Accounting Voices

"What Works in Successful Discovery Calls", Rob Brown speaks with guest Nancy Fox about growing accounting firms. Nancy highlights the importance of having a unique value proposition and point of distinction that sets accountants apart from their peers. Additionally, she emphasises the need to warm up potential clients before a discovery call by networking and building relationships. Nancy shares a five-step structure for conducting discovery calls and suggests asking deep questions to determine potential clients' readiness, commitment, and budget for working with an accountant.Nancy also advises waiting to send proposals until certain pieces are established and the client is ready to move forward. She emphasises the need to understand clients' businesses, ask great questions, and add value to their services to get their desired fees. Nancy concludes by offering to help accountants improve their probing and open-ended questions and providing a mini-training on success in discovery calls if enough people are interested. By setting boundaries and guidelines, accountants can work with clients who respect and value their services.Key Takeaways➤ Having a unique value proposition and a point of distinction is crucial to building brand awareness and setting yourself apart from other accountants.➤ Warm-up before a discovery call by networking and building relationships with potential clients, and prepare for the call by conducting thorough research on the person or company.➤ During the discovery call, ask deep questions during the uncovering stage to determine interest versus commitment and nurture relationships with potential clients who may need more time to move forward.➤ Set boundaries and guidelines for working with clients who respect and value your services and understand their businesses to add value to your services and get the desired fees.➤ Only send proposals once certain pieces are established, and the client is ready.Overall, by focusing on building relationships, providing value, and setting boundaries, accountants can better prepare for discovery calls and grow their firms.Nancy Fox, a former corporate executive, launched her coaching and training business in 1999. With a background in manufacturing, Nancy has trained and coached senior executives in leadership, communication, and business development. She also served as a Fractional Business Development Officer in professional service firms, guiding accounting and law professionals in networking, client relationship building, and engagement. Nancy has helped firms develop internal mentoring programs and women's initiatives.Nancy is an accomplished community and network builder, a keynote speaker, and the author of the highly recognised strategic networking book Network Like A Fox. She is based in Los Angeles and enjoys playing tennis, spending time with dogs, hiking in the mountains, and dancing West Coast Swing. If you want to book a call with her or learn more about her book, Network Like A Fox.Links: Book a call: https://fractionals.as.me/leapforwardNetwork Like A Fox book - https://networklikeafox.com◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢The Accounting Influencers Podcast drops every Monday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers across 150 countries in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, go to https://accountinginfluencers.com/events and book your place at the next gathering. Great to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections. ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencersJoin the Accounting Influencers community and get invitations to our international speed networking events to build your personal brand and network in the accounting, finance and tech world: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubeThanks to our sponsors:ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.comACCOUNTEX. Join us at Accountex London, the pinnacle of fintech innovation, May 15-16, 2024! Discover ground-breaking solutions from 295+ brands and gain invaluable insights at our CPD-accredited sessions. Connect with 10,000+ finance professionals. Elevate your practice – attendance is free, plus earn up to 16 CPD points! https://www.accountex.co.uk/londonDEXT. Streamline your accounting practice with Dext! Our cutting-edge tools, Dext Prepare, Commerce, and Precision, revolutionize data handling, saving you precious time and ensuring accuracy. Connect seamlessly with leading software like Xero and QBO. Join 500,000+ customers transforming their practices. Start your free trial and embrace efficiency today! https://dext.comIf you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore. https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "What Motivates Accountants & CPAs" Rob Brown features Ashley Miller, an executive coach. Ashley shares insights into leadership, team dynamics, and influence. She discusses the importance of the human element in accounting and how firms can add value by understanding what motivates their employees. Ashley also describes creating emotional connections in the workplace and inspiring employees through communication and empathy. She suggests building trust by being vulnerable and creating a sense of belonging for employees. Furthermore, Ashley notes the unique opportunity for accounting firms to expand globally by recruiting diverse individuals. She concludes by challenging leaders to be self-aware and advocate for their own careers while being accountable.You can also watch this on youtube here: https://youtu.be/jrprBPjKU_gKey Takeaways1.       Accounting firms are uniquely positioned to help businesses grow and succeed, especially during challenging times like the pandemic. Firms can expand globally and seek diverse talent to support their clients.2.      