Rita Keller, an award-winning and widely respected voice to CPA firm management, is uniquely positioned to help CPAs and their teams face rapid and significant change.
“A well-written cover letter can be the difference between winning or losing a job opportunity.” – Larry Sheftel, Aprio
It is always great to be featured in The Journal of Accountancy. Thank you to Teri Saylor for contacting me to discuss the power, lack of power, and use of cover letters for resumes.
Do you expect a cover letter when someone submits a resume? Do you even care? Some beneficial information can be obtained from someone who writes an exceptional cover letter if the hiring manager at your firm actually reads it.
I believe that cover letters have almost become a thing of the past. Everyone seems to be in a hurry these days and do not think of including a cover letter. Those doing the hiring are also in a hurry too and don’t even read a cover letter if it is included.
I asked one of my clients if they always expect a cover letter with a resume. He said yes because they ask in the ad, “submit your resume and cover letter to…. ” They don’t care about the cover letter but they just want to see how many people follow instructions!
I hope you take the time to read the article. It was also nice to be featured along with my friend, Larry Sheftel of Aprio (pictured).
In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you.
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” –Zig Ziglar
Now that you don’t actually see many of your employees every day, it is more important than ever to have frequent check-ins to find how they are doing and how they are progressing on their goals.
I HOPE you will enjoy this 3-day holiday weekend although I know that probably isn’t the case for many of you with the September due date just around the corner.
Never quit. It is the easiest cop-out in the world. Set a goal and don’t quit until you attain it. When you do attain it, set another goal, and don’t quit until you reach it. Never quit.
“We wanted to create a platform where freelancers could connect with the right client.” – Chad Taylor, Paro
The question in the title is really a stupid question. Every firm I talk to is looking for qualified people to help the firm provide exceptional client service. Some firms are so desperate that they are considering outplacing some clients. That probably needed to be done anyway, but considering not to take on new clients could be a disaster in the making.
So, how will you get through the 2022 busy season? Some firms have turned to Paro to obtain experienced tax and accounting skills. I have talked to clients who use Paro and they were very pleased.
I talked with Chad Taylor of Paro to get a better understanding of how they work. Here is the landing page for Paro For CPA Firms. Paro is a talent marketplace for US-based accounting professionals (freelancers). I learned that not just anyone can join their network – – they have to be vetted. They do test projects and they accept about 3 to 4% of those who apply. If you are matched with a person, you get to meet them and interview them before making a decision. They already have an onboarding process so that they can make sure it is a successful bridge between the firm and the freelancer.
Paro might not be the answer for you but it is worth exploring.
Following is information from their promo material:
The CPA Firm Solution to Staffing Capacity Challenges
“When you bring your best to the table, no matter where you are or what you are doing, you bring out the best in others. And soon, you start to realize, that, in turn, helps them bring out the best in you.” – Bruce Tulgan
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I admire Bruce Tulgan. Tulgan is an American writer specializing in management training and generational diversity in the workforce. He is a dynamic and informative speaker. When I first read his book It’s Okay To Be The Boss, I was hooked and have read and followed his books and articles for years.
I was fortunate to hear him speak live and got to meet him and have him sign my copy of It’s Okay.
In a recent article Tulgan addresses the topic of an employer value proposition. If you want to have an advantage as an employer, begin with defining a clear value proposition for potential new hires.
Keep in mind that not one value proposition fits every role. Tulgan lists many questions an employer must ask themselves before they can define a purposeful staffing strategy.
“In order to achieve great results, you first need to do the deep inner work to build a solid foundation that can support your success.” – Chris McClure
Building a strong foundation, personally, is very important. It will be the guiding light that supports your success and leads you to even greater heights. As mentioned in the quote above, you have to do deep inner work. “Learning your trade” is one way you build a strong, personal foundation as a CPA. In addition to work experience, reading is critical to building a strong personal foundation. Read everything you can. Read business books, of course, but also read for pleasure. You can often find meaningful inspiration from reading fiction.
This same theory applies to your busy accounting firm. As an owner or leader, you let yourself get so busy that the firm just molds itself around you. You might even be so busy that you let your culture form on its own. That could be dangerous.
For 2020 and 2021, you have been busy, busy, busy. You reacted quickly to build a remote work environment to serve clients and to simply get you through the pandemic. During these times, it hasn’t mattered if the foundation was solid or shaky, you had to get the work done and you did.
Hopefully, now that 2021 is evolving, I hope you will take some time to really contemplate the foundation of your firm. Your work processes and procedures make up the foundation of your firm. You must be prepared to inform current staff and new staff “How we do it here.” You need to have high expectations and then set the best example so that your culture reflects your beliefs.
