (or both) could quiz you about any or all of these hot topics.
and why can’t we all just get along?