Jennifer Wilson, Author at CPA Trendlines

2019: Firms Grapple with Change

Another key: helping firm leaders retire with grace.

By Jennifer Wilson
The Rosenberg Survey: National Study of CPA Firm Statistics

It was another year of growth, but it was also one of change in firms, driven more by outside factors than by traditional growing pains.

MORE FROM THE MAP SURVEY: Staff Policies Improve, But Not Mentoring
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We’re seeing significant shifts in firm leadership, as more partners transition out of their roles and begin the move to retirement. Partner groups are renegotiating buy/sell and other partnership provisions that to reflect today’s and tomorrow’s conditions.
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FEATURED

SURVEY: Staffing and Succession Still Rocking Firms

Is your admin staff ready to support all your changes?

By Jennifer Wilson
Rosenberg MAP Survey

We like to say that we specialize in solving CPA firm problems and problems were WAY UP in 2016!

MORE FROM THE MAP SURVEY: Tech Advances Will Lead to Dichotomy | Technology Evolving Faster Than Accounting Firms | Succession Issues Stalling Some M&A | Technology Playing Center Stage in CPA Profession
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The #1 cause? Succession, transition and the need to have the right Next Gen leaders in place to lead, grow the firm and fund retirements. In most firms, organic revenue growth was up but staffing – having the right people in the right roles in the right timing – wasn’t keeping up. More revenue, more clients and fewer resources led to a feeling of overwhelm in many firm leaders and talent.
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LEADERSHIP

A Call for Change: An Open Letter to Each Generation

Drop the preconceptions and start working as a team.

By Jennifer Wilson
Bridging the Gap

Much like siblings, multiple generations working at the same firm often bring entrenched points of view and strong biases that have at least some basis in truth. Dropping these notions may be uncomfortable and require a conscious effort, but will benefit the firm as well as individual relationships within it.

With three distinct generations in the workplace today, the impacts of generational differences are phenomenal. Firm leaders are challenged to balance and blend each generation’s unique historical context, motivators and somewhat differing values systems to create a unified team and a sustainable firm.
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PRO Member Exclusive

Making Flex Time Work in the Real World

BONUS: A sample flexible work arrangement policy.

By Jennifer Wilson
On Staffing

Art Kuesel of Kuesel Consulting said it’s funny how people and organizations launch a new philosophy, policy or approach with the best of intentions, but somehow fail to consider an unintended consequence that threatens to negate the whole purpose of the original initiative.

MORE ON STAFFING: How to Make Mandatory Saturdays a Thing of the Past | Guidelines for Flexible Work Policies | Staff Need Meaningful Recognition | SURVEY: 97% of Leading Firms Now Offer Flexible Work Arrangements | How to Create a Talent Management Strategy | What Happened to the Relevancy of the CPA Profession?
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His examples:
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STAFFING & RECRUITING

How to Make Mandatory Saturdays a Thing of the Past

Four mental shifts to make.

Sound-Off: Does your firm require working on Saturdays?
Join the conversation here.

By Jennifer Wilson
On Staffing

I always challenge firm leaders to evaluate their “old school” practices and shift toward more engaging, motivating and even “cool” ways of operating to retain top talent.

MORE ON STAFFING: Guidelines for Flexible Work Policies | 10 Winning Traits of Accounting Firm Leaders | The Importance of Great Bosses | The 12 Reasons Your Staff Hates Your Firm | What Happened to the Relevancy of the CPA Profession?
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One of the ideas we’re hearing cool firms employ is the elimination of mandatory Saturdays during busy season. When I’ve shared this in group settings at CPA conferences, I literally hear a gasp of surprise because it challenges one of the most fundamental elements of public accounting – tracking, measuring and valuing time.

Today I want to explore the possibility of eliminating mandatory Saturdays – which does NOT mean eliminating overtime in most cases – and discuss ways that might help make this “new school” idea work and make public accounting an even cooler profession for up-and-comers.

Jennifer Wilson

MORE AT STORE.CPATRENDLINES.COM

Jennifer Wilson is a co-founder and partner of ConvergenceCoaching, LLC, a national leadership and marketing consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders achieve success by helping them develop and implement leadership, succession, marketing, and training and development plans. Jennifer’s ultimate goal is to make a transformational difference in the lives of her clients and in their businesses.

She is a contributor to Bridging the Gap: Strengthening the Connection between Current and Emerging Leaders in the CPA Profession, available from CPA Trendlines.

Named as one of Accounting Today’s 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, INSIDE Public Accounting’s Top 10 Most Recommended Consultants, and CPA Practice Advisor’s Top 25 Thought Leaders and Most Powerful Women in Accounting, Jennifer has worked in both the public accounting and IT development sectors before cofounding ConvergenceCoaching, LLC. As a partner for the top ten accounting firm, BDO USA, Jennifer ran the National Financial Solutions Group practice with nearly 100 consultants providing financial systems selection, implementation, and support services to clients. Jennifer is a member of the Association for Accounting Administration (AAA), Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM), American Marketing Association, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and International Coach Federation. Jennifer is an active volunteer in the profession and serves as Chair of the Education Committee for AAM, as a member of the Bill.com Advisory Board, and on the CPA Leadership Panel for the CPA Leadership Institute. Jennifer is a member of the New Horizon Group, CPA Consultants’ Alliance, and Accountants’ Global Advisory Panel, all forums for leading consultants to the accounting profession. She is a regular guest columnist and blogger for Accounting Today, Accounting Tomorrow, and AICPA CPA Insider with many recently published articles on leadership, partner programs, people management, and business development. She is a nationally recognized speaker, teacher, and facilitator delivering leadership and marketing programs to accounting and technology associations, state societies, and firms. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and three girls, gardening, practicing yoga, running, and is also active in her church.

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