here’s what you’re looking for: marc rosenberg

management

the 10 biggest mistakes cpa firms make in reading map statistics

do the math.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of the rosenberg map survey

reading map surveys and analyzing the statistics they contain can be challenging, but when used properly these surveys can be valuable tools to improve firm performance. here’s a list – in no particular order – of the 10 biggest mistakes partners make in reading and computing map statistics.

related: compensation issues for the new managing partner | 20 decisions for your firm’s new partner compensation committee | three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm | what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner | why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s” | more…

avoid these common pitfalls and you’re well on your way to improving your firm’s performance.

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management

five skills that separate winners from losers in the accounting business

super-successful firms are experts at achieving one or more these…

by marc rosenberg, cpa
the rosenberg map survey

if cpa firms did everything “right,” they could easily double or triple their income. doing things right includes effectively bringing in clients, charging high billing rates, maintaining strong realization, high leverage of staff to partners and keeping expenses down. it’s the rare firm that does well in all of these categories.

more practice management strategy: compensation issues for the new managing partner | 20 decisions for your firm’s new partner compensation committee | three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm | what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner? | why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s” | more…

the path to profitability is different for every firm. but the truly profitable firms are successful at achieving one or more of the following: read more →

management

don’t ask a cpa what profitability means

you’d think they could agree on a common definition for their firms. they can’t.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of what really makes cpa firms profitable

if you asked the president of a fortune 500 company or the owner of a restaurant to define profitability, they would be able to give a quick, definitive answer. not so with cpas. surely, you’ve heard the story, perhaps apocryphal, of the company that was interviewing for a new cpa firm. only one question was asked of each candidate: “how much is two plus two?” the firm that won the bid gave the answer, “how much would you like it to be?”

related: compensation issues for the new managing partner | 20 decisions for your firm’s new partner compensation committee | three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm | what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner? | why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s” | more…

the same can be true of cpa firm profitability. how do we measure it? you would think that the uncontested champions of measuring financial data, cpas, would have this down to a science. but such is not the case. read more →

management

the essence of cpa firm profitability

what mickey mouse can teach accountants about accounting.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of the rosenberg map survey

it has been said that organizations should never have profitability as a goal. why? because profitability should be the result of an organization’s efforts, not its goal. profitability is a measure of success in accomplishing core business goals. the disney corporation probably says it best in their mission statement, which is short and sweet, but very powerful: “our mission is to make millions happy.”

related: compensation issues for the new managing partner | 20 decisions for your firm’s new partner compensation committee | three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm | what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner? | why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s” | more…

disney super-pleases parents by creating hundreds of quality movies and lovable characters children grow up with and adore, and by creating theme parks that tap into our fantasies and imagination.

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management

how to identify your firm’s core values

and some examples to consider.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of how to operate a compensation committee

core values are the attitudes and beliefs that define a firm’s culture and a critical ingredient in a successful compensation plan.

 

more marc rosenberg practice management trends and guidance: three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm | what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner? | why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s” | the 15-item checklist for your next partner retreat | five key responsibilities for a new partner| planning a partner retreat for real results | 6 steps to get your business to the next level | the 10 biggest mistakes in reading map statistics | re-engineering partner accountability | marc rosenberg: why cpas aren’t making more money [video] | marc rosenberg: slow learners need not apply | 10 to-do’s for a partner buyout

partners talk about the firm’s core values all the time, pointing out instances when someone’s behavior has clearly been impacted by them. these values are incorporated in processes throughout the firm, such as in the development and evaluation process, in the way income is allocated to partners, and in what raises are given to staff.

when identifying your firm’s core values, consider: read more →

leadership

compensation issues for the new managing partner

five factors to consider in their new compensation plan. and five key responsibilities for the new managing partner.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of how to operate a compensation committee

baby boomer partners are rapidly approaching retirement age, creating a huge demographic shift. one result of this is a dramatic increase in new managing partners at firms.

many firms are skipping a generation and turning the reins over to “younger” partners. firms are also asking their new mps to divest themselves of a significant part of their client base to enable them to focus more on managing the firm.

how should the new mp be compensated?

