Here’s what you’re looking for: Angie Grissom

OUTLOOK & ANALYSIS

PE, Consolidations to Keep Impacting Accounting Profession

Cash infusions make the recruiting environment more competitive.

By Angie Grissom
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?

I believe competition will continue to increase and firm leaders will continue to make changes regarding business structure. Leaders will continue to innovate their strategies to meet the market demands. Private equity infusions and consolidations will continue at a steady pace, as structures will evolve to align with each individual firm’s leadership goals.

MORE: 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%
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Firms will continue to place priority on building advisory practices and streamlining operations to increase efficiency and communication. Firm governance structure, clear goals and increased transparency and accountability will be required to remain competitive.
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FEATURED

Three Strategies to Keep Emerging Leaders Energized

Business people laughing at lunch in a cafe outdoorsWhat role do partners play?

By Angie Grissom
Bridging the Gap

If new leaders are to come from within, then firms must succeed in retaining their team members over the long term. This isn’t always easy but with the right tactics, current leaders can establish policies that increase engagement to reduce attrition while also building the necessary skills and attitudes for successful leadership in younger team members.

MORE: Marketing: Not Just for Partners Anymore | How to Close the Generation Gap | Eliminate Mystery through Communication | Leadership Growth Is a Two-Way Street | How to Encourage Firm Ownership | Change When? Continuously | Win with an Intentional Culture | Each Generation Must Change
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A recent survey conducted by the AICPA showed one of the biggest concerns accounting firms are facing today is employee retention and engagement. This is no surprise and is endemic throughout the entire profession. As the economy takes a turn for the better, the rate at which team members are leaving their current employment or seeking further opportunities is accelerating. Many of the people leaving firms are the emerging leaders.
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FEATURED

Firms Face Business Realities

Pandemic means there’s no room for those who can’t embrace change.

By Angie Grissom

The working from home mandate has changed the way people think, work and communicate and has accelerated the move by four to five years (at least) over what I think would have happened without the pandemic. This has impacted the adoption of technology (Teams, Zoom, Adobe Connect, etc.) and has shown team members what works and what doesn’t work.

MORE: Remote Work Is More Productive | We’re in the Fast Lane… Can Your Partners Keep Up? | SURVEY: 2020’s Disruptions Are Only the Beginning | COVID Brought Us More and Better Client Communication
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People now know how and where they are the most effective. Clients are also seeing accounting providers as more essential and more as advisors, especially those dealing with the PPP loans and other programs that assist them with staying afloat during this time.
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FEATURED

2020 Outlook: Staffing Gets Creative

Another trend: ranking and culling clients.

By Angie Grissom
The Rosenberg MAP Survey

In terms of firm growth, we are seeing growth in firms with an abundance of opportunity. The way firms plan and manage the growth, the mix of clients they take on and maintain and the way they build a team to do the work and sell additional services does and will continue to impact the success they are having.

An advisory approach to serving and selling is required. Professionals need to learn how to do this and this differs from years past. The earlier in one’s career this is introduced, the better. Firms are paying attention to the importance of technology investments in dollars, time and learning and are seeing it as a non-negotiable. Firms are looking at ways to improve technology integration into multiple service lines and offerings.
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FEATURED

2019 Trends: Client Service Changes

Also: Staffing grows more complex.

By Angie Grissom, The Rainmaker Companies
The Rosenberg Survey: National Study of CPA Firm Statistics

In 2017, we saw more than ever before how the accounting industry is in a state of substantial transition. From the services clients need, the method on how to best serve them, the makeup of the firm’s professionals, the method on how to recruit, train and retain them and the business model of the traditional accounting firm – all are shifting.

MORE FROM THE MAP SURVEY: 2019: Shifts in Hiring & Office Space | 2019: Firms Grapple with Change | Staff Policies Improve, But Not Mentoring
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The biggest struggle firms are facing is how to go about addressing the changes while leading the firm with the existing challenges of staffing, serving clients and acquiring new clients all while retiring out partners.
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FEATURED

SURVEY: Firms Struggle to Retain Clients, Key Players

Man in striped shirt holding spiral binder and talking to woman at laptopClients’ needs are changing.

By Angie Grissom
Rosenberg MAP Survey

Last year (2016) in the accounting industry was an interesting year. I witnessed more firm leadership acknowledging the changing trends and committing to take action than in previous years.

MORE FROM THE MAP SURVEY: Offshoring on the Rise | Leadership Taking Different Forms | Technology Evolving Faster Than Accounting Firms | Succession Issues Stalling Some M&A | Technology Playing Center Stage in CPA Profession
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A shift in focusing on the business of the firm occurred in many firms where the key management took notice of the changing needs of their clients, who are seeking more advice on how to better run and manage their companies, on the team who are seeking more support on how to be better equipped in their roles and supported in their desire to work differently.
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INNOVATION & CHANGE MANAGEMENT

3 Ways to Keep Your Team Members Connected, Engaged and Energized

Two businesswomen talking by office windowSkills don’t develop automatically.

By Angie Grissom
Bridging the Gap

If new leaders are to come from within, then firms must succeed in retaining their team members over the long term.

MORE: Marketing Is Not Just for Partners Anymore | A Simple Way to Dissolve the Generational Gap | Growing, Developing Future Leaders Is a Two-Way Street | They Don’t Want to Be Owners! | The Culture of Continuous Improvement | A Winning Culture Is an Intentional Culture | A Call for Change: An Open Letter to Each Generation
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This isn’t always easy but with the right tactics, current leaders can establish policies that increase engagement to reduce attrition while also building the necessary skills and attitudes for successful leadership in younger team members.

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CLIENT SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

SURVEY: Don’t Just Win Work, Figure Out Why

Five businesspeople in office with thumbs upBoomer retirements are creating gaps.

By Angie Grissom
The Rosenberg MAP Survey

The need for firms to offer more advisory services is growing, and clients are expecting more support from their accountants.

MORE FROM THE SURVEY: Talent Wars, M&A Frenzy Continue | Next-Gen Leaders Getting Restless | Mergers Keep Racing Forward  | Do You Have a Firm or a Co-op? | Accountability, Equity, Compensation Are Concerns | MAP Survey Top 10 Findings | CPA Firm Revenues Rise a Hefty 8%
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Many firms are increasing the amount of consulting offerings and billings. A number of firms, however, are continuing to struggle with how to play more of an advisory role with clients, which requires a paradigm shift in many ways. This is necessary because firms are struggling with how to differentiate themselves from their competitors with respect to traditional services, and are competing on price.
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