outlook & analysis

who wants to be partner? anyone? hello?

by kristen rampe
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

i anticipate more interest in exploring artificial intelligence and offshoring for small to midsized firms. as new use cases and case studies of success come online, late adopters will start to dabble in these important developments.

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

• • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
  • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: focus on intentional growth | accounting firms upshift to corporate model | growth and complacency must concern accounting firms this year | the future of fees | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement
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strong local and regional firms will continue to thrive, though they will face the continued pressure of offers from cpa firm buyers and private equity. many fiercely independent firms will continue on their own path. of those, plenty will remain successful, but not all, and depending on where the hearts, minds and financial goals of the owners are, they might find interest in entertaining these offers.
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one conversation to be had: the distinction between advisors and consultants.

by carrie steffen
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

two words come to mind: intentional growth. with leaders making some strategic moves around capacity i feel a general sense of interest in revisiting their strategy around growing the top line. i’m being asked to speak on growth, business development skills and go-to-market strategies more in the next 12 months than i have been in the last several years.

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

• • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
  • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: accounting firms upshift to corporate model | tech anxiety paralyzing some accounting firms | what’s going to happen? lots, say consultants | growth and complacency must concern accounting firms this year | solving staffing requires intention | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know | the new pipeline: outsourcing and offshoring | is this the last year of accounting’s golden age?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

have we finally turned a corner on talent challenges? maybe not entirely, but it is encouraging that owners are beginning to think again about investing in growing their businesses. for that majority that means deeper niching and greater focus on pursuing the right opportunities. i’m having a lot of conversations about how to turn down work.
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expect competition from non-cpa firms.

by terry putney
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

the private equity influence and activity clearly will continue to dominate mergers and acquisitions in the profession in the near future. at this point there is likely over $10 billion in fee volume generated by firms pe has invested in. even more if you include esop-based firms (an alternative form of investment). contrast that with less than $2 billion at the height of the consolidation phase in the early 2000s. it seems likely that the fee volume generated by pe-backed firms could exceed $20 billion within at most 18 to 24 months.

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

• • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
  • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: tech anxiety paralyzing some accounting firms | what’s going to happen? lots, say consultants | growth and complacency must concern accounting firms this year | solving staffing requires intention | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know | the new pipeline: outsourcing and offshoring | is this the last year of accounting’s golden age?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

one of the trends that is already happening is firms are moving from the partnership model to a more corporate model with respect to ownership and owner compensation. this means compensation systems will include elements of ownership as part of the currency. it also means the concept that a professional is expected to commit to a full career with a firm with the reward being in the form of a 10-year deferred compensation buyout after 30 years of service is likely to start to wane.
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ai? inescapable. but don’t forget cybersecurity.

by roman kepczyk
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

wild ride: as i am primarily focused on accounting firm technology and departmental production, i will limit my observations to it, where the big trend will be that we will continue to see a profusion of new ai-assisted applications coming at firms from all directions, at an increasingly untenable pace. i think that the reality of the mantra stating, “you won’t be replaced by ai, but by someone using ai” will sink into every accountant’s brain in 2025 and the urge to jump to solutions will be overpowering

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

• • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
  • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: what’s going to happen? lots, say consultants | growth and complacency must concern accounting firms this year | solving staffing requires intention | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

like the dotcom boom of the early 2000s, i’m already seeing firms display a significant amount of anxiety around making application decisions and paralysis around concerns about integrating tools that could shortly be replaced by another, better product. my advice is to research peer success, pilot small and learn fast (or at least fail fast and move on).
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insights on staffing, private equity and more.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

in case you haven’t noticed, the whole world is changing. everything.

even the accounting business.

and everyone wants to know what’s going to happen.

even cpas.

more: growth and complacency must concern accounting firms this year | solving staffing requires intention | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know | the new pipeline: outsourcing and offshoring | is this the last year of accounting’s golden age?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

some of the answers (for cpas) might be found in the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics, where some of the industry’s leading consultants are opining on what’s coming down the pike.

and they all agree on one thing: change is coming.
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pe may push dei for new talent.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

private equity investment is creating a seismic shift in the accounting profession. leadership structures are getting overhauled. career paths are branching both up and out. investments are opening opportunities in services and clientele.

more: eleven questions about kids, wealth and the family business | twelve years and out: seasoned accountants join the exodus | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | gen ai in accounting: epic transformation, or overheated hype? | survey shows big opportunities in small business | salary guides for accountants vary widely: whom do you believe? | are you earning what you deserve? | the slow, painful death of the 150-hour rule | partner comp earnings gap: what’s the right spread?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

how will this impact the core of cpa firms?

good question. and the 2024 accounting move project has some answers.
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be proactive and intentional.

by tamera loerzel
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

while i could list many trends, predictions and thoughts, i think there are two important considerations to pay attention to over the next 12 months:

1. complacency continues to run rampant in some firms. growth has been good for most firms, which means profits have been good and partner compensation is at an all-time high for many, which gives a false sense of security.

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

• • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
  • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: solving staffing requires intention | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know | the new pipeline: outsourcing and offshoring | is this the last year of accounting’s golden age?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

in addition, the noise from the m&a activity and private equity funding along with continued capacity and pipeline issues, velocity of emerging technologies, and other business model transformation needed, many leaders freeze with inaction. those who delay or stop investing in developing leaders; hr and other operational roles; ai, rpa or other technologies; and more will be left behind.

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“getting work was easy, but getting it done was hard.”

by matt rampe
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

the staffing struggle won’t turn around overnight. firms that want to succeed need an intentional strategy on recruiting and retaining talent.

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

• • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
  • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know | the new pipeline: outsourcing and offshoring | is this the last year of accounting’s golden age?
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

private equity and technology will continue to advance. this will create a more competitive landscape, with more firms innovating on all aspects of the traditional cpa firm model.
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