Kristen Rampe, Author at CPA Trendlines

Make Your Plans Count: 1-2-3

What do you want to have happened six months afterward?

By Kristen Rampe

A well-planned retreat can have a real impact on your firm’s performance.

MORE: Team Expectations: A Checklist for Busy Season | Tax Season Savvy: Five Ways to Stay Sane | Why Host a Partner Retreat? | Effective Stay Interviews for CPA Firms | The 16 Biggest #FAILs in Delegation | Work-Life Balance: According to Whom? | NEW SURVEY RESULTS: Two Ways Your Strategic Plan Can Reduce Turnover
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A $2.4 million client of ours who holds annual management retreats (sole practitioner, COO, and key managers) wrote with this news when reflecting on their year-over-year improvements:

You would love our stats…

CHECKLIST

Team Expectations: A Checklist for Busy Season

What do you think your staff knows about tax season? Check again.

By Kristen Rampe

Busy season is here. Are you ready? Is your team ready?

You might feel your team “should know” your expectations, but that’s not always the case.

MORE RAMPE: Pandemic Lesson: Innovate Faster | Tax Season Savvy: Five Ways to Stay Sane | Why Host a Partner Retreat? | SURVEY RESULTS: Effective Stay Interviews for CPA Firms | The 16 Biggest #FAILs in Delegation | SURVEY: Work-Life Balance: According to Whom? | NEW SURVEY RESULTS: Two Ways Your Strategic Plan Can Reduce Turnover |

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A client of ours once assumed a five-year staff they hired from a Top 10 regional firm would know tax professionals work on Saturdays from February – April. She chose not to show up for any of them in February.

While the managing partner stewed over this behavior, we realized three key factors were in play:

FEATURED

Pandemic Lesson: Innovate Faster

Be prepared to seize unexpected opportunities.

By Kristen Rampe
The Rosenberg MAP Survey

COVID proved which firms were up to date on their technology and ability to manage via strong relationships and trust. It was fascinating (and occasionally tragic) to watch, and an eye opener for those on the less-prepared end.

MORE: Remote Work Is More Productive | COVID-19 Shakes Up M&A Activity | 2021: You’ll Never See ‘Normal’ Again | We Adapted to Remote Work … Now What? | 2020’s Disruptions Are Only the Beginning
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Most significant changes we noted:

CPAs gained confidence in their ability to work remotely. It may not have been pretty, but they did it! Some firm leaders even said they may never go back to their old commute.
Increased consulting engagements. This was driven because it was forced on firms (e.g., PPP loan assistance). However, the fact that many firms were willing and able to charge clients (when appropriate) for this work demonstrated their ability to be in the game beyond compliance work.

BUSY SEASON MANAGEMENT

Tax Season Savvy: Five Ways to Stay Sane

Why good boundaries make good workplaces.

By Kristen Rampe

After spending nearly 20 years with accountants (including myself!), I’ve come to recognize a common trait among our tribe. We’re a group of people who love saying “yes.”

MORE: Why Host a Partner Retreat? | SURVEY RESULTS: Effective Stay Interviews for CPA Firms | The 16 Biggest #FAILs in Delegation | SURVEY: Work-Life Balance: According to Whom? | SURVEY RESULTS: Two Ways Your Strategic Plan Can Reduce Turnover

Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

We say “yes” to clients, firm partners, our team members, family, friends, volunteer engagements and so on. People love us for it. I mean, when you think of qualities you look for in people you work with, willingness and reliability are right up at the top of the list.

But as you’re working tirelessly to meet the needs of everyone you encounter, how are your own needs being met?

TALENT & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Why Host a Partner Retreat?

Plus 8 tips for success.

By Kristen Rampe
Talent Retention & Development

It’s easy to find reasons to pass up having a partner retreat: things are running along just fine at your firm, you’re busy and so is everyone else, plus retreats take work to put together, not to mention you had one five years ago, so you’re pretty much set.

MORE: Effective Stay Interviews for CPA Firms | The 16 Biggest #FAILs in Delegation Work-Life Balance: According to Whom? NEW SURVEY RESULTS: Two Ways Your Strategic Plan Can Reduce Turnover
Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.

Anyway, staff morale is at an all-time high, partners visibly support each other and the firm’s key priorities, and profitability is through the roof.
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Kristen Rampe

MORE AT STORE.CPATRENDLINES.COM

Kristen Rampe, CPA, is the managing partner of Rosenberg Associates and co-author of CPA Firm Management & Governance, CPA Firm Partner Retirement/Buyout Plans, What Really Makes CPA Firms Profitable?, and The Role of the Managing Partner.

She is a nationally known consultant to CPA firms and a frequent speaker at practice management conferences. She specializes in helping small to mid-sized firms with partner compensation, partner agreements, buyouts, strategic planning and retreats, firm governance, and leadership development. In 2016, Kristen began working with Marc Rosenberg on practice management projects, and in 2022, they joined their consulting practices together as Rosenberg Associates.

Kristen spent ten years in public practice with Big 4 powerhouse PwC and top 50 ranked Frank Rimerman in San Francisco before founding her consulting practice in 2011. She was named Woman to Watch by the California Society of CPAs in 2011, 40 Under 40 by CPA Practice Advisor in 2015, and Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by AccountingToday for several years. Kristen holds an active CPA license with the state of California. She has been featured by Fortune and Investor’s Business Daily. Kristen is a graduate of Butler University.

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