STAFFING & RECRUITING

Jeremy Dubow: Raising the Bar for Talent | Big 4 Transparency

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Why equity is the new standard for talent retention.

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Big 4 Transparency
By Dominic Piscopo, CPA
For CPA Trendlines

Jeremy Dubow, CEO and co-founder of Chicago-based, private-equity-backed Prosperity Partners, explains how entrepreneurship in accounting has shifted from demand-driven to capacity-constrained, and why transparent equity programs are becoming the new standard for talent retention.

MORE Dominic Piscopo | MORE Private Equity | MORE Pay & Compensation

Dubow joins Dominic Piscopo on Big 4 Transparency to discuss how accounting-firm entrepreneurship and the operating model required to scale have changed since he co-founded NDH in 2003. NDH later sold to private equity and rebranded as Prosperity Partners, which Dubow described as a case study in how firms are adapting to labor constraints, expanding client complexity, and rising expectations around technology and talent strategy.

Quotables
“The demand for accounting services is greater than it ever has been. The challenge is providing the service at a high level in a labor-constrained environment.”
“AI in and of itself is not right now the solution to solve all our problems. Using automation and offshoring gives us the operational leverage to create that capacity.”
“I recognize that my people are being attempted to be poached every single day of the year.”
“Why have a stock price if you don’t disclose what it is?”
“‘’If I worked that 80-hour week, you should too.’ Well, guess what? That doesn’t work anymore.”

Dubow argues the profession has shifted from a demand constraint to a capacity constraint. Client needs continue to expand, but firms increasingly struggle to staff and deliver services proactively at scale.

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Five Steps to Building a Team That Lightens Your Load

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woman mentoring man in office

Plus 10 elements for your staff guidelines.

By Jackie Meyer
The Balanced Millionaire: Advisor Edition

Hiring someone is just the beginning. What you do after they join is what truly determines whether you get the benefits of having a team.

MORE by Jackie Meyer
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Many entrepreneurs struggle with letting go of control. It’s natural – this practice is your baby! But micromanaging or failing to properly delegate will squander your investment in a new hire and frustrate both of you. Here’s how to build a team that actually lightens your load:

  • Delegate Effectively: Delegation is not throwing a task over the fence and hoping for the best. It involves clear instructions, the right resources and appropriate authority given. When you delegate, be explicit about the outcome you expect, any important parameters, and deadlines. For example: “Please reconcile Client X’s bank accounts for September and October and note any discrepancies or unusual items for my review by Friday.” Provide context too: “They had an issue last month with a missing deposit, so keep an eye out for that.” As your team member proves themselves, you can delegate in broader strokes. Early on, check in periodically (but try not to hover). Think of delegation as a skill you practice – you’ll get better at it over time.

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Competence: First of the Seven C’s

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BONUS: Eleven questions about your ambitions and finances.

By Martin Bissett
Passport to Partnership

Staffers aspiring to be partners must learn the key characteristics of successful partners. They also must learn how to develop their own personal plans to achieve partnership. Firms and staffers alike need a clear set of procedures, processes and milestones for turning top talent into the next generation of firm leadership.

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There are seven critically important criteria by which partners assess partners-to-be. I call them:

The Seven C’s

1. The first is Competence. As a prerequisite, but only a prerequisite, accountants must master their technical abilities and qualifications, whether it be audit, tax or management accounting. Whatever your area of specialty, as a staffer the partners expect you to be able to know at least as much as anyone else who may report to you.
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Top Tech Trends for Tax Season 2026

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Holding Steady, Tuning Workflow, and Testing AI.

Tech plans: 43% of accountants say they’ll be working with new or upgraded versions of practice management & workflow apps, followed by 25% with tax prep packages.

By CPA Trendlines Research

With the 2026 filing season approaching, most accounting firms are not racing to rip and replace their technology stacks. Instead, they are making selective adjustments, tightening workflows, and cautiously experimenting with artificial intelligence — all while keeping a close eye on staffing limits, client behavior, and return on investment.

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MORE TAX, PRICING,  PAY, HIRING, and THE 2026 OUTLOOK

That restrained approach comes through clearly in CPA Trendlines’ Busy Season Barometer, which shows a profession that is less focused on transformation than on execution. The dominant theme across survey waves is not disruption, but discipline.

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Best Practices for Choosing Workflow Management Software

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You get a trial period. Use it!

By Jody Grunden
Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud

When evaluating workflow management software, it is important to evaluate your priorities and know what you want out of the system. It is also important to understand that there isn’t going to be an exact fit.

MORE by Jody Grunden
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After comparing options, make sure that the system you go with meets the priorities at the top of your list. Once the system is picked, it is important to spend time inside the system to figure out how your company is going to use it.
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