here’s what you’re looking for: marc rosenberg

management

10-point checklist for bringing in a new partner

the steps to take today to exit gracefully in the future.

by mark rosenberg
how to bring in new partners

succession planning has hit cpa firms hard.  as baby boomer partners approach retirement age, they naturally are focusing on who can take their place and eventually write their retirement checks.

there are two primary exit strategies for partners: 1) sell or merge out of existence. or 2) stay independent, retire and get bought out by younger partners who write the partners’ retirement checks with smiles on their faces.

the vast majority prefers method no. 2, but unfortunately, this option is not available to many partners and firms.  for various reasons, these firms have not developed new partners to take their place.

here is a 10-point checklist for what firms need to do to bring in a new partner: read more →

management

partners demand accountability, except….

except when it affects themselves.

by marc rosenberg
author of how to bring in new partners

partner accountability addresses what is expected of each partner, how partners will be managed so that the expectations are met and what the consequences will be for failure to meet these expectations.

i have interviewed hundreds of partners on partner accountability.  i frequently ask them if they would like the firm to have partner accountability.  the most common response i get, somewhat apocryphal, is:  “yes, i’m all for partner accountability (long pause) as long as it doesn’t affect me!” read more →

leadership

27 tough questions for evaluating the performance of a managing partner

including: managing partner evaluation forms, parts 1 and 2.

by marc rosenberg
cpa firm management & governance

this is really an upward evaluation.  like all upward evaluations, people evaluating the managing partner should be limited to those in a position to offer informed input.  this means that at firms of fewer than 10 to 15 partners all the partners will probably want to participate.  but once a firm gets beyond 10 to 15 partners, an increasing number of partners may not be in a position to respond to the evaluation factors listed in the form.

more cpa firm management & governance:  18 things partners owe their firms – and each other   |  17 ways to measure a partner  |  how the structure of an accounting firm changes through the years    |    congratulations! your firm needs a human resources director    |    the 19-point marketing director job description    |    checklist: how the best managing partners and firm admins work in concert     |    21 questions for managing the managing partner    |    no partner vote needed: 17 decisions best left to the managing partner alone    |    new rules: 13 items that should be in your managing partner’s job description    |    when is it time to shift your firm from partnership-style to corporate-style governance?    |    not every firm needs a general patton    |

firms with management or executive committees may wish to limit the evaluation to the partners on those committees.

once you have decided who will be allowed to participate in the evaluation, each partner should complete the evaluation forms.  read more →

leadership

17 important ways to measure a partner

by marc rosenberg
cpa firm management & governance

one of the most common agenda items at partner retreats is the question of what it means to be a partner in the firm.

more cpa firm management & governance:  17 ways to measure a partner  |  how the structure of an accounting firm changes through the years    |    congratulations! your firm needs a human resources director    |    the 19-point marketing director job description    |    checklist: how the best managing partners and firm admins work in concert     |    21 questions for managing the managing partner    |    no partner vote needed: 17 decisions best left to the managing partner alone    |    new rules: 13 items that should be in your managing partner’s job description    |    when is it time to shift your firm from partnership-style to corporate-style governance?    |    not every firm needs a general patton    |

so, what is a partner? here are 17 metrics. read more →