Industry Insights

This article discusses the challenge of assessing project management skills, particularly for accounting managers handling multiple clients. It suggests that interviews alone are often insufficient for evaluating these skills, as candidates may not provide a complete picture. Instead, personality assessments, specifically those based on the Big-5/OCEAN model, are recommended for a deeper understanding of a candidate's suitability for project management.

The blog discusses the importance of succession planning and developing future leaders in accounting firms, particularly guiding aspiring staff into senior management or partnership roles. It emphasizes that career development is a long-term process that requires careful planning and measurement.

The piece stresses that firms cannot expect employees to self-develop entirely on their own; there needs to be a mutual investment in their growth. Firms risk losing talented individuals if they do not actively support their development. The article concludes with a powerful reminder: failing to invest in employees may result in them staying but not growing, which could be more detrimental to the firm in the long run.

The article discusses key insights and best practices for managing remote teams, drawn from recent conferences like AICPA Engage, Scaling New Heights, and the CPA Firm Management Association. With the shift towards hybrid and fully remote work models, maintaining effective team dynamics is crucial.

I always struggled with coaching conversations. Not my strong point at all. I guess I was one of those accounting partners where working with clien...

Transitioning accounting firms to a successful remote work culture demands meticulous planning, transparent communication, and adept utilization of technology. This article delves into strategies such as establishing clear policies, fostering communication, promoting continuous learning, maintaining work-life balance, and embracing the right tools, showcasing how this evolution can lead to heightened efficiency and job satisfaction

An accounting graduate, transparent about their lack of experience, faces overwhelming tasks and no support in a residential remodeling company. This illustrates the repercussions of inadequate hiring practices and the necessity for comprehensive onboarding and training programs to prevent stress on employees and risks to business integrity.

Assessing project management skills in accounting firms can be challenging through interviews alone. It is recommended to use personality, specifically Big-5/OCEAN based questionnaires, to gain valuable insights into a candidate's suitability for project management by evaluating traits such as conscientiousness, self-discipline, social boldness, assertion, and calmness. These traits are associated with success in project management roles within the accounting field.

Explore effective strategies to boost engagement in hybrid accounting firms, ensuring remote employees stay connected and motivated. Uncover the secrets to overcoming remote work challenges and fostering a thriving environment in this new era of accounting.

As we move away from the traditional office towards a hybrid and remote workplace, it is important to understand the potential benefits of personality testing in this new environment. Personality tests can be used to assess role suitability, identify work styles, and support career development and hiring. 

What can employers of accountants and bookkeepers do to assess whether a job candidate is likely to thrive or struggle in a role where they may work remotely most of the time, or in the case of international or inter-state hiring, may never meet their employer face-to-face?

Last summer I listened to a podcast on the AFO Wealth Management series where Amber Setter was interviewed. Amber is the Chief Enlightenment Officer for Conscious Public Accountants - a professional coaching firm that teaches accountants how to grow their careers without losing their souls. The team was carefully curated with the accounting profession in mind.