leadership

no partner vote needed: 17 decisions best left to the managing partner alone

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a lesson in leadership from the front lines.

tony kendall

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of “cpa firm management and governance.”

tony kendall is the ceo of mitchell & titus, a firm of over 170 professionals, 19 partners and locations in new york city, chicago, philadelphia, newark, baltimore, and washington, d.c.

shortly after taking over the reins from the firm’s founder, he orchestrated changes in the firm’s management structure, saying this: “i can’t manage this firm if i have to take a vote every time i want to make a decision.”

more on cpa firm leadership and management:  what a managing partner is… and is not   •  when is it time to shift your firm from partnership-style to corporate-style governance?  •  de-bunking the myth about niche marketing for tax and accounting firms • practice development is no longer an optional activity • 10 good ways the achieve partner accountability • pick your partners right to begin with • not every firm needs a general patton • overcoming the three biggest obstacles in succession planning at cpa firms • cpa firm merger “non-negotiables” • the “aha moment” in cpa firm leadership • leadership is overrated: it’s good management that makes successful firms • 40 great ways to improve firm profitability • four management metrics that fool even the best-run firms • 19 ways to improve accounting firm profitability•

marc rosenberg
marc rosenberg

all partners usually vote on major decisions, such as:

  • admitting or dismissing a partner.
  • mergers and lateral partner hires.
  • changes to the partnership agreement.
  • expenditures in excess of a dollar amount.
  • annual budget approval.

beyond that, most well-managed firms with a strong managing partner allow him or her to make at least 17 types of decisions without any approval process: read more →

can you hear me now?

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eight reasons why accounting firms need to work on internal communications first. by bruce w. marcus professional services marketing 3.0 a terrific definition of chaos is when a client asks two different people in your firm the same question — … continued

new rules: 13 items that should be in your managing partner’s job description

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and 25 best practices to make a merely good managing partner into a great managing partner.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of “cpa firm management and governance.”

an increasing number of firms are asking:  do we want the firm managed by a leader, which for a cpa firm is the managing partner, or managed by one or more committees of partners? the fact is, most firms are choosing a strong leader – the managing partner.

marc rosenberg
marc rosenberg

more on cpa firm leadership and management:  what a managing partner is… and is not   •  when is it time to shift your firm from partnership-style to corporate-style governance?  •  de-bunking the myth about niche marketing for tax and accounting firms • practice development is no longer an optional activity • 10 good ways the achieve partner accountability • pick your partners right to begin with

but too many firms still lack a clear understanding of what a managing partner is.  based on years of research, we have compiled a comprehensive managing partner job description. and we’re including the 25 best practices that make today’s best managing partners great.

managing partner job description read more →

putting the “no jerks” rule to work in tax season

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and a couple more ideas for high performing firms.

by ed mendlowitz
tax season opportunity guide

ed mendlowitz
ed mendlowitz

if you have staff, have happy, cheerful, helpful people. don’t surround yourself with downers and nay-sayers.  make sure they are team players.

part of this is your firm’s culture.  it takes work to get people to work together and to focus on doing what it takes to service the client fully, properly and timely.  everyone working together gets it done.  you need to create that atmosphere.

here are three things that might help:

read more →

how to stay energized, upbeat, and thinking bigger through busy season

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five motivation tips from the masters.

by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator

here are a few of the best lessons i’ve received from the masters. although tried and true, their stories and hardships keep me energized, upbeat, and thinking bigger.

1. don’t give up

  • thomas edison performed 10,000 experiments before he discovered the light bulb. friends asked him what he would carry on after getting no results. edison said, “i got lots of results. i haven’t failed. i’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
sandi smith

more for soloists and small firms: seven ways to wow your prospect • rev up your revenue with these two daily rituals •  10 tips for creating more energy this tax season  • take a cue from venture capitalists: your firm needs a brain trust trinity    •   accountants, do you know your opportunity number?    •  five ideas to overcome client price-sensitivity   •    5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients  •  3 steps to start running on millionaire time   •  the missing ingredient in your marketing that will make all the difference   •  on the road to a stress-free life: identify your character strengths  •

  • beethoven had his share of critics during his time and was in constant conflict with the royalty that hired him to write his works. his response: “a few fly bites cannot stop a spirited horse.” read more →