Rita Keller, Author at CPA Trendlines

Eliminate Mystery through Communication

What could be shared that isn’t?

By Rita Keller

Improved communication can be achieved with many different approaches. Some tactics may primarily affect intrafirm understanding and teamwork, while others focus more on increasing clarity and frequency of communications with clients. No matter where they are directed, when these efforts are successful, they benefit the firm and its clients.

MORE: 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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When I begin to work with a new CPA firm client, one of the most common issues I encounter is the lack of open, honest, ongoing communication between firm leadership and team members.
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FEATURED

2019: Why Small Firms Shun Mergers

Leadership and “business-getting skills” emphasized for managers.

By Rita Keller
The Rosenberg Survey: National Study of CPA Firm Statistics

When considering a succession plan that involves merging up, some very well-managed and profitable smaller firms actually feel like they are taking a step backward.

MORE FROM THE MAP SURVEY: 2019: Using M&A to Launch Consulting | 2019: Client Service Moves to Fore | 2019: Shifts in Hiring & Office Space
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They view the larger, acquiring firm as having multiple partners who seem complacent and unwilling to invest in digital tools that will take the firm into the future. Decision-making is way too slow.

CLIENT ACCOUNTING SERVICES

SURVEY: Clients Disappear, Niches Blossom

Are you living your stated culture?

By Rita Keller
Rosenberg MAP Survey

One thing that really stood out for me about 2016 was the number of former clients and other CPA firms I have known over my many years in the profession that are disappearing. They have merged up.

MORE FROM THE MAP SURVEY: Tiered Partnerships? It’s Happening | Extending Retirement Turns off Future Leaders | Leadership Taking Different Forms | Technology Evolving Faster Than Accounting Firms | Succession Issues Stalling Some M&A
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The M&A activity has, of course, been going on for many years now and it is just another form of growth, but it really hit me during this last 12 months when I looked at my long list of clients and identified the ones who are no longer in existence.
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LEADERSHIP

Eliminate Mystery through Communication and Inclusion

Or flipped, why are you keeping secrets?

By Rita Keller

Improved communication can be achieved with many different approaches. Some tactics may primarily affect intra-firm understanding and teamwork, while others focus more on increasing clarity and frequency of communications with clients. No matter where they are directed, when these efforts are successful they benefit the firm and its clients alike.

MORE: 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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When I begin to work with a new CPA firm client, one of the most common issues I encounter is the lack of open, honest, ongoing communication between firm leadership and team members.
READ MORE →

OUTLOOK & ANALYSIS

SURVEY: Accounting Profession Demands Swift Change

New employees want to see their career paths mapped out.

By Rita Keller
The Rosenberg MAP Survey

Many firms continued to struggle with workflow issues. Smaller firms have not invested in software tools that can greatly enhance productivity.

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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When it comes to various software solutions, the constant chant by many practitioners in small to mid-size firms is that “it’s too expensive.” Many firms have not budgeted nearly enough money for technology.
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Rita Keller

MORE AT STORE.CPATRENDLINES.COM

Rita Keller, President and Founder of Keller Advisors, LLC, is a nationally known CPA firm management consultant, speaker and author.

She is a co-author of Bridging the Gap: Strengthening the Connection between Current and Emerging Leaders in the CPA Profession.

Keller is a former shareholder and Chief Operating Officer of a successful regional CPA firm and has over 30 years hands-on experience in the management, marketing, technology and administration of a successful firm.

She is widely known for her leadership, presentation and implementation skills, and passion for CPA firm management. She works as a change agent for firms throughout the country focusing on the people, internal management, operational, implementation and partner issues. She also provides a mentoring/coaching program for the firm’s management team.

Keller provides unique facilitation for partner retreats, bringing the people issues, succession issues and processes into the spotlight. As a facilitator and speaker,

She has been featured at nearly every prominent management conference, such as Management Summit, The Advisory Board’s Forum for Women in Accounting, AICPA Forum on Staffing Issues, the AICPA Practitioners’ Symposium, the AICPA Leadership Forum, the AICPA National Advanced Accounting Technical Symposium, The Association for Accounting Marketing, and The Association for Accounting Administration National Management Conference, plus numerous CPA firm association and state society management meetings. Rita has frequently been named among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.

She has received the Everest Award from Management Summit, established to recognize major/ongoing contributions to the CPA profession and the Association for Accounting Administration ACE Award for achievement, commitment and excellence in CPA firm management and administration. In December 2009, her popular daily blog, devoted to CPA firm management, was named one of the Top 50 Blogs for Accountants. She serves on the AICPA Practitioners’ Symposium Committee as past Chair and is also on the advisory board of the CPA Practice Management Forum and the AICPA Seasonality Success newsletter.

Keller served on the national Board of Directors of The Association for Accounting Administration for seven years, two of those years as National President and is past president of the Indiana Chapter and cofounder of the Ohio Chapter. She is a contributing author to the AICPA MAP Handbook, AICPA PCPS Human Capital Center and has been featured on the cover of The Practical Accountant. She is often quoted in CPA management publications, Internet newsletters, blogs and Twitter. She has been featured four times in the Journal of Accountancy (February 2009, April 2007, September 1999 and September 1997) and authored the article, Make the Most of Mentoring, for the August 2008 issue of the Journal.

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