today's features

grow leaders to transform accounting

letter blocks flip between the words "lead" and "learn"

create a culture where leadership can be learned and practiced.

by donny c. shimamoto

series note: this article is part of a series of articles inspired by “joy, inc.”, written by richard sheridan, cofounder and ceo of menlo innovations. while his book is about the software industry, there are many direct analogies applicable to the accounting profession. we must #transformaccounting and bring joy back into the work we do to sustainably address our profession’s people crisis.

when we talk about leadership in accounting, we often think about the partners in accounting firms, the controller or cfo of a finance department, or the chief audit executive of an internal audit department. we also talk about “young leaders” or “emerging leaders” when referring to those we think have “leadership potential” and could aspire to the positions described above.

more: transform accounting by fighting fear and embracing changetear down towers of knowledge to transform accounting
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however, i have always held the belief that everyone in an organization can be a leader, and we need to equip people within our organizations to lead when an appropriate situation arises. part of empowering employees is enabling them to take action or make a decision, even when “the leader” isn’t present. the organization’s values, policies and culture should help employees make the right decisions – or know who to escalate an issue to make the decision. what we don’t want is total inaction.
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put people without degrees on your audit team

four businesswoman having a meeting around a table

plus best practices for year-round and remote audits.

by alan anderson, cpa
transforming audit for the future

firms these days are throwing technology at audit and calling it innovation. but if you try to roll out too much at one time, that’s a disaster. your people won’t have any time to talk to the client and figure out what’s going on in the business if they’re too busy trying to figure out how all the pieces of technology all work together.

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a better approach is to prioritize the technology rollouts and cut those in half. focus on the two or three that are the most important. if you try to do too much, your implementation will fail. a partial implementation won’t get you anywhere. partial implementations tend to result in complicated workarounds, so the new tech not only doesn’t save time or effort, but it actually makes it harder to get the work done.
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ten marketing ideas for accountants | listicle

//www.g005e.com/category/checklist/listicle/by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

marketing needs to be on your daily to-do list. and it may take a few different marketing campaigns to finally create awareness of your presence and capabilities.

more listicles here

here are 10 ideas you can put into action in the immediate future.

  1. offer free initial consultations: provide a free consultation to potential clients. it can help you understand their needs and showcase your expertise. announce the offer in a newsletter, blog or email blast, or at a public event.
  2. create informative content: write blogs, articles or white papers about tax strategies, accounting tips or financial planning that can be published on your website. make them short and sweet – better a series than a long monograph.
  3. host webinars or workshops: organize online or in-person events on relevant topics like tax planning, small business accounting or financial forecasting to establish authority and educate potential clients. when possible, link them to recent current events or changes in tax code.
  4. use social media marketing: share tax tips, industry news and accounting advice on social media platforms like linkedin, facebook and bluesky to engage your audience. be regular, not sporadic. make your tips useful and actionable, and don’t forget contact information.
  5. develop a referral program: encourage existing clients to refer new clients by offering discounts or other incentives. and be sure to thank those who deserve it.
  6. invest in seo: optimize your website for search engines using keywords like “cpa near me,” “tax preparer in [your town]” or “tax accountant for small business” to attract local clients.
  7. network with other professionals: partner with financial advisors, attorneys or business consultants to create a network of referrals. meet with these people, perhaps over lunch.
  8. email marketing campaigns: send out newsletters with valuable accounting insights, tax reminders or updates on financial regulations to stay top of mind. make sure your website offers subscriptions. consider buying an email list from a provider that can filter the list for your target parties, such as “small businesses in [your county]” or “families with incomes over $100,000.”
  9. claim your google my business listing: ensure your cpa firm appears in local search results by creating and optimizing a google my business listing.
  10. leverage client testimonials and case studies: showcase success stories and satisfied clients on your website and marketing materials. get permission first, of course; you’ll find that most small businesses will appreciate this bit of publicity for them.

do it regularly. it may take several different efforts to successfully reach a potential client.

steve yoss: master excel integration and enhance productivity | quick tech talks

level up your skills with powerful lookup formulas.

subscribe to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 podcasts anywhere: applegoogle/youtubespotifyiheartdeezer, amazon music, audibleplayer fmaudacy, rss.

quick tech talk
with steve yoss
cpe today

for professionals wrestling with massive datasets, finding specific information in excel can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. whether it’s a customer id, transaction number, or check number, pinpointing related details like totals, names, or dates can be daunting without the right tools. enter excel’s powerful lookup formulas.

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more tech
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among the trio of essential lookup functions—vlookup, index-match, and the modern xlookup—the latter emerges as the star. while vlookup and index-match have long been staples for data retrieval, xlookup combines their strengths with enhanced features, offering users a faster, more versatile solution.

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maybe the pipeline problem is technology

bar chart
the percentage of accounting, finance and other business majors working in each occupation. the occupations chosen are the five most common for finance majors, according to the census. the sample period spans 2009 to 2021.

 

advances may have had an unintended effect.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

alarms have long been sounding over the dearth of new accounting professionals entering the field. the pipeline of talent running from colleges to entry-level jobs has been trickling just as it needs to gush.

more: what if the staffing shortage is just a myth? | staffing, tech, prices top tax pros’ concerns | five ways to fill the staffing gap | top 10 red flags to watch for in accounting offices | arc | deals 2024: over 100 cpa firm mergers and acquisitions | barry melancon: private equity and the partnership | gear up for growth | does your firm suffer cultural deficiencies? | audit fees continue to climb | cfos see ai as top risk and opportunity | does accounting belong in stem? | accounting arc | opportunity awaits incoming aicpa ceo
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

since 2015, the number of graduates with accounting majors has been in steep decline. the number of incoming professionals is by no means keeping up with those who are retiring or switching professions. the vectors point toward an imminent crisis in available talent.
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