are your goals big enough?

climber standing atop mountain with another in distance“what pain do you want to fix and what pleasure do you want to achieve?”

by rob nixon

most accounting firms set no goals or at best they set small goals. if they do set any goals they set smags – small minded adequate goals.

more on strategy: is your business by design or default? | 12 predictions on the future of accounting | finding new opportunity in compliance services | the world is flat | will the internet replace cpas? | how offshoring is shaking up accounting | the profession disrupted: compliance commoditized
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if you go back to my success formula (doing what you want, when you want, with whom you want, in a manner you want) then a smag may be appropriate for your style. at least it’s a goal – albeit a goal that doesn’t fill your potential.

in my opinion (and this entire approach is based on my opinion – plus a lot of research) we’re only here once so let’s do something purposeful. let’s do something grand. let’s do something that lives beyond us.

let’s set some bhags – big hairy audacious goals.
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how to implement industry practice groups

portrait of a thoughtful businesswoman looking away in officeindustry specialization can provide the added value you need.

by domenick j. esposito
8 steps to great

you know you need marquee clients, but how do you attract, develop and retain them? you do it by attracting, developing and retaining partners with industry, consulting and technical skills.

more on strategic planning: why you need marquee clients | how to drive consistent partner behavior | cpa firm partner performance: different activities, different metrics | develop the partners you already have | how many partners do you need? | how to develop tactics for your strategic plan | the big eight: harsh realities for firms today
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my basic belief is that accounting and auditing partners are the principal relationship partners in a cpa firm. they are the key to your business and the key to becoming a mid-market sustainable brand.
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different roles for different partners

image of charts in foreground and business partners in backgroundsome people should stick to technical roles, but there’s an impact on profitability.

by bill reeb and dominic cingoranelli

when you are a client relationship partner, regardless of your technical specialty, you take on the role of being that client’s general contractor for professional services – that is, his or her most trusted business advisor.

more on performance management: dealing with a-d clients (you know who we mean) | firms only grow when partners play their roles | the four basic parts of cpa firm partner agreements | younger partners see succession differently | how to compensate your managing partner | the job of managing partner: empowered or emasculated? | how the best managing partners turn ideas into reality
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if you are unwilling to fulfill this role, then you shouldn’t be a client relationship manager; you should be a technical partner. we define these two roles broadly as follows:
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is your business by design or default?

rob nixon: you shouldn't be a slave to your business – it should be a slave to you.5 key areas of focus when re-modeling your business.

by rob nixon

most accounting firms are operating their business by default – not operating their business by design.

more on strategy: 12 predictions on the future of accounting | finding new opportunity in compliance services | how offshoring is shaking up accounting | the profession disrupted: compliance commoditized
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

most accounting firms just seem to exist. they get through the years with a limited plan; they seem to “acquire” a bunch of clients who are a hodgepodge of make, model and size. they do not typically run the firm like a business, and worst of all the partners typically operate the firm based on learnings from the partners of the firms where they used to be employees.
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the curious case of ‘the irreplaceable accountant’

frustrated businessmanthe real reason clients change accountants.

by hitendra patil
accountaneur

why do people change their accountants? a google search lists a ton of reasons: not approachable. not available. not enough business understanding. not responsive. not tech-savvy. not predictable in changing fees. and some more…

more accountaneur:  the three gears that drive success in the accounting business  |  brexit worries?  worry more about cexits, texits and pexits  |  linkedin launches accountant-for-hire service  |  4 pillars of future firm foundation  |  ‘uberizing’ means more than technology  |  you don’t think technology helps get new clients?  |  do you want a practice … or a business?  |  ‘decisiveness’ rated top trait for   success in accounting business  |  tax season management: multi-tasking is a myth  |  3 apps to automate business networking  |

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

is technological advancement adding one more reason hardly anyone wants to ever talk about? perhaps we should add to the list “accountant not required.” to me, that sounds like an outrageous inference to draw. but several accountants tell me that they lose clients regularly. they tell me they got “replaced.” technology could be part of the problem. but it’s not necessarily the solution.

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