remote work will see cuts; pe will trickle down

child with stuffed animal pointing at woman's computer screen

corporate form of governance is seeing more acceptance.

by marc rosenberg
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

  • private equity shows signs of trickling down to sizeable local firms (say $15-30 million firms).
  • the aging of baby boomers – ages 57-75 – continues but at some time in the next five years or so, their tremendous wave of retirements will abate somewhat and there may be fewer sellers.

more: three ways firms can succeed in 2024 | firms must choose best workplace model | outsourcing, remote work will help firms grow capacity, revenue | private equity leading to corporate-style cpa firms | five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | partner incomes surge 11.4%
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  • artificial intelligence has ramped up its awareness in the cpa firm market. though many have warned of the negative impact of ai, its upward trend is relentless and knows no bounds.

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the big 3 success tips for 2024

three coworkers wearing suits, smiling and talking

profitability is just part of the picture.

by matt rampe
the rosenberg map survey

over the next 12 months, three big disruptions will shake the accounting industry.

more: firms must choose best workplace model | tech, capital will drive accounting profession growth | ‘great shakeup’ in cpa firms on the way | pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession
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fortunately, there are at least three ways that firms can prevail.

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staff wages hit record high

line chart
payroll services staff hourly earnings

their bosses aren’t seeing the same increases.

by beth bellor
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

going into the new year, the average american is doing somewhat better. earnings are up a bit; unemployment is down a bit.

more: despite staffing crunch, firms freeze pay raises | tax & accounting firms grow for 9th straight month | tax & accounting profession grows, but wages don’t | tax and accounting pay advancing at 5.9% pace | accounting jobs up 4% for year
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for employees in the tax, accounting and bookkeeping business, things are more complicated. pay for employees overall? usually down, way down. but pay for staff in every sector? all-time highs.
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firms must choose best workplace model

man sitting at desk in otherwise empty office, facing glass wall

what will help you move forward?

by kristen rampe
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

the obvious: staffing challenges will continue. firms that are stuck in their old ways must add younger talent with the ability to influence leadership ranks. senior partners who are seeking an internal buyout, or better priced external sale, need to recognize how essential this is.

more: tech, capital will drive accounting profession growth | new energy comes from new ways of doing business | ai for accounting automation will be significant | a 40-hour workweek is feasible | it’s time for a new business model
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less obvious: workplace models will continue to be varied, and there is no one-size-fits-all. i have clients who hardly went home during covid-19, and their staff have to be asked to work from home to free up office space for a growing team. i also have clients with thousands of square feet of vacant office space because no one has returned. of both groups (and those in between), some have critical failures in productivity. some are crushing it.
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tech, capital will drive accounting profession growth

business hand holding hot chart in crystal ball

how much? faster than the rest of the economy.

by terry putney
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

the private equity model is still unproven in the minds of many cpa firm partners as there are no examples of a secondary market for the investors of cpa firms. private equity investors in other professional disciplines like veterinary, dental and engineering have experienced success with attracting secondary and tertiary investors.

more: new energy comes from new ways of doing business | outsourcing, remote work will help firms grow capacity, revenue | private equity leading to corporate-style cpa firms | pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession | a 40-hour workweek is feasible | five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | soft skills are front and center
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until we see that happen in accounting, there will remain some skepticism about the viability of this business model. it is not my skepticism. but accounting firms that are considering private equity are expressing that as one of their concerns.
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new energy comes from new ways of doing business

two women having business discussion in front of laptop; wall of windows in background

one idea: a client service coordinator.

by tamera loerzel
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

while everyone is cautiously watching the economy, client needs and demand for accounting and advisory services continues to increase. firms have to figure out how to run their practices differently to be available to do more with clients, help them solve problems, and make the shifts they need to make, too.

more: outsourcing, remote work will help firms grow capacity, revenue | ‘great shakeup’ in cpa firms on the way | pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession | soft skills are front and center | it’s time for a new business model
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

while 2023 busy seasons may have been “better,” a lingering fatigue continues. firm leaders who are focused on new ways of doing business, staffing and serving clients will find relief and the ability to focus on important initiatives in their firms. and empower young partners and managers to try new things and lead change initiatives. they can see what’s possible and will make it happen.
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accountants torn over 2024 economy, offer advice

bar chart

they’re of two contradictory minds. hmm…

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

america’s cpas are perceiving a paradox for next year’s economy.

they think their firms will do well.

more: accountants bullish on income | cpas culling clients for better work-life balance | are you offering the right services? | which niche’s the best niche? | women-owned businesses upbeat but need help | 42% of accountants turn away work over staff shortages | ethics on sustainability puzzle some accountants | accountants to the rescue as startups struggle
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they think their clients might be ok.

but the rest of the country? not ok.
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outsourcing, remote work will help firms grow capacity, revenue

three people speaking by videoconference

another option: new hires who are not accounting majors.