People crave human connection, even in their work lives, and accountants need to remember that clients and colleagues are people, not robots. Leaders can motivate and retain talent by understanding what motivates each individual and providing value beyond just salary.3.      Self-awareness is crucial for both leaders and team members. Leaders need to be aware of their impact on others and seek feedback to improve, while team members must advocate for their careers and take personal accountability for their actions.4.     Trust and vulnerability are essential for building relationships with colleagues and clients. People are likelier to follow leaders they trust and buy from organizations they like. Accountants can build trust and create deeper connections by being vulnerable and sharing their human side.Guest BioAshleigh Miller is the founder of Amplify Excellence LLC, a certified executive coach, and a business leader with over 20 years of experience in professional services organizations such as EY and Accenture. She is passionate about the human element within the business environment and empowers others by helping them realize their unique strengths as a catalyst for personal and team success. Ashleigh facilitates workshops and coaches on the art of emotional intelligence and its impact on business development, leadership skills, and team dynamics. She also serves as the President of the Board of Ballet Excel Ohio (BXO). In her free time, Ashleigh enjoys consuming hours of audiobooks and exciting podcasts, playing cards, laughing with friends, and engaging with her teenage children.◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you!Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcastFor announcements of published shows, tagging guests so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/accinfluencershttps://twitter.com/accinfluencershttps://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencersThanks to our sponsors:Accountex. Accountex will return to ExCeL London UK on the 10-11 May 2023. Bringing together 250+ top fintech companies and cutting-edge start-ups, visitors can browse new software and stay up to date with the latest technology, tools and ideas in accountancy and finance. Alongside the exhibition, attendees will take away actionable tips from the CPD-accredited seminar programme, led by 200+ thought leaders shaping the profession.Accountex is Europe’s largest annual event for the accounting and finance profession. It attracts 8,000+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors. Attendees can get up to 16 CPD hours with 200+ free seminar sessions across 12 theatres.https://www.accountex.co.uk/london/

"Innovation Beyond Technology in Accounting" Rob Brown speaks with Ed Kless, Senior Director of Sage Accountants Solutions, about innovation in the accounting industry. With 18 years of experience working for Sage, Ed has a wealth of knowledge about helping accounting partners, influencers, and customers improve their businesses.Ed discusses the history of Sage and a think tank started by Ron Baker that helped to initiate the value pricing movement. He maintains that the billing model needs to be revised by the hour, as it focuses on efficiency rather than effectiveness. He also talks about the issue of tracking time and how innovation is about bringing disparate things together to create something new, using examples such as a skateboard and stroller combined.The conversation delves into innovation around business models, delivery, packaging, pricing, and language. The speakers discuss the value of social capital and the importance of making connections, even with weak connections, to help others. They also discuss subscription marketing and how companies can innovate to create offerings that provide customers experiences and transformations beyond the product itself.Using the example of the Fender guitar, the speakers discuss the importance of creating an offering that surrounds what customers are after, which could be peace of mind, experiences, or transformations. They highlight the power of language in changing mindsets and how Disney's language changes played a role in creating attractions rather than rides.Overall, this episode provides insightful and valuable perspectives on innovation in the accounting industry and how companies can create offerings that genuinely serve their customers' needs. Key Takeaways➤ The traditional billing model of charging by the hour is no longer effective in today's marketplace. Instead, firms should focus on delivering value to their clients and pricing their services based on that value.➤ Innovation is not just about technology but about bringing disparate things together to create something new. This includes innovative business models, delivery methods, packaging, pricing, and language.➤ Social capital and networking are important for building connections and helping others. Even weak connections can be valuable and lead to new opportunities.➤ Subscription marketing can be a powerful tool for firms looking to provide experiences and transformations beyond the product itself. The key is to focus on what customers are ultimately after, whether it's peace of mind, experiences, or transformations.➤ The power of language should not be underestimated. Using language that focuses on the benefits and outcomes of a service or product can change clients' mindsets and lead to increased sales.Ed Kless is a Senior Director at Sage Accountants Solutions, where he develops and delivers courses on leadership, strategy, pricing, and project management. He also serves as a facilitator of the Sage Leadership Academy and a liaison to the Sage Leadership Academy Alumni Association. Ed is a senior fellow at the VeraSage Institute and a consultant for Tipping Point Advisors. He hosts "The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the knowledge economy" with Ron Baker on VoiceAmerica Talk Radio/◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢The Accounting Influencers Podcast drops every Monday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers across 150 countries in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, go to https://accountinginfluencers.com/events and book your place at the next gathering. Great to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections. ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencersJoin the Accounting Influencers community and get invitations to our international speed networking events to build your personal brand and network in the accounting, finance and tech world: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubeThanks to our sponsors:ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.comACCOUNTEX. Join us at Accountex London, the pinnacle of fintech innovation, May 15-16, 2024! Discover ground-breaking solutions from 295+ brands and gain invaluable insights at our CPD-accredited sessions. Connect with 10,000+ finance professionals. Elevate your practice – attendance is free, plus earn up to 16 CPD points! https://www.accountex.co.uk/londonDEXT. Streamline your accounting practice with Dext! Our cutting-edge tools, Dext Prepare, Commerce, and Precision, revolutionize data handling, saving you precious time and ensuring accuracy. Connect seamlessly with leading software like Xero and QBO. Join 500,000+ customers transforming their practices. Start your free trial and embrace efficiency today! https://dext.comIf you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore. https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "Employer Branding for Accounting Firms", Rob Brown continues his conversation with Jen Surtees, Director of People Experience (UK & EMEA) at Xero, to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing employers in the current recruitment landscape.Jen shares her insights on how companies can differentiate themselves as employers to attract and retain talent in a highly competitive market. She also provides valuable tips on hiring for culture fit and identifying values that drive the organisation's culture.The conversation then shifts to the "great resignation," where many employees are quitting their jobs in search of better opportunities or work-life balance. Jen discusses what companies can do to retain talent, including creating a culture that values employee well-being, development, and growth.Finally, the discussion turns to remote and hybrid working, which has become increasingly popular after the pandemic. Jen shares her views on how companies can make this work with their culture and the benefits of providing employees with more flexible work arrangements.Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for employers navigating the challenges of recruitment and the work landscape. Jen's extensive experience in coaching and developing high-performing teams and cultures provides a unique perspective on how organisations can thrive in these challenges.Key takeaways➤ In today's challenging recruitment landscape, it's essential to differentiate yourself by being clear on your employer's brand and values and offering competitive benefits and career development opportunities.➤ Hiring for culture fit is critical to building a cohesive and high-performing team. To do this, it's essential to define your company's values and behaviours, ask behavioural interview questions and involve multiple team members in the hiring process.➤ The "Great Resignation" is a genuine concern for many businesses, and it's important to focus on employee retention. This can be achieved through several strategies, including offering flexible working arrangements, investing in employee development and training, and prioritising employee well-being and work-life balance.➤ Remote and hybrid working is becoming increasingly popular, but some businesses must be convinced whether it can work with their company culture. To make remote or hybrid working successful, it's essential to communicate effectively, build trust, and offer the right tools and technology to support remote workers.You can also watch this on youtubeGuest BioJen is an experienced and passionate Director of People Experience at Xero, where she leads efforts to create an inclusive and supportive environment for employees. With a background in coaching and research into the psychological conditions for high-performing teams, Jen brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She has designed recruitment, development, and cultural programs for businesses that prioritize people and is committed to seeing the impact of her work firsthand. At Xero, Jen is dedicated to ensuring every Xero employee has a world-class experience. The company's recent recognition as the 5th Best Workplace in Tech and 2nd Best Workplace for Women in the UK Large Business Category is a testament to her efforts. Outside work, Jen enjoys spending time with her family in their new coastal home, where they can explore the outdoors and appreciate nature.◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you!Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcastFor announcements of published shows, tagging guest so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/accinfluencershttps://twitter.com/accinfluencershttps://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencersThanks to our sponsors:Accountex. Accountex will return to ExCeL London UK on the 10-11 May 2023. Bringing together 250+ top fintech companies and cutting-edge start-ups, visitors can browse new software and stay up to date with the latest technology, tools and ideas in accountancy and finance. Alongside the exhibition, attendees will take away actionable tips from the CPD-accredited seminar programme, led by 200+ thought leaders shaping the profession.Accountex is Europe’s largest annual event for the accounting and finance profession. It attracts 8,000+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors. Attendees can get up to 16 CPD hours with 200+ free seminar sessions across 12 theatres.https://www.accountex.co.uk/london/

