job #1: setting direction.
by robert j. lees and august j. aquila
how to engage partners in the firm’s future
there are many reasons why too many managing partners fail to truly engage their partners, especially as no managing partner we know ever sets out to fail. read more →
never more important than in busy season.
by sandi smith leyva
the accountant’s accelerator
no matter what time of the year it is, it seems like there is never enough time for entrepreneurial accountants to get everything done. here are three not-so-common ideas on how to make the most of your time. read more →
how the best managing partners gain commitment.
by robert j. lees and august j. aquila
creating the effective partnership
in the very best firms, the partners debate the options and, while it is incredibly rare for every partner to agree with every single aspect of the vision and strategy, the partners agree to line up behind the ultimate decisions. read more →
four checklists for thinking through the process, picking the right candidate and making it work.
by august aquila
creating the effective partnership
it seems that you can’t pick up a newspaper today without reading about a merger of national, regional or local firms.
if you are a partner in a cpa firm that is contemplating a merger, you are about to enter into an extremely risky venture. this article will help you to lessen your risk and give you a better chance of having a successful merger. read more →
survey shows new sense of confidence – and urgency.
get more updates: join the survey; get the results.
by rick telberg
卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间
tax and accounting professionals are hoping to make 2014 the year of working smarter, instead of harder, according to a new 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 survey.
in general, the goals and objectives as described by more than 200 accountants suggest a new surge of confidence in their business and in their clients’ businesses, and a new sense of urgency in upgrading their practices or moving on.
the survey is part of a 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 project, now in its eighth year, tracking the shifts in strategy and objectives in the profession. it measures sentiment on 21 or more strategies and tactics, and goals and ambitions across firms of all sizes nationwide. read more →
by sandi smith leyva, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
with 2014 upon us, it’s a good time to take stock of where we stand for the year, plus regroup as needed before the busy season begins. with so many changes in software, politics, tax laws and global standards, it’s pretty easy to feel a little disorganized.
here are three steps to help us take stock of our foundational business goals, re-evaluate our big picture and get us centered as we enter this new phase. read more →
make the leap from accountant to consultant.
by gale crosley
crosley co.
admit it. you’re good at what you do. your clients trust your proven ability to help improve their businesses. perhaps it’s time to take the step of enlarging your vision of yourself from accountant to consultant.
goals alone won’t won’t get you there.
by robert j. lees
and august j. aquila
creating the effective partnership
many leaders believe that people remain focused and committed to their performance goals if the goals are clear and compelling. however, that’s not our experience with accounting firms.
according to franklin covey’s “the 4 disciplines of execution: achieving your wildly important goals,” team engagement and accountability are necessary to maintain commitment to goals and we are firmly in this camp. read more →
by robert j. lees
and august j. aquila
creating the effective partnership
as much as a firm’s performance is driven by partner engagement, partner engagement is driven by performance goals. our research shows that when partners’ performance goals – individually, as a team or department – are misaligned with the firm’s strategic initiatives, the firm will suffer.
we see this too often in multilocation, multinational firms where what’s important in one location isn’t in another and, as a result, it’s downplayed in favor of local priorities. unfortunately, though, it’s the whole firm that suffers, not just the initial location. read more →
define measures of success and timesheets.
by robert j. lees
and august j. aquila
creating the effective partnership
current thinking suggests that people who focus on a few key goals have a greater chance of achieving or surpassing their goals and all of our work confirms this is true.
in our research into what truly successful managing partners do, one of the things the successful managing partners do that differentiates them from their peers is to focus their partners’ efforts on the firm’s key deliverables as a way of avoiding dissipation of energy and a loss of momentum. read more →
by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
i’ve worked with a lot of accountants who do not realize how valuable their skills are in the marketplace. most people can’t do what we do with numbers. we need to shake any self-limiting beliefs we have in this area because it limits our ability to serve more clients.
if you were making resolutions for the accounting industry, what would you suggest? the first resolution i’d make is: read more →
by sandi smith leyva, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
with labor day closing in, it’s a good time to take stock of where we stand for the year, plus re-group as needed before the 2014 busy season is upon us. with so many changes in software, politics, tax laws, and global standards, it’s pretty easy to feel a little disorganized.
more for soloists and small firms: the five essential skills accountants need today | the seven essential components of a simple marketing plan for accountants | take six big steps to go beyond compliance services | when your business needs to be rebooted | two steps to easy cross-sells | the hot new tech product for automated data entry | five value-add service areas to take you beyond bookkeeping | six money-making strategies to take you beyond quickbooks | proactive ways to get more referrals | the three biggest money leaks in your practice | new client opportunities with mobile apps | six questions to launch your summer strategy sessions | what most accountants miss in the five simple steps to get more clients | accountants, do you know your opportunity number? | five ideas to reduce client price-sensitivity | rise to the top with a fresh elevator speech | four ways to practice entrepreneurial perseverance | 5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients | the top 12 business card blunders accountants make | seven tips to keep the clients you have | how to attract clients like a magnet | eleven easy ways to deliver more value to clients
here are three steps to help us take stock of our foundational business goals, re-evaluate our big picture, and get us centered as we enter the next quarter. read more →
four steps when things aren’t turning out the way you dreamed.
by sandi smith, cpa
accountant’s accelerator
how does your current business look compared to the one you dreamed about before you started your entrepreneurial journey? do you now have clients you love, a dream team, the financial rewards you are comfortable with, and plenty of free time?
more for soloists and small firms: two steps to easy cross-sells | the hot new tech product for automated data entry | five value-add service areas to take you beyond bookkeeping | six money-making strategies to take you beyond quickbooks | proactive ways to get more referrals | the three biggest money leaks in your practice | new client opportunities with mobile apps | six questions to launch your summer strategy sessions | what most accountants miss in the five simple steps to get more clients | accountants, do you know your opportunity number? | five ideas to reduce client price-sensitivity | rise to the top with a fresh elevator speech | four ways to practice entrepreneurial perseverance | 5 mistakes to avoid when seeking new clients | the top 12 business card blunders accountants make | seven tips to keep the clients you have | how to attract clients like a magnet | eleven easy ways to deliver more value to clients
if not, don’t give up. you can still get there, and a little business clarity may help you get there even faster.
here are four steps: read more →