{"id":3525,"date":"2009-05-11t11:25:40","date_gmt":"2009-05-11t16:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=3525"},"modified":"2024-11-19t21:49:58","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20t02:49:58","slug":"recession-makes-cpe-a-key-survival-tactic-for-cpas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2009\/05\/11\/recession-makes-cpe-a-key-survival-tactic-for-cpas\/","title":{"rendered":"recession makes training, retooling key survival tactics for cpas"},"content":{"rendered":"

what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your personal economic stimulus plan? join the survey; see the results<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

by rick telberg<\/em><\/p>\n

with recessionary pressures bearing down on accounting firms and finance departments, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s almost understandable that one of the first budget items to get the red pencil treatment is training and education. but i said \u00e2\u20ac\u0153almost.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

in fact, cutting back on continuing professional education (cpe) is probably the singularly worst strategy for cpas in times like these. in a business based on an evolving body of knowledge and understanding, you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153learned\u00e2\u20ac\u009d out of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153learned profession\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and still serve competently as a trusted professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your personal economic stimulus plan?<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

join the survey; see the results<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(free. confidential)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

in research with capstone marketing, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re finding conclusive evidence that high-performing accounting offices hold life-and-death competitive advantages over organizations that fail to adhere to operational basics like regular, relevant cpe.<\/p>\n

to be sure, accountants are always looking for more cost-effective forms of cpe, which explains the rise of group-based webinars and lunch-and-learns. but savvy cpas are actually enhancing their cpe plans with an eye toward new service offerings and niche specialties.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153many companies are trying to trim budget dollars, and the learning budget seems an easy target,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says aicpa practice management guru mark koziel<\/a>. but, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153there are ways to cut the training dollars without sacrificing
\nthe learning.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

according to the texas\/aicpa map survey, accounting firms spend \u00e2\u20ac\u201d in good times \u00e2\u20ac\u201d a paltry 0.8 percent of their expenses on cpe, which is less than what they spend on promotion and marketing. at that rate, the lack of competence becomes a serious professional ethics issue, not just a competitive factor. compare:<\/em><\/strong> the average american corporation spent $1,000 a year per employee on training. how much, then, should the above-average cpa spend?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153in today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s world, people are taking a clear perspective that making the investment in people pays back multiple-fold in the risks that you avoid because people know what they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said jon andrews<\/a>, a top partner at pricewaterhousecoopers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 london-based human resources
\nmanagement consultancy.<\/p>\n

in a research project with capstone, cpe regimens are emerging as a key difference between the best cpa firms and the rest, or, what we call, the leaders and the laggards.<\/p>\n

specifically, leaders are:<\/p>\n