Small Firm Philosophy
AICPA
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The AICPA's Small Firm Philosophy shares big ideas about small firms. You'll hear from leaders of small accounting firms about their philosophies on running a successful practice in today's rapidly changing environment.
Available episodes
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4 days ago
Embracing Value Pricing in a Small CPA Firm
When Victor Amaya, CPA and his Partner founded their practice, they embraced the value pricing model. Hear how they challenged the traditional CPA firm model and built a practice based on transparency and open client communication.
Dec 16, 2020
Manager moving up to Partner
Amy Swartzfager, CPA, MBA was hired as a Manager by Maloney, Reed, Scarpitti & Company, LLP (MRS) with the intention of training her as Partner. Hear how Amy navigates her career path and MRS follows their succession plan.
About Maloney, Reed, Scarpitti and Co.
* Maloney, Reed, Scarpitti and Co.
Dec 2, 2020
Tips for successfully hiring and onboarding virtually
Donny Shimamoto is the founder and managing director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC, an advisory-focused CPA firm that has successfully been hiring and onboarding staff virtually for years now. Hear what Donny’s implemented at his firm and what tips he has for firms new to virtual hiring and onboarding.
About IntrapriseTechKnowlogies, LLC:
* IntrapriseTechKnowlogies, LLC
AICPA Resources:
* AICPA Small Firms
* Small Firm Update – December 3, 2020
Mentioned in this episode:
* Motivosity.com
Nov 12, 2020
Winning Strategies from a Women-Owned Law Firm
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. is boutique, women-owned law firm with offices in New York, New Jersey and California. Suzanne Cerra, Esq., Co-Founder and Partner and Robin Rome, Esq., Partner, share their insights into creating an award-winning culture and growing a successful practice.
About Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.:
* Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/nukk-freeman-&-cerra/
AICPA Resources:
* Small Firm Update – December 3, 2020
* AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award
* Walkthrough of the PPP Forgiveness Calculator
* Ransomware 2.0 – What to expect next
Oct 28, 2020
From Administrative Assistant to COO
Rita Keller worked her way up the ranks from Administrative Assistant to Chief Operating Officer. In the process, she was instrumental in growing the firm from nine staff members to more than 150 and was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and The Most Powerful Women in Accounting by Accounting Today. Listen to her story and gain valuable insight in navigating your career and growing a practice.
About Rita:
* Keller Advisors, LLC
* https://twitter.com/cpamanagement
* linkedin.com/in/cpamanagement/
Mentioned in this episode:
* Small Firm Update
* CAS Benchmark Survey
* Web tour sign up
Oct 14, 2020
The evolution of remote work
Anita Dennis from Dennis Communications, LLC first began writing about virtual Public Accounting firms in 1997. She shares her thoughts on what firms were doing in the late 90s and the parallels to today.
Mentioned in this episode:
* Distributed by Design – A New Way of Working
* PCPS George Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Scholarship & Internship
* PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator
* AICPA Town Hall Series
* Web tour sign up
Connect with the guest:
* Dennis Communications, LLC
* Anita on Twitter
* Anita on LinkedIn
Sep 30, 2020
Navigating everyday business in extraordinary times
Adam Shay, CPA and Managing Partner and Richard Pasquantonio, CPA, CFF, CFE, CFDA and Director – Dispute Services of Adam Shay CPA, PLLC discuss operations, business development, and hiring in the extraordinary times.
Mentioned in this episode:
* AICPA Town Hall Series
* Adam Shay CPA, PLLC
* https://twitter.com/adamshay
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/theadamshay
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpasquantonio/
Sep 16, 2020
Networking in a remote environment
Lorraine Ellison is the owner of Simply Additions, a virtual accountancy firm in the UK. While the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the need for Lorraine’s expertise and guidance within her existing client base, she’s also discovering ways to find and assist prospective clients. Hear how she has successfully continued networking in the required remote environment.
Mentioned in this episode:
* http://simply-additions.com/
Sep 2, 2020
Creating successful environment for working parents during COVID-19
With COVID-19 keeping school-aged kids at home, working parents are trying to navigate working and parenting in the same space.
Award-winning Kaiser Consulting has implemented a handful of initiatives to help their parents on staff with these issues. Lori Kaiser, CEO and Founder of the firm, shares what has worked with their staff.
Mentioned in this episode:
* Kaiser Consulting.com
* AICPA Small Firm resources
Aug 26, 2020
Growing and developing staff without being in the office together
Firms of all size are struggling with how to develop and grow their staff in this remote environment. But small firms that may be used to having especially close-knit offices have been particularly impacted.
Erin Roche, Team Lead at Elliott CPA Group, Inc. shares what her firm is doing to address this issue and offers advice for small firms who are struggling in this area.
Mentioned in this episode:
* PCPS Performance Management toolkit
* Elliott CPA Group, Inc.
