Posts by Mark Holton
The Importance of a Strategic Plan for Accounting Firms
In recent weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with numerous accountants at various events, in particular, the Smithink 2024 Young Guns Workshop on the Gold Coast. One startling observation keeps surfacing: many accounting firms lack a recent strategic plan. Given that these firms help clients navigate their strategic pathways, it’s perplexing that they often…
Read MoreSoft Skills – the Future for Successful Accountants
If you have been working for several years in the accounting industry or maybe just a few, you would have noticed that successful team members know more than technical accounting skills. They know how to manage a meeting, put clients at ease, deal with difficult clients and scenarios, persuade and negotiate, and make themselves known…
Read MoreAre You Targeting Your Ideal Client?
I have long spoken to many accounting firm partners and team members about defining and agreeing on their ideal client profile. In my mind, an ideal client is someone who finds the perfect solution to their problems or needs in the services that your firm provides. The ideal client will be loyal to your firm,…
Read MoreStaff Impact on Succession Planning
Many accounting practitioners would agree that it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract and retain good staff that can assist not only in compliance procession but also in business advisory service delivery. There is increased reporting on the skills shortage in various industries and there are no immediate signs that this is going to change.…
Read MoreMental Health Training for Accountants
This month something a bit different. I have asked Peter Annis-Brown of Manage Health to provide his views on the mental health of the professional services industry. Peter is a qualified Mental Health Educator and Master Mental Health 1st Aid instructor who conducts workshops, training, and courses throughout Australia to leaders, businesses and organisations looking…
Read MoreConnecting the Team with Humour
Videoconferencing or virtual solutions like Webex, Go to Meeting and Zoom and more recently Teams have been around for many years. Until COVID-19, though, you would find that many if not most people needing to attend a meeting remotely would be calling from a conference room full of their teammates. Today, we are often holding…
Read MoreStrategies for Accounting Practice Leadership
Wikipedia defines leadership as “the ability of an individual or organisation to lead or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organisations through a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. Great leaders display outstanding performance in the practice management…
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