by art kuesel
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

with the market for accounting talent remaining incredibly tight, and the demand for accounting and consulting services remaining relatively strong, i see the opportunity for continued double-digit revenue increases and strong margin growth at most firms. this won’t be without issue as we know how reluctant firms can be about charging what they are worth and increasing fees for current clients!

more: ‘great shakeup’ in cpa firms on the way | ai for accounting automation will be significant | private equity leading to corporate-style cpa firms | pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession | a 40-hour workweek is feasible | five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | soft skills are front and center
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

and, the main issue at hand is how firms will continue to service existing clients while at the same time building capacity. outsourcing and remote talent will continue to be a popular means of maintaining and building capacity.
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accountants bullish on income

bar chart

 

… but salary costs will outweigh some of it.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

early results from the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 outlook 2024: emerging issues, opportunities and trends survey show cpas generally optimistic about their upcoming year.

more: cpas culling clients for better work-life balance | are you offering the right services? | which niche’s the best niche? | women-owned businesses upbeat but need help | 42% of accountants turn away work over staff shortages | ethics on sustainability puzzle some accountants | accountants to the rescue as startups struggle | talent gap widening: be very scared
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but there will be challenges, among them the ability of small businesses to pay for the predicted success.
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‘great shakeup’ in cpa firms on the way

 

those that continue to make deep and sustainable investments will excel; “grinders” will face serious challenges to staying relevant.

by allan koltin
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

as i look to the next 12 months (july 1, 2023, to june 30, 2024) i see the “hourglass” half full! i know we have been in and out of a recession and flattening economy for the past 3.5 years, but i believe that in 2024 the economy will be better and stronger (i know i may be a minority opinion here!).

more: ai for accounting automation will be significant | private equity leading to corporate-style cpa firms | pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession | a 40-hour workweek is feasible | five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | soft skills are front and center | it’s time for a new business model | rosenberg map: partner incomes surge 11.4%
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

whether i’m right or wrong may not matter though, as cpa firms continue to have strong performance in good and bad times. i realize that in a recession, the use of certain advisory and consulting services may be reduced or put on hold, but that aside, i think 2024 will be a strong year for firms as they continue to right-size and reimagine what their firm can be.
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ai for accounting automation will be significant

cybersecurity remains a concern.

by roman kepczyk
the rosenberg map survey

editor’s note: every year, the rosenberg map survey asks the industry’s top consultants to share their observations from cpa firms across the country. how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? also, how would you assess the last 12 months?

positive optimism: barring an even larger international political crisis in the next 12 months, the opportunities within the accounting profession for firms both providing traditional compliance services and those that have expanded into advisory practices will simply be phenomenal! from a technology perspective, the evolution of artificial intelligence capabilities within accounting applications for process automation will be the most significant trend and while there will be a lot of early hype, good solutions will be able to prove themselves out fairly quickly.

more: private equity leading to corporate-style cpa firms | pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession | a 40-hour workweek is feasible | five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | soft skills are front and center | it’s time for a new business model | rosenberg map: partner incomes surge 11.4%
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

watch for what microsoft does with copilot and integrated virtual assistance within excel, outlook, their edge browser and, in particular, microsoft teams. then start watching what individual accounting profession applications start integrating virtual assistance tools for tax research and projections, audit work program assistance, and use of tools to acquire and analyze accounting data and reporting, and the breadth of practical opportunities will start to unfold.
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survey: cpas culling clients for better work-life balance

bar chart

accountants don’t want just more clients, they want better ones.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

some interesting early results from the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 outlook 2024: emerging issues, opportunities, and trends:

  • 57 percent of respondents say staffing and retention are their biggest challenge.
  • 48 percent say burnout and the work-life balance is their biggest challenge.

note how these two most common challenges relate to each other. a shortage of staff is linked to an excess of burnout and imbalance.

more: are you offering the right services? | which niche’s the best niche? | women-owned businesses upbeat but need help | 42% of accountants turn away work over staff shortages | accountants to the rescue as startups struggle | talent gap widening: be very scared | accountants hopeful, concerned and confused about ai | looking for recent grads? good luck
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

now look:

  • 34 percent say getting better clients is their biggest challenge.
  • 31 percent say raising prices and billing rates is their biggest challenge.

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private equity leading to corporate-style cpa firms

pawns and stacks of coins, each with an arrow leading to several coin stacks in the center

long-term incentives remain a challenge.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

for some reason the advent of private equity and other alternative investment in cpa partnerships isn’t receiving much media attention though it is quickly setting in motion an extensive overhaul of the traditional partnership structure.

more: pe, consolidations to keep impacting accounting profession | a 40-hour workweek is feasible | five ways staff shortages are changing firms forever | soft skills are front and center | it’s time for a new business model | rosenberg map: partner incomes surge 11.4%
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

asked what they expect to see in the next 12 months, several experts opining in the rosenberg national survey of cpa firms statistics identify increasing outside investment in cpa firms and consequent new business models.
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