Aug 12, 2020
Creating an award-winning firm culture
Victor Ramsauer, CPA, President and CEO and Sue Watson, EVP and COO of LevitZacks Certified Public Accountants share their insights on being ranked the 2019 Best Small Firm to Work For in the United States by Accounting Today.
Mentioned in this episode:
* LevitZacks Certified Public Accountants
* AICPA Leadership Academy
Jul 29, 2020
Increasing profession diversity one firm at a time
CPA firms of all sizes understand the business case for developing a diverse team. But many firms are challenged to find, retain and develop ethnically diverse talent.
Learn how PCPS partnered with five firms, including Kreischer Miller and Cover & Rossiter, to connect them with promising accounting majors of ethnically diverse backgrounds and hear how your firm can apply for the program.
Learn more about the PCPS George Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Scholarship & Internship Program at http://www.aicpa.org/PCPSscholarship
Jul 1, 2020
Turning a passion for helping into a business
Andrew Jordan, CPA, is the seriously passionate about giving back. He shares how his start down the “typical CPA path” turned into owning his own firm that puts clients at the forefront of everything they do.
Learn more about Jordan CPA Services at www.jordancpaservices.com
Additional resources:
* PERMA is available at com/perma-model/
* AICPA COVID-19 Resource Center is available at AICPA.org/COVID19
Jun 19, 2020
Pivoting in a pandemic: Success stories from a CPA firm (part 2)
Lexy Kessler, CPA, CGMA is the Partner-In-Charge of Aronson LLC’s Government Contract Services Group in Washington, DC. Lexy shares her firm’s successes and surprises in their journey to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about Aronson LLC at www.aronsonllc.com.
Learn more about Lexy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexykessler.
Jun 17, 2020
Pivoting in a pandemic: Success stories from a CPA firm (part 1)
Karen Stanley, CPA and Audit Partner with Langdon & Company, LLP in Garner, NC shares her firm’s successes and surprises in their journey from a traditional, local CPA firm to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about Langdon & Company, LLP at www.langdoncpa.com.
Jun 3, 2020
Planning for #CPAworlddomination
Liz Mason, CPA is a serial-entrepreneur. Her passion for accounting started when she was just seven years old and now has successfully launched four brands in the accounting, tax, and HR space. She shares the story of what got her here and what’s next for her plan of #CPAworlddomination.
Learn more about High Rock Accounting at highrock.co.
Information about High Rock’s Nucleus program is available at nucleus.highrock.co.
May 20, 2020
The secret to finding the perfect “work life blend”
Jeff Wilson II, CPA, PFS, CFE, CGMA, CDFA® started his career at a Big 4 firm and now has his own firm with seven people on staff. He talks about his path to becoming a firm owner, the struggles he overcame and the advice he’d give to himself if he were starting over.
Learn more about Jeff’s firm at wiicpas.com.
May 6, 2020
Owning and managing three businesses
Christine DeAngelis, CPA is a working mom who owns three businesses. She talks about her journey from marketing student to CPA to CEO, and everything in between.
Christine's businesses:
* epiphanygroupinc.com
* cultivateconsulting.co
* bamboowellness.isagenix.com
Apr 22, 2020
Managing a virtual firm
Josh Lance, CPA, CGMA, shares his insights about running a completely virtual practice, covering everything from how he hires the right staff to where the mail gets delivered.
Learn more about Josh's firm at lancecpa.com.
Additional resources:
* PCPS "Remote team building and culture" toolkit at AICPA.org/PCPS
* "It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work" by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
* "Remote: Office Not Required" by Jason & David Heinemeier Hansson
Apr 6, 2020
Mindfulness matters: Reimagine your approach to busy season (Part 6)
When you multitask, you might think you're getting more done. In reality, you spend more time on the jobs than you would if you focused on each separately and completely. Getting in the present and ignoring distractions will help you focus on what you need to do. Working on one activity at a time will make you more productive. This meditation will show you how.
Mar 18, 2020
Mindfulness matters: Reimagine your approach to busy season (Part 5)
What’s happening inside you? Most of us are only aware of what’s happening on the surface. Through meditation, you can better connect to your body and mind. The understanding that results from this exploration can inform the experience you create for others, making you more receptive, calm and accepting. Your work and your personal life will both benefit.
Mar 4, 2020
Mindfulness matters: Reimagine your approach to busy season (Part 4)
Making time for self-care is crucial not only to your well-being, but also for how you interact with those around you. This meditation helps you find mental peace, bringing you greater focus in your day.
Feb 19, 2020
Mindfulness matters: Reimagine your approach to busy season (Part 3)
Your internal wellness can affect the people around you, as well as how you feel about them. In this meditation, called a “loving kindness” meditation, you’ll get better centered and able to show up for your day with the energy you want.
