and that you can use too.
by august j. aquila and robert j. lees
creating the effective partnership
what should a compelling vision contain?
while we still see some visions that talk about becoming the leading player in a state or region, we are seeing a real recognition that a vision is a lot more than the statement we used to see firms use across accounting and the other professional services firms sectors.
more creating the effective partnership: the politics of an accounting firm partnership | nine rules to creating highly effective partnership teams | audacious vision and grand purpose prove essential to cpa success | are you creating a sustainable firm? | the debilitating effects of denial at accounting firms | the five psychological hurdles that cpa firms must confront today
consider, now, the common ideas from the visions of the big four firms:
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in comments, joanie mann at cooper mann kicks off a conversation about what small business owners really want from their accountants with, “accounting professionals: you’re right – your clients don’t care about the numbers.”
bob woosley at frazier deeter agrees, saying “we are in a unique position to add value.” soloist bill mcallister says accountants have a duty “to serve clients by teaching them how to use technology.” frank stitely remains skeptical, suggesting “a gap between what clients say they want and what they’ll pay for.”
if you’re intrigued by that discussion, then you might also like this week’s small business clients clamor for technology advice. let us know what you think. your colleagues are listening.
– rick telberg
president / ceo
p.s.: please join us for “the top ten trends that are changing everything“ at the florida institute of cpas’ annual accounting show sept. 25 in ft. lauderdale
sleeter: “it used to be simple.”
with small business clients adopting software applications almost haphazardly, accountants are increasingly hard-pressed to make sense of it all. but there’s nothing more valuable to a client than an accountant who can simplify the complicated.
are you ready for the new age of professional services marketing 3.0?
by bruce w. marcus
professional services marketing 3.0
professional services marketing 3.0? this from someone who has written, spoken, railed against jargon and gimmicks?
well, yes, because in this rapidly changing economic environment, intensely competitive landscape, and highly charged computer age, it’s the best way to define significant evolution from one distinct period to the next. but, that’s exactly what’s happened – and is happening – with cpa firms. and in management practices, business models, and structure as well. read more →
cpas share some of their best time-management tips. how hard are you working?
by rick telberg
with the days of summer rapidly dwindling, accountants and finance managers across the nation are grabbing their last vacation days. but it’s not always easy.
many finance and accounting professionals are working harder than ever, doing more with less as their organizations cut back with the recession. balancing life and work becomes all the more difficult and all the more important. so we’ve been asking readers for their best time-management tips for a balanced life.
here are nine of the best we’ve received so far: read more →
how one managing partner learned the hard way.
by august j. aquila and robert j. lees
creating the effective partnership
while many managing partners understand the value of a vision statement to focus their partner team’s energies, too few get it right.
a vision is more than a simple statement. when we talk about having a compelling vision, we don’t mean just a well-crafted vision. we mean the vision with a clear destination, the strategies for getting there (the “how to”), the way progress will be measured and the benefits to the partners of going on the journey.
more on partnership management: nine rules to creating highly effective partnership teams | audacious vision and grand purpose prove essential to cpa success | are you creating a sustainable firm? | the debilitating effects of denial at accounting firms | the five psychological hurdles that cpa firms must confront today
let’s look at an example of what can happen when all the elements (vision, journey, milestones and a positive answer to what’s in it for me) aren’t in place. read more →
but can you deduct the boat as a second office? learn how cpas manage work on the go. join the survey; get the answers.
by rick telberg
for cpas, working outside of the office is not just a matter of getting more work done. it could improve your life. read more →
see this week’s research update newsletter
clients – especially small business clients – need and want their accountants’ help on more issues than ever before. so why are do so many accountants seem unready, unwilling and unable to help?
there’s no mystery in clients’ needs. we’ve been reporting, for instance, on “why accountants need to embrace obamacare.” and it’s one of our most-read reports. politics aside, “the patient protection and affordable care act” isn’t going away and clients are turning first to their accountants for answers.
and this week, we’re reporting on the new “expectations gap: what clients really want,” detailing the results of a study conducted by the sleeter group.
the mystery is why so few accountants are taking their clients seriously. that’s not exactly malpractice. but it’s not good for the client, either. on the other hand, it’s a huge opportunity for the accountants who are ready, willing and able to help.
– rick telberg
president / ceo
p.s.: “the profession needs to hear what clients are saying,” says doug sleeter. and we couldn’t agree more. that’s why we’re supporting the sleeter group’s accounting solutions conference, nov. 3-6 in las vegas. cpa trendlines readers can save $100 at registration with code rtasc100.
fortune 500 companies, particularly those in the financial sector, have been hanging on to their cfos for longer than usual as they battle back out of recession. but with the economy perking up, cfos could restart their once-every-five-year job-change merry-go-round all over again, according to new research. read more →
clients find accountants’ tech skills lacking.
by rick telberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间
as small and medium-sized businesses move increasingly online and adopt technologically integrated accounting systems, many tax and accounting firms will need to evolve or face extinction, according to a sleeter group survey. read more →