Practical ideas, lessons learned and shared experiences for those in the world of CPA firm management, human resources, administration, marketing and technology.
The battle for top talent is really beginning to heat up for the CPA profession.
I hope your firm has many volunteers helping high school and college students realize the great opportunities available to them if they become a CPA.
If you are in Ohio, the state society has a fantastic program titled The Accounting Careers Awareness Program (ACAP-Ohio). It is an all-expenses paid, innovative career developmentprogram designed specifically for minority high school students. It is a week-long campus residency program at The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business.
Check out this brief, informative video and if you are in Ohio, I hope you share it with your local high schools. If you are a CPA in another state, I hope your state society is doing something similar.
Tomorrow there is a great opportunity for you and/or your firm’s HR leader
Sandra Wiley of Boomer Consulting will be live on iShade between 1:00p and 3:00p Central on Thursday, February 2, 2012 to answer all of your questions relating to the HR issues inside your busy CPA firm.
Wiley will also share great information on the HR outlook for firms for 2012.
Just log-in to iShade on Thursday at the appointed time and go to the Practitioner to Practitioner Group and look for the Discussion Topic “Human Resources Q&A with Sandra Wiley.”
It’s a great opportunity for all of you dealing with HR inside CPA firms. If you read this and are not the HR leader in your firm, please forward this blog post to them.
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - - that's why we recommend it daily.
Whenever there is a gathering of CPA firm managing partners, firm administrators or HR professionals, the question always comes up regarding ranges of compensation for professional staff in the public accounting arena.
Another thing on this topic. Firms are usually very secretive about staff salaries, yet we live in an age of getting any information you desire via the Internet and social media sources. I subscribe to the thought process that it is a good thing that firm team members know that top performers are getting paid more than mediocre performers. But, what goes along with that (and specific salaries do not have to be divulged) is that mediocre performers know they are “average” and they also are given clear expectations on how to become a “top” performer and thus, earn more. Not rocket science.
It's ironic that retailers and restaurants live or die on customer service, yet their employees have some of the lowest pay and worst benefits of any industry. That's one reason so many retail experiences are mediocre for the public.
Today, I’m providing you with a link to a book review of The E-Myth Accountant by Ron Baker of the Versage Institute. He posted it back in September but I just recently became aware of it via one of my valued clients.
I think you will find it interesting and informative.
We are living in a knowledge era and I like Baker’s mention of the following from Steve Jobs: Does it really make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do? Apple hires smart people so they can tell Apple what to do.
This reinforces my message to all of you – involve everyone in shaping your firm. Seek out the opinions of all generations and all levels, including new hires and the administrative team. What do they think leaders could do to make the firm more awesome?
The era of CPA firm leaders trying to evolve to a one best way of doing things (meaning all of the benchmarking CPA firms do), is not working. Focus on the relationship side of things with your people and with your clients. What do your people and your clients really think? – - Ask them!
First of all, if you still haven’t signed-up for iShade – do it now.
Secondly, I want to thank Rob Nance, iShade Curator, for his recent blog posts titled, Pulse of The Profession: Conversations with Rita Keller, Part Iand Part II.
I hope, after you have signed up for iShade, you will read Rob’s blog posts.
Conversation should touch everything, but should concentrate itself on nothing.
I used to be afraid, embarrassed, hesitant… whatever, when it came to asking what I thought was a dumb question. My have I learned a lot over the years and one of the most important lessons is ALWAYS ask if you don’t understand, if you don’t know, or if you want to know more.
Seth Godin’s recent post says a lot about this topic in a few words – kids ask a lot of questions, adults do not. Read it here.
I blogged back in 2009 about two female CPAs I know who were never afraid to ask “the dumb question” and how it inspired me to do the same. Read the post titled, Are you asking enough dumb questions? I subscribe to Tom Peters’ quote: I shall lead the league in asking dumb questions.
Perhaps you should consider a New Years’ Resolution to never hesitate to ask a question if it could help your firm, your clients and your people prosper.
Don't be afraid to ask dumb questions. They're more easily handled than dumb mistakes.
In CPA firms, in accounting departments and in business in general, time is the focus.
In the vast majority (although we are seeing some progress towards value pricing – be sure to read Ron Baker’s new book Implementing Value Pricing), time is the focus of what everyone does and employees must account for every minute of every day. As I talk with CPAs around the country, I hear, “If I only had more time.” “I’m too busy to give attention to a lot of things at the firm.” “If I had more time I would….(fill in the blank).”
One of my favorite quotes comes from the late Jim Rohn, motivational speaker and personal development guru:
“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”
Mr. Baldoni had to spend some time recuperating from foot surgery and could not “work.” Of course, I was extremely pleased that he used the time to read plus, he took some important management lessons from his reading.
During this extremely busy holiday season (at home and at work), please try to find some down time, just for yourself, to think and read even if it is only for TWO hours.
Time is money, especially when you are talking to a lawyer or buying a commercial.
I’m sure you have already mailed your holiday cards for this year but it is never too early to be thinking about next year.
What can you do to make your CPA firm unique? Yes, I mean unique in MANY ways but how about holiday greetings?
Back in 2006, I shared an idea about using a graphic artist to design a card that uses your logo in a unique way. Follow this link to see the 2006 blog post and picture.
I’ve received some unique greetings this year from some firms (who are friends) that demonstrate some clever online holiday wishes.
One came from Dave Katri, CEO of Clark Nuber in Bellevue, WA and another from Gary Shamis of SS&G, headquartered in northeast Ohio.
Don’t hesitate to show your creative side with something beautiful, inspirational, funny or even weird.
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.
I was reading Time magazine and noticed a short article under their “Briefing” section, titled: Getting Yours. Even in a down market, some jobs still command pay hikes.
Over-all wages have remained stagnant. Pay increased just 1.8% in the past year, about half as much as inflation. That may be changing, if you are one of the survivors, your employer doesn’t want to lose you. (I definitely think this applies to CPAs.)
A graph in the article shows professions with the biggest raises since the recession began. The fastest wage growth category? Tax preparers.
Just a heads-up for you. Be sure to take care of your best performers.
Did you ever notice that when you put the words 'The' and 'IRS' together, it spells THEIRS?
I like to believe I am a communicator and a connector for people working the the public accounting profession.
I realize that my clients, CPA firms and the people who lead them, are very busy taking care of their own clients and their own firms – so I try to take care of them.
One way I take care of clients and readers is, of course, via this blog and my monthly newsletter. Both are intended to trigger CPA firm leaders into action! Of course, clients get more personal contact and involvement from me – you should consider becoming one.
As for today’s topic – what other CPA firms are doing. I like to feature innovative, proactive firms on this blog and today is a great example.
I have known David King of Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith for many years and have admired his efforts in designing a workplace that is unique in public accounting.
Here’s an example – watch the career video on their website and listen to how two of their own team members describe the firm.
I’ve been nagging you for two years now on the importance of your website and this year it has become even more imperative that your site is cool.
Wiley will also share great information on the HR outlook for firms for 2012.