Feb 6, 2020
Mindfulness matters: Reimagine your approach to busy season (Part 2)
Trying to do too much at once can sap your energy. If you’re multitasking or not allowing yourself enough of a break between tasks, you could be robbing yourself of much-needed focus. This meditation helps you regain focus and improve your productivity.
Jan 22, 2020
Mindfulness matters: Reimagine your approach to busy season (Part 1)
Understand mindfulness and what it means in the context of a busy time at work. Reducing your stress, increasing your awareness without judgement and your presence in the moment are the goals of this guided meditation. The result? You can enjoy a productive day while also being aware of and mastering your emotions.
Jan 17, 2020
Staying ahead of accounting standards changes
Matthew Wilson, CPA, CGMA and Maya Ivanova, CPA, CGMA of Wilson Ivanova CPAs share advice on how to stay up-to-speed on accounting standards changes that are effective or will soon be effective.
Oct 8, 2019
Getting started with value pricing (Part 3)
British management accountant, Barry Dovey, FCMA, CGMA, shares how offering a menu of services can help firms reduce hours and add value for their clients.
Sep 24, 2019
What keeps small firm practitioners up at night?
Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, of the AICPA and Matt Towers of CPA.com discuss the results of the 2019 PCPS CPA Firm Top Issues Survey. Key concerns for small firms include finding qualified staff, keeping up with tax law changes and managing privacy and security risks.
Aug 23, 2019
Getting started with value pricing (Part 2)
Bernie Ackerman, CPA/PFS, CGMA, and his son, Jason Ackerman, CPA, CGMA, talk about how they’ve abandoned the timesheet and successfully implemented value pricing in their firm.
Jul 30, 2019
A solution to complex accounting standards: FRF for SMEs
Julie Killian, CPA, CGMA of Clayton McKervey talks with Bob Durak, CPA, CGMA, of the AICPA about her firm’s experience transitioning clients to using the Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities (FRF for SMEs).
Learn more at AICPA.org/frf-smes
Jul 10, 2019
Getting started with value pricing (Part 1)
Dominique Molina, CPA, talks with Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, of the AICPA about how shifting to a value pricing model helped her tax firm increase the value of its services, reduce hours and strengthen its bottom line.
Jun 26, 2019
The AICPA MAP Survey
Ever wonder how your firm measures up? Curious about average fees in your area or around the country? Maybe you’d like to learn what average compensation looks like? Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, Vice President of Small Firm Interests and Joel Olbricht, CPA, CGMA, Chair of the PCPS Executive Committee discuss the AICPA National MAP survey, and how its information can help you answer these and many other questions.
Learn more about the Map Survey at AICPA.org/mapsurvey.
Apr 23, 2019
Tips on proper audit risk assessment
Carl Mayes, CPA, talks with Lindsay Patterson, both of the AICPA, about the role of risk assessment in audit quality. They share advice for small firms and point out helpful resources.
Jan 7, 2019
How a small firm in Kansas is staying ahead
A small, Midwestern firm is implementing some forward-thinking strategies to stay ahead of the curve. Amber Goering, CPA, CGMA, of Goering and Granatino in Overland Park, Kansas, talks with Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, of the AICPA, about her firm's recent growth and plans for the future.
Nov 19, 2018
Growing a small firm through mergers and acquisitions
Dov Zaidman, CPA/CITP, CGMA, Managing Partner of ZBS Group in Plainview, New York, talks with Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, of the AICPA, about how his firm has successfully merged and acquired sole practitioners nearing retirement. Dov shares insight on leading a growing practice and integrating offices in two locations.
Oct 16, 2018
Brewing up business in a niche industry
How did Chris Farmand, CPA, CITP, become the CPA of choice to so many craft breweries across the country? Lindsey Curley of the AICPA talks to Chris, CEO of Small Batch Standard and Managing Shareholder of Chris Farmand + Company in Jacksonville, Florida, about how he built up his CPA practice among such a niche industry.
Oct 1, 2018
Supporting a strong firm culture
Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA, CGMA, partner at Gray, Salt & Associates LLP in Claremont, Calif., talks with Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, of the AICPA about how supporting a strong firm culture is one of the keys to a successful practice. Johanna believes it's important to listen to and trust not only your partners, but your staff, too. Empowering your associates to offer and initiate innovative ideas can be very rewarding. Johanna's small firm also taps into the many local colleges to seek seasonal help for busy season. Listen to these topics and more.
Sep 4, 2018
Keys to success: Inside a virtual firm
Gabby Luoma, CPA, owner of GMLCPA in Tucson, Ariz., talks with Heather O'Connor of the AICPA about her philosophy on building a strong culture for her virtual firm.
Aug 28, 2018
Trailer: AICPA presents Small Firm Philosophy
The AICPA's Small Firm Philosophy shares big ideas about small firms. You'll hear from leaders of small accounting firms about their philosophies on running a successful practice in today's rapidly changing environment.