Reviewing your accounting firm’s strategic structure is a valuable way to align partners and leaders with the firm’s direction. It is also a strong entry point into advisory-based strategic planning services for your business clients.

The following 15-point Strategy Checklist is a practical tool for planning, organising, and reviewing how effectively your strategic plan is being executed. It can also help identify whether a strategic plan is needed in the first place.

The goal is simple. Rate your organisation out of five in each category, with five being the highest. Any gaps highlighted provide an opportunity to strengthen your processes in future planning sessions.

Why not complete the checklist with your leadership team and compare perspectives?

The Strategy Processes

Rate each item out of 5.

• The extent to which the whole board is involved in strategy development
• The balance between board and management input into the strategic process
• Strategic planning is built into the board calendar
• The understanding of the board as a whole of the company’s strategy
• Sufficient time and resources are devoted to strategy development

Strategy and Regular Board Meetings

Rate each item out of 5.

• Strategic issues receive strong coverage at all board meetings
• All board papers relate decisions back to the agreed strategy
• KPIs are relevant and aligned to the strategy
• Regular strategy updates occur at board meetings
• The Managing Director’s report is clearly linked to the strategy

Strategy Content Understanding

Rate your level of understanding out of 5.

• Our agreed mission
• Our agreed vision
• Our corporate values
• The agreed goals of the organisation
• Our core strategies

Final Assessment

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is Extremely Poor, and 10 is Excellent, how would you rate the board’s understanding of its strategic role?

Why Strategy Matters in Advisory

When assessing clients’ need for advisory services, strategy should lead the conversation, followed by transactional analysis. At its core, strategic planning helps define the organisation’s immediate goals and the strategies required to achieve them.

Put simply, a strategic plan highlights the top three or four priorities the board has agreed the business must get right over the next two or three years. In practice, it becomes a gateway to innovation, cultural improvement, and proactive responses to a changing environment.

Why not trial this exercise with select clients? A structured strategy assessment can open the door to deeper conversations, new advisory opportunities, and stronger long-term client outcomes.

Do you need a clearer strategic direction?

Book a complimentary 45-minute Strategy Assessment with Mark here.