Perhaps you had some well-developed processes but they all went by the wayside during the previous hectic months. Refocus. Seek input from your people and your clients. Shore up your foundation so you are prepared to move forward into the new normal.
Foundational pieces of an accounting firm, in addition to how your complete engagements and handle workflow, are: HR policies, internal accounting (billing and collection, monthly firm financial statements, etc.), technology processes, onboarding, training, and marketing/sales activities.
Remember, from the quote above, “In order to achieve great results, you first need to do the deep inner work to build a solid foundation.”
The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Not too long ago, I heard a managing partner in a mid-size firm lament that he was overwhelmed with what he had to do as a managing partner. His firm wasn’t big enough for an HR department or a full-time Controller, so much of the administrative management work fell on his shoulders.
This brought to mind the fact that even very small firms need a true firm administrator. I know firms that have under ten people and have a firm administrator in place. One very successful firm (a former client) had one administrative person and her title was Firm Administrator. She did it all! This sole proprietor was freed up to do what he loved to do and what made the firm successful – he consulted with clients in a special niche (what a concept!).
Even in small firms, a firm administrator can take on much of the work surrounding recruiting and hiring. They can handle the renewal of various insurance policies including professional liability. In many small to mid-size firms (headcount 50 or under), the firm administrator (practice manager is now the preferred title), is also the marketing person, the HR person, and the billing person. I refer to these multi-talented practice managers as “working” practice managers because they also process tax returns and financial statements. Obviously, these tasks are mostly handled by an administrative assistant but during peak times the practice manager must pitch in.
Does it make financial sense? Yes. If a professional practice manager can save an MP even 20 hours per month and he/she uses those twenty hours to consult with clients, that would amount to almost $70,000 per year (if your equity partner billing rate is $290 as noted in the Rosenberg Survey). I believe a practice manager can save you a lot more than 20 hours per month.
So, if you are a managing partner that is feeling overwhelmed with admin work, hire a talented, professional practice manager. The CPA Firm Management Association can be a great resource for learning more about hiring a practice manager and managing a CPA firm.
Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.
“Frantic work is never your best work.” – Dan Rockwell
I enjoy reading tweets and blog posts by @LeadershipFreak (Dan Rockwell). His recent one, A Dairy Farmer’s Path to Success, has many good lessons for accountants. I especially liked the following excerpt:
Steady on:
I asked a farmer how he was doing and he said, “Steady on.”
You never see a farmer running around like a chicken with its head cut off. (Apologies to chickens.)
Days are long on the farm, so you pace yourself. Medium speed allows you to work all day.
Frantic work is never your best work.
Read the blog post from Dan to learn more success tips from dairy farmers.
The future isn’t predictable. Instead, it’s created by informed decisions, bold action, and agile responses.
If you want to be more productive, you need to become master of your minutes.” – Crystal Paine
Have you heard of the Pomodoro method? According to an article I read, it has helped millions of people to become more productive and improve their time management skills.
Plus, according to a very efficient friend of mine who has worked in the CPA profession for years, it has really worked for her.
Also from the web: The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with the time they have—rather than against it. Using this method, you break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as pomodoros.
It reminds me of a method practiced by my former marketing director. She would have a pressing task and would be down to a deadline. She would say, “I’m going to play Beat the Clock.” That meant she would completely focus for one hour (usually typing or researching something) and get what she could done in one hour. I have tried it at various times and it worked for me. Sometimes you just agonize over things too long!
Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.
“Fortunate is he who understands the cause of things.” – Virgil
When I read the above quotation in a book I am reading (The Pioneers by David McCullough), I was reminded how CPA firm leaders often misunderstand or are in the dark about “the cause of things.”
If you are working in a CPA firm, you know that the grapevine is usually very active. For example:
Three partners meet in one of their offices with the door closed. The grapevine activates.
A senior accountant is unusually dressed-up for the day and leaves early. The grapevine activates.
An intern claims he is sick two Mondays in a row. The grapevine activates.
Leaders are often faced with challenges that seem straight-forward and uncomplicated. Do you really know the backstory – what led up to the event?
A person gives their notice and seems untroubled and apparently moving on to a better opportunity. Do you know what led up to the departure, the cause?
Sally, the receptionist, is always late. You must address it. Do you know the cause, the backstory?
Are you doing surveys to determine how your people feel about remote work or hybrid work? Some firms are experiencing several resignations (people moving on the what they think are better jobs). Remember, “Fortunate is he who knows the cause of things.”
