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CPAs Should Stay in Public Accounting and Here’s Why

hands and calculator

One concern: age discrimination.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

I’ve written about a CPA going to work for a small client who was creating a controller’s position.

Today I’ll talk about going to work for a client who already has a controller or working for a large company.

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The company that already has a controller is a much safer bet for a departing CPA. The position is established, the work is integrated with the outside accounting firm that will maintain its role and there is a place in the management hierarchy. The role is clear and the CPA knows what to expect in terms of daily activity. If there are growth opportunities for the company, the controller could or would be part of them.
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MARKETING & SALES

Are You Asking Enough Life Cycle Questions?

Green "opportunity" highway sign with sunrise background

Use them to raise client awareness of services.

By Ed Mendlowitz
The CPA Trendlines Practice Doctor

Part of selling is to have existing clients use more of your services. To do this they must be told the breadth and depth of your firm’s activities. It should be a major goal of every meeting with a client.

Here are a few ways to do it.

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Tax Return Preparation Interviews

The tax return preparation interview, the purpose of which is to gather information, is a tremendous opportunity to find out the concerns of the client and where you can help. The assistance you give can sometimes provide a life-changing benefit to the client while enabling your firm to increase its service base gaining additional revenues. READ MORE →

MANAGEMENT

Seven Reasons People Quit Public Accounting

man in suit exiting office building

Better leadership could change this.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

I have written about CPAs who leave public accounting and go to work in private industry. Based upon the comments and emails I’ve received, this is an involved topic and I would like to delve into it further.

MORE by Ed Mendlowitz
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I was writing about my observations, particularly of many people in their mid-50s I have known who cannot get jobs in private industry after spending a major part of their careers there. Obviously, there are many people with extremely successful careers in private industry and I was not addressing them, but I do consider them to be in the minority. Also, we are all individuals, and we each decide on how we want to work and what we are comfortable with. No one, including me, has any right to criticize them or tell them they should have done it differently.
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MARKETING & SALES

Are You Marketing or Selling?

Woman explaining financial brochure to man

Both must serve the client first.

By Ed Mendlowitz

There are differences between marketing and selling.

Selling is a process whose goal is an actual order. Marketing involves the totality of presenting the company to the prospective customer so they want to do business with you.

MORE by Ed Mendlowitz
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Salespeople need immediate gratification. Marketers take a long-term view.

Both are necessary for successful growth.
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CHECKLIST

What Happens to Your Firm If You Die? Seriously.


Get the free practice-continuation toolkit.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

One morning, my wife and I were having breakfast, and she asked me, “What do I do if you and Peter get killed?”

DOWNLOAD: Practice Continuation in Event of a Death or Disability Sample Agreement and Letter of Instruction, Prepared by Ed Mendlowitz

This was a Friday, and Peter Weitsen and I were flying together on Sunday to a conference in Palm Springs. My response to these questions was typical: “Don’t bother me. Nothing will happen!”
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