here’s what you’re looking for: sandi smith leyva

outlook & analysis

4 metrics to measure change, progress & success in your tax and accounting practice

champagne glasses 20460685_sand how to set bold new goals for the next year.

by sandi smith leyva
the accountant’s accelerator

think back to this day one year ago for just a minute. where were you in your business? what were your revenues, salary and profits at that time? what were your clients like? what were your biggest issues?

if we don’t occasionally look back to take a snapshot at a point in our history, we may not realize how much we’ve accomplished in such a short time. i’m not much for dwelling in the past, but this exercise is tremendously useful for a couple of reasons: read more →

client service opportunities

6 ways to move beyond compliance services

dollar concept, financial adviser or finance advisorybecoming a ‘trusted advisor.’

by sandi smith leyva
the accountant’s accelerator

here’s a question: what portion of your revenues are derived from compliance work – e.g., tax preparation and irs representation; bookkeeping; quickbooks setup, cleanup and training; payroll; and audit work – versus value-added work, e.g., revenue improvement, business consulting, profit margin analysis and workflow improvement projects?

if you answered 100 percent compliance work and no value-added services, you’re not alone.  there’s a lot of lip service about moving from compliance services to becoming a “trusted advisor.” there’s an equal amount of confusion in how to get started.

here are a few tips to help those of you who want to move in that direction. read more →

outlook & analysis

men, women: a tale of two brains for business

man woman brainwhat brain science tells us about how to work better together.

by sandi smith leyva
the accountant’s accelerator

we need to acknowledge that in the tax and accounting workplace, women do not understand men, and men do not understand women. it happens in dating, so it should not be a surprise when it happens at work.

this isn’t a new topic. but what we’re doing now is not working, or it’s working at a glacial pace. we actually lost ground during the recession years and are now going backwards. the statistics are even worse in small firms, where 80 percent of the talent pool are women but only 12 percent are partners.

luckily, we now know dozens of reasons why and have hundreds of tools and skill builders to help.

here are just a few revelations from emerging brain science: read more →

busy season management

40 chances, 40 tax seasons

2015 is another opportunity to fine-tune your business.
what are you planning? join the survey; see what accountants are saying.

by sandi smith leyva

the accountant’s accelerator

40chancesbookcover
learn more

i was drawn to reading howard buffett’s new book because i am completely intrigued by huge social problems and figuring out ways to solve them. for buffett, who is a farmer at heart, the challenge is how to tackle world hunger.

one of the stories in the book (which is 40 chances: finding hope in a hungry world) has buffett listening to a lecture for farmers on how to improve their yield year after year. buffett recalls the speaker saying that one farmer, on average, will have a 40-year career from the time he or she starts working the land to the time to retire. on average it will be 40 harvests and 40 plantings. read more →