"Best Client Service in Accounting", Tom Wheelwright, a tax expert, joins Rob, the author of the best-selling book, "Tax-Free Wealth". Tom is the founder and CEO of WealthAbility, a global tax and accounting firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and investors reduce their tax burden and build wealth.Tom shares his insights and expertise on tax planning and wealth creation topics. He explains how taxes work, why it's essential to have a tax strategy, and what steps individuals and business owners can take to minimise their tax liability.He discusses the importance of financial education and how it can help individuals make informed financial decisions and achieve their financial goals. He shares his perspective on the current state of the economy and offers his advice on how individuals can prepare themselves for potential economic changes.In addition, Tom emphasises the importance of having a team of advisors, including a tax advisor, financial planner, and legal expert, to help individuals make the best financial decisions for their unique situations.This episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for individuals and business owners looking to reduce their tax liability and build wealth. So be sure to tune in and gain some valuable insights from one of the leading tax planning and wealth creation experts.Key TakeawaysFocus on tax planning, not just tax compliance. Of course, compliance is essential, but planning can help clients reduce their tax liability and save money. Develop a niche. Specialising in a particular industry or type of client can help differentiate your firm from competitors and attract more clients. Offer value-added services. Consider offering services such as financial planning or business consulting to provide additional value to clients and increase revenue for your firm. Build a strong team. Hire and train top talent, including tax professionals, financial planners, and legal experts, to provide comprehensive services and ensure client satisfaction. Leverage technology. Use technology such as automation and cloud-based software to streamline processes and improve efficiency, ultimately reducing costs and improving profitability. Invest in marketing. Develop a strong brand and marketing strategy to increase visibility and attract more clients to your firm. Continuously educate yourself and your team. Stay current on changes in tax laws and regulations and industry trends to provide the best possible service to clients and stay ahead of competitors.Tom Wheelwright is an accomplished CPA, entrepreneur, and internationally recognized speaker with tax and wealth management expertise. As the CEO of WealthAbility® and a Rich Dad Advisor, he has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and investors achieve their financial goals.In addition to being a bestselling author of Tax-Free Wealth, he is releasing his upcoming book, The Win-Win Wealth Strategy, which outlines seven government investments to help individuals build wealth while reducing taxes.Tom is a trusted CPA for Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, and has spoken on stages across the globe to over 100,000 individuals. He also hosts two successful podcasts, The WealthAbility® Show with Tom Wheelwright, CPA and The WealthAbility® for CPAs Show.Tom's mission is to help people achieve their financial dreams by legally and permanently reducing their taxes. He is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine. His work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, FOX and Friends, Marketplace / NPR, and ABC News Radio.◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢The Accounting Influencers Podcast drops every Monday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers across 150 countries in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, go to https://accountinginfluencers.com/events and book your place at the next gathering. Great to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections. ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencersJoin the Accounting Influencers community and get invitations to our international speed networking events to build your personal brand and network in the accounting, finance and tech world: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubeThanks to our sponsors:ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.comACCOUNTEX. Join us at Accountex London, the pinnacle of fintech innovation, May 15-16, 2024! Discover ground-breaking solutions from 295+ brands and gain invaluable insights at our CPD-accredited sessions. Connect with 10,000+ finance professionals. Elevate your practice – attendance is free, plus earn up to 16 CPD points! https://www.accountex.co.uk/londonDEXT. Streamline your accounting practice with Dext! Our cutting-edge tools, Dext Prepare, Commerce, and Precision, revolutionize data handling, saving you precious time and ensuring accuracy. Connect seamlessly with leading software like Xero and QBO. Join 500,000+ customers transforming their practices. Start your free trial and embrace efficiency today! https://dext.comIf you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore. https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "Human Capital & Talent in Accounting", host Rob Brown speaks with guest Gary Shamis about the challenges accounting firms face in talent acquisition and retention. Shamis notes the 50% decrease in the pipeline of new CPAs over the last five years and believes that the value proposition in public accounting needs to be improved, creating a deep hole in the industry. He emphasises the importance of focusing on clients, people, and growth, staying up-to-date with the competition, and re-evaluating the value proposition to increase the bottom end of compensation and create a culture of growth.The discussion also covers the impact of automation and robotics on the accounting industry. Shamis advises firms to have a contingency plan and appoint a tech-savvy employee to monitor industry developments. Attracting talented employees is a challenge, and the speaker suggests focusing marketing efforts on attracting staff rather than clients and changing partner bonuses to include incentives for bringing in talent. A strong brand is also essential for attracting both clients and employees.You can also watch this on youtube here: https://youtu.be/RiPX4KXYH0cKey Takeaways➤ New CPA pipeline has decreased by 50% in the last five years, creating a deep hole in the industry.