Posts Tagged ‘strategy’
Developing your firm’s strategy checklist
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…
Read MoreClosing the Loop: Lessons from a Lifetime of Practice, People, and Progress
If you’ve been reading my blogs over the years, you’ll recognise the same drumbeat beneath every topic: make it simpler, make it smarter, make it serve people. I’ve written about pricing and productivity, talent and leadership, marketing and client experience, and systems, data, and the great unbundling of work by technology. I’ve nudged (and occasionally…
Read MoreLeadership Strategies for Accounting Firms
Leadership in an accounting practice is the ability to guide people and the firm toward shared goals through influence, clarity and consistent action. In high-performing firms, strong leadership shows up in measurable outcomes across practice management. What great leaders improve: Leaders do things differently, and they get superior results. Above all, they work well with…
Read MoreFrom Compliance to Confidence: Managing an Accounting Firm in the Modern Era
Running a successful accounting firm today goes far beyond technical expertise. The environment is shifting rapidly, driven by client expectations, technology, and workforce dynamics, and firms need to adapt if they want to thrive. Effective management requires clarity of vision, purposeful leadership, and a deep focus on people. Leadership and Culture At the heart of…
Read MoreGet Business Advisory Right: Start with Strategy, Not Software
Many firms jump straight to software when they decide to offer business advisory services. It’s an easy trap to fall into. But without a clear plan, the right people, and a solid service model, the tech won’t deliver what you’re hoping for. Software supports advisory, but it doesn’t start it. You need a business advisory…
Read MoreFrom Cost-Cutting to Value Creation; Let’s Simplify the New Role of Outsourcing
For years, outsourcing was primarily seen as a cost-cutting tool, sort of like a way to shift non-core functions to lower-cost regions and improve profit margins. While reducing operational costs remains a valid advantage, today’s business leaders are beginning to see outsourcing through a more strategic lens. It’s no longer just about saving money; it’s…
Read MoreWhat Star Performers Want: Creating a Firm That Attracts and Keeps the Best
The success of your firm comes down to one thing: your people. Talent is your biggest competitive advantage and your most valuable asset. But attracting and retaining star performers takes more than good coffee and casual Fridays. The best people want more, and firms that understand this will win the talent game. Keep it interesting…
Read MoreBusiness Advisory Services – Turning Insight into Action
The Challenge: Commitment and Capacity As we enter a new financial year, I have been thinking about the ongoing issue in the industry of implementing a systematic and profitable business advisory service within accounting firms. The two “Cs” arise again and again: a lack of commitment to change and create a new practice model and…
Read MoreWhy Resource Planning Matters More Than You Think
Most accounting firms do some form of capacity planning, but proper resource planning? That’s much less common. And that’s a shame, because the firms that do put in the effort consistently see better results: smoother workflows, happier teams, and more satisfied clients. Accounting is one of the few professional services where resource planning actually makes…
Read MoreThe Struggle for Accountability: Why Your Firm Needs an Accountability Framework
I encounter a common theme when working with firms: frustration with accountability. Too often, people are unwilling to take responsibility, and others are unwilling to hold them to account. This isn’t a simple issue to solve. It’s partly cultural. It’s also often a result of using the wrong performance measures, or a complete lack of…
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