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pay & compensation

20 decisions for your firm’s new partner compensation committee

partners need to be something more than production machines. [checklist included.]

by marc rosenberg, cpa

increasingly, cpa firms are adopting the compensation committee system for allocating partner income.  firms are finding that systems such as formulas, pay based on ownership percentage or pay-equal no longer work.  when we compare the usage of the compensation committee today to 5 years ago, the increase in usage ranges from 16% to 26%.

if there is one overarching cause for this significant trend, it’s that firms are understanding that their partners need to be something more than production machines.  in addition to bringing in business, managing a client base and working billable hours (all of which continue to be important values in a compensation committee), partners need to excel in intangible areas such as helping staff grow and develop, developing specialized expertise and teamwork.  the compensation committee is one of the best systems available to cpa firms to allocate income based on this diverse array of performance criteria.

more marc rosenberg practice management trends and guidance: three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm  | what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner?  |  why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s”  |  the 15-item checklist for your next partner retreat |  five key responsibilities for a new partner  |  planning a partner retreat for real results  |  6 steps to get your business to the next level  |  the 10 biggest mistakes in reading map statistics  |  re-engineering partner accountability  |  marc rosenberg: why cpas aren’t making more money [video]  |  marc rosenberg: slow learners need not apply  |  10 to-do’s for a partner buyout

when firms begin operating their new compensation committees, there is a lot of initial confusion and bewilderment about how to get started.  for example: read more →

pro member exclusive

three ways to break partner gridlock in an accounting firm

when one-partner, one-vote isn’t working. 

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of how to bring in new partners

most firms vote on a one-person, one-vote basis despite varying ownership percentages.

more marc rosenberg practice management trends and guidance: what partners are entitled to, and what they’re not entitled to | how to make partner?  |  why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s”  |  the 15-item checklist for your next partner retreat |  five key responsibilities for a new partner  |  planning a partner retreat for real results  |  6 steps to get your business to the next level  |  the 10 biggest mistakes in reading map statistics  |  re-engineering partner accountability  |  marc rosenberg: why cpas aren’t making more money [video]  |  marc rosenberg: slow learners need not apply  |  10 to-do’s for a partner buyout

but is that always the best way? here are three better ways.

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leadership

what partners are entitled to…

…and what they’re not entitled to. 

partners are entitled to a lot. at some firms, they are virtually royalty. but that’s no way to run a firm these days.

here, marc rosenberg, cpa, and author of how to bring in new partners and a 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 affiliate, lists what every partner – especially new and wanna-be partners – need to understand.

more from marc rosenberg:  how to make partner? | why accounting firm partners are “popping prozac like m&m’s” | the 15-item checklist for your next partner retreat | five key responsibilities for a new partner | planning a partner retreat for real results | 6 steps to get your business to the next level | the 10 biggest mistakes in reading map statistics | re-engineering partner accountability | marc rosenberg: why cpas aren’t making more money [video] | marc rosenberg: slow learners need not apply | 10 to-do’s for a partner buyout

a partner is entitled to:

1. attend partner meetings and retreats.

2. have access to all confidential firm financial data.

3. receive a return on capital; repayment of capital when he/she leaves the firm. read more →

leadership

the 15-item checklist for your next partner strategy meeting

how to focus on the big issues.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
guide to planning the firm retreat

most firms spend their time at retreats planning for the future, forming goals and addressing pressing issues and problem areas. the problem areas aren’t day-to-day issues such as purchasing a new copy machine or revising the policy on sick days. the problem areas are more strategic: morale issues, recruiting problems, profitability, etc.

here are some specific examples: read more →

pro member exclusive

planning a partner retreat for real results

and why the best firms make them regular events.

by marc rosenberg, cpa
author of guide to planning the firm retreat

retreats are critically important to a firm’s success.

a retreat provides an opportunity for key people to meet off premises to plan for the future, devise strategies, form goals and address problem areas. another objective of a retreat is less tangible, but equally as important: to enhance the quality of the relationships among co-workers and improve communications between them.

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