➤ Value proposition in public accounting needs improvement to attract and retain talent.➤ Focusing on clients, people, and growth is crucial for accounting firms to succeed.➤ Staying up-to-date with competition and re-evaluating the value proposition is necessary.➤ Automation and robotics are impacting the accounting industry, and firms need a contingency plan.➤ Appointing a tech-savvy employee to monitor industry developments is crucial.➤ Marketing efforts should focus on attracting staff rather than just clients.➤ Partner bonuses should include incentives for bringing in talent.➤ A strong brand is essential for attracting both clients and employees.➤ Accounting firms must adapt to the changing landscape of the industry to succeed in talent acquisition and retention.Guest BioGary Shamis is an accomplished former managing partner of a top 40 US accounting firm that he sold to BDO in 2015. He is now the CEO of Winding River Consulting, which provides high-level strategy consulting to the Restaurant, CPA, and professional services industries. With numerous accolades in the accounting field, Gary was recognised as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year and is a Top Ten Managing Partner Elite by Accounting Today, where he was described as the “very model of the modern managing partner." Additionally, he was named Most Admired Peer by INSIDE Public Accounting and has been featured more than a dozen times on the Most Influential list by Accounting Today. Gary also co-authored How to Manage Your Accounting Practice: Taking Your Firm from Chaos to Consensus.In addition to his successful accounting career, Gary has served within the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ranks. You can connect with Gary through his LinkedIn profile or Winding River Consulting's website. He has also been featured in various interviews, including "Accounting Firm Leadership Priorities: Gary Shamis" and "Key Drivers of Change in Accounting with Gary Shamis."You can connect with Gary here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-shamis-wrchttps://windingriverconsulting.comCheck out these other interviews with Gary:"Accounting Firm Leadership Priorities: Gary Shamis"https://bit.ly/3lyBIgW"Key Drivers of Change in Accounting with Gary Shamis"https://bit.ly/3xIhneq◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you!Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcastFor announcements of published shows, tagging guest so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/accinfluencershttps://twitter.com/accinfluencershttps://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencersThanks to our sponsors:Accountex. Accountex will return to ExCeL London UK on the 10-11 May 2023. Bringing together 250+ top fintech companies and cutting-edge start-ups, visitors can browse new software and stay up to date with the latest technology, tools and ideas in accountancy and finance. Alongside the exhibition, attendees will take away actionable tips from the CPD-accredited seminar programme, led by 200+ thought leaders shaping the profession.Accountex is Europe’s largest annual event for the accounting and finance profession. It attracts 8,000+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors. Attendees can get up to 16 CPD hours with 200+ free seminar sessions across 12 theatres.https://www.accountex.co.uk/london/

"Private Equity Impact in Accounting: Gary Shamis"Rob Brown talks to Gary Shamis about his experience in the accounting industry, from working for one of the Big Eight accounting firms to growing his own accounting firm and eventually selling it to BDO. He also discusses private equity in the accounting industry and the challenges facing the industry.Key Takeaways➤ Private equity firms increasingly invest in various industries, including accounting and financial services. As a result, many accounting firms are shifting their focus to represent private equity and portfolio companies to maintain business and grow their revenue.➤ Private equity partners often have a controlling interest in the companies they invest in and their primary focus is on a return on investment. This can create tension with managing partners trying to implement growth strategies and manage the company's complex operations.➤ Private equity deals between young and old partners are critical, as there may be differences in goals and priorities. It's important to consider these differences and how they may impact the partnership's success.➤ There has been consolidation within the accounting industry due to the rise of alternative practice models and rollups, which have been the subject of lawsuits and controversy. Large companies such as American Express, H&R Block, and CBIZ have been involved in this consolidation trend.Gary Shamis is a former top 40 US accounting firm managing partner who sold to BDO in 2015. He is now CEO of Winding River Consulting, a high-level strategy consulting for the Restaurant, CPA, and professional services industries. Gary won EY Entrepreneur of the Year and is a Top Ten Managing Partner Elite (Accounting Today), among many other accounting accolades. He was called the “very model of the modern managing partner. He was awarded Most Admired Peer (INSIDE Public Accounting) and has over a dozen appearances on the Most Influential list (Accounting Today). He has served within the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ranks. He co-authored How to Manage Your Accounting Practice: Taking Your Firm from Chaos to Consensus.◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢The Accounting Influencers Podcast drops every Monday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers across 150 countries in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, go to https://accountinginfluencers.com/events and book your place at the next gathering. Great to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections. ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencersJoin the Accounting Influencers community and get invitations to our international speed networking events to build your personal brand and network in the accounting, finance and tech world: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubeThanks to our sponsors:ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.comACCOUNTEX. Join us at Accountex London, the pinnacle of fintech innovation, May 15-16, 2024! Discover ground-breaking solutions from 295+ brands and gain invaluable insights at our CPD-accredited sessions. Connect with 10,000+ finance professionals. Elevate your practice – attendance is free, plus earn up to 16 CPD points! https://www.accountex.co.uk/londonDEXT. Streamline your accounting practice with Dext! Our cutting-edge tools, Dext Prepare, Commerce, and Precision, revolutionize data handling, saving you precious time and ensuring accuracy. Connect seamlessly with leading software like Xero and QBO. Join 500,000+ customers transforming their practices. Start your free trial and embrace efficiency today! https://dext.comIf you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore. https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this Talent Special bonus, "Digital Wellbeing for Busy People" Rob Brown interviews Bailey Parnell, an expert in digital culture, social media, and mental health. In this episode, they discuss the skills needed to thrive in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world. Bailey emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, optimism, and resilience, as well as the interconnectedness of individuals and organizations.The conversation then shifts to the impact of digital culture on work and personal life, with Bailey discussing the dangers of social media addiction and the negative effects of screen culture on physical, sociological, and psychological health. She highlights the importance of accountants being mindful of their social media and screen usage and incorporating practices such as mindfulness and digital detoxing into their lives.Bailey also talks about her company, Skills Camp, which focuses on soft skills development and the importance of mental health responders and counsellors for stressed employees. The episode offers a cautionary tale to accountants looking to grow their firms, urging them to be vigilant about social media usage and prioritize their well-being over digital engagement.Overall, this episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast provides valuable insights into the skills and mindset needed to succeed in today's VUCA world and practical tips for maintaining mental health and well-being in a digital culture. Don't miss this informative conversation between Rob Brown and Bailey Parnell!You can also watch this on youtube here: https://youtu.be/JKSTI6UeB0cKey takeaways ➔ To thrive in a VUCA world, individuals need a growth mindset, optimism, resilience, and the ability to adapt and embrace change.➔ Digital culture significantly impacts work and personal life. Accountants must be mindful of their social media and screen usage to combat the adverse effects on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.➔ Companies need to create a culture that supports mental health and well-being, especially in a hybrid work environment, by training leaders to manage crises and promoting a human-centric workplace.➔ Soft skills development, such as interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence, is crucial for business professionals to succeed in today's world, and mental health responders and counsellors can help support stressed employeesGuest BioBailey Parnell is a 2x TEDx speaker, Founder & CEO of SkillsCamp, and named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She is an internationally-recognized entrepreneur, an active humanitarian, and an expert in soft skills training. Bailey has nearly 4 million views on her TEDx talks, and her work has been featured in Forbes, Good Morning America, CBC, and other notable media outlets. She completed her Master's in Communications and Culture at Ryerson University with research on social media's impact on mental health. This research led to the creation of her signature 5 Steps Towards #SafeSocial and a connected non-profit of the same name. Bailey is known for her skilful storytelling, confidence, research, and humour. She frequently speaks on social media and mental health, soft skills, intergenerational understanding, and being a woman in business.Bailey's company SkillsCamp is a soft skills training company that works with businesses and educational institutions to help their staff and students develop the essential skills needed for personal and professional success - personal branding, stress management, emotional intelligence, and public speaking. Bailey's engaging and informative presentations have reached over 4 million people worldwide. Bailey enjoys wine, cheese, good TV, and "thought experiments" when she's not working. You can follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook at @BaileyParnell or @baileytaylorparnel. For more information, visit her website at baileyparnell.com or contact her at bailey@skillscamