Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Monday, January 30th, 2012
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.
The January issue of Accounting Today has an article on this topic and quotes compensation ranges from the latest Robert Half salary guide (2012). Here’s a link to the article – The Salary Momentum Continues – Experienced and senior-level staff are first in line for pay bumps.
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.
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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.
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Howard Schultz
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
The January issue of Keller Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders MAP Newsletter went out yesterday morning.
If you are wondering or worrying about succession, follow the link below to read the first article titled:
- It All Begins “At Home” – Developing Future Leaders
Did you lose a great performer in 2011? Top talent inside CPA firms is getting restless and we will probably see even more movement in 2012. Whenever you lose someone, it is very important to part on good, even great, terms. Follow the link below to read more about how in this article:
- Did Your Firm Lose A Superstar in 2011?
You can receive the newsletter directly if you sign-up on my website. To read this month’s issue click here.
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In case of news, we should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation.
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Voltaire
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
In most CPA firms a huge number of the CPAs are Baby Boomers and they are aging!
In your firm, you need to learn all you can about the Millennials, they are the ones who will be dominating the profession in just a few short years.
Here’s a great infographic from the good folks at Online Graduate Programs:
Created by: Online Graduate Programs
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No one can avoid aging, but aging productively is something else.
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Katharine Graham
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
Rob Nance, is that you with Rita?
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Rob Nance for lunch. Rob is the new Curator of iShade and was key in helping roll out the new iShade Bulletin that provides “headlines from around the profession.”
If you haven’t set up your account yet on iShade, this would be a good week to get it taken care of. Then you can customize Bulletin to fit your desires, needs and interests relating to the accounting profession. I have my channels set-up and am tracking Firm News, Young Accountants and The M.A.P. Channel. There are 14 or so channels to choose from.
Rob has his own blog on iShade and I really enjoyed his post last week about “Time to trim the unwanted e-mail.”
Did you know that spam is no longer the cause of e-mail overload? Per Rob’s post, bacon has taken its place. It’s a true battle of the e-meats. So what is bacon It’s the messages you signed up for (newsletters, sale offers) but now you don’t want. It’s estimated that bacon makes up roughly 55% of unread email. Read the entire post here.
When we got together last week, Rob brought his camera and we did two pictures that I can use on my “Is that you with Rita?” collection.
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A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.
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Eleanor Roosevelt
Sunday, December 25th, 2011
How cool. ParenteBeard has written and released a story book for children about counting. I’m always talking to you about being unique, here’s a wonderful example.
As noted in the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Philadelphia-based Top 25 accounting firm is taking a different approach to the holiday season. They’ve got a message for the elementary school set.
The firm has published a charming children’s book called “Making the Holidays Count,” a story about a little girl who fears and hates math untill she meets up with a Christmas Carol-like “Countess” who shows her that numbers are really important and cool.
Last week the Parente Beard team members read the book and donated copies to the a local Boys and Girls Club in Philly.
Check out the PDF copy via the firm’s website. Oh yeah, the little girl’s dad is an accountant.
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To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.
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A. C.. Grayling
Friday, December 16th, 2011
Yesterday, iShade – the free social and professional network exclusively for accountants – unveiled the iShade Bulletin. Perhaps you received one of the notifications that went out yesterday – BUT, did you actually follow the link and see what it is all about?
I did. And I quickly set-up “channels” that are of interest to me and my clients. It’s really a user-friendly news service that you can customize just for your special interests.
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Nothing in fine print is ever good news.
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Andy Rooney
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Hundreds of studies have found that the most engaged employees – those who report they’re fully invested in their jobs and committed to their employers – are significantly more productive, drive higher customer satisfaction and outperform those who are less engaged.
However, only 20% of employees around the world report that they’re fully engaged at work.
The recommendation made to employers certainly applies to accounting firms. You must shift the focus from trying to get more out of people, to investing more in them.
The last few years, many firms have been running lean and mean when it comes to staffing. Cuts needed to be made back in 2008/09 and maybe even 2010. Your people are now looking to you, firm leaders, to provide relief and appreciation for the extra effort many of them have contributed recently.
Here’s what the studies show as the things employees need.
- Commit to paying every employee a living wage
- Give all employees a stake in the company’s success.
- Design working environments that are safe, comfortable and appealing.
- Provide healthy, high-quality food.
- Create places for employees to rest and renew during the course of the working day.
- Offer a well equipped gym and other facilities that encourage employees to move physically and stay fit.
- Define clear and specific expectations.
- Institute two-way performance reviews so that employees not only receive regular feedback but they are able to give feedback, too.
- Hold leaders and managers accountable.
- Create policies that encourage employees to set aside time to focus without interruption on their most important priorities.
- Provide employees with ongoing opportunities and incentives to learn, develop and grow.
- Stand for something beyond simply increasing profits.
I believe that CPA firms measure-up pretty well in many of these but still lack in others. How’s your firm doing?
Read the explanations that go with each item and the full article on HBR.
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You got to like your work. You have got to like what you are doing, you have got to be doing something worthwhile so you can like it.. because it is worthwhile, that it makes a difference, don't you see?
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Colonel Sanders
Thursday, October 6th, 2011
We all knew it was coming. But, the passing of Steve Jobs is definitely on my mind this morning.
I have lived in the Apple world since the mid-80s. We (our family) had an Apple II and a Macintosh. I am typing this on my new MacBook Air. Yesterday while I was walking around the French Quarter in New Orleans I was tracking my steps with the Apple Nano in my pocket. We have purchased numerous iPods over the years and of course, I awoke this morning to the alarm on my iPhone.
Leaving the PC world of a large CPA firm with four tech guys to keep it all running, I couldn’t have started my consulting business with as much ease if it weren’t for Apple (and Google).
Here are some past posts mentioning Jobs and/or Apple.
Marketing Is Service - posted in 2008
Our first MacIntosh – posted in 2007
Lighten-up – Dress Like Steve Jobs – posted in 2010
CPA Firm Managing Partner Succession Plan – Posted Sept., 2011
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I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
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Winston Churchill
Friday, September 23rd, 2011
At the Washington State Chapter of the Association for Accounting Administration this week I had the honor to do a keynote presentation and an update on current trends session. Thanks so much to all of you at the Washington Chapter of AAA for your hospitality.
I also had the chance to listen to Roy Keely of Xcentric and Joe Tarasco of Accountants Advisory Group.
I thought you might find it interesting to just read some bullet points from both of their presentations. I am hoping some of these brief thoughts will make you think and then take action.
Keely:
- We live in a billable bubble.
- Business development is like gardening, you must have good soil.
- CPAs are a service brand – you KNOW something that others don’t. It is perfect for social media.
- Social media lowers lead generation costs.
- Blog to address issues.
Tarasco:
- You can’t win with a team you don’t have.
- You don’t need stars. You need better coaches, trainers. Most current partners were not stars.
- Larger firms are “stealing” 40-something partners.
- Larger firms will be merging in smaller firms just to get workers.
- The best performing firms constantly upgrade their client base.
- You can’t get there if you don’t invest in your firm.
- Play to win the game. Partners doing the work is not playing to win, it is playing to play.
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Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated.
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Lou Holtz
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
I am delighted and extremely honored to be named one of the Top 100 Most Influential for 2011 by Accounting Today. You can find my name listed in the #1.
To read about all 100 people named visit the digital version of the publication here.
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Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
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John Wooden
