Industry Insights

The blog discusses an alternative approach to team development compared to traditional, uncomfortable team-building activities. At Accountests, they focus on assessing teams by identifying strengths, problem-solving and decision-making patterns, and blind spots that could hinder performance. They also address personality differences that may cause conflict or demotivation. The goal is to help teams understand their makeup and improve communication, conflict resolution, and external collaboration. Individuals also receive personalized development plans to foster career growth and improve retention.

This blog challenges the misconception that accounting is a dull and monotonous profession. Instead, it portrays accounting as a dynamic, versatile, and impactful career with vast opportunities.

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.

The AICPA is working to change outdated perceptions of accounting, improve early accounting education, reduce required practice hours for CPA qualification, and encourage under-represented groups to join the profession. Employers can support these efforts by engaging with educational institutions, revising onboarding processes, promoting competency over time-based measures, and ensuring inclusive recruitment practices. These actions aim to address the supply issues of future accountants and make the profession more appealing and accessible. Which initiative will you prioritize?

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

So much talk about how we can improve the profession by offering better a better working environment – for example a 4 day working week.  When I say talk, that’s where a lot of it starts and ends, but then I read about a couple of firms who have introduced a 4 day working week, without losing any productive hours time.  That got my attention – read here to see how they did it.

Its no secret that we are operating in a candidate's market. Become an employer of choice and get your firm noticed by prospective employees. Not only will your workplace attract top talent in this candidate short market, but you'll improve retention of current staff, and create more efficient business systems as well. Discover the key principles and practical advice in this weeks blog post.

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. 

From developing your team to making your own tough decisions, being a manager naturally comes with a lot of stress. The days when you can sit back and relax are rare. Instead, you may find yourself rushing from one project to the next, sometimes working with employees who are unpleasant, unmotivated, or disengaged. Here’s how you can deal with all the stress and keep your career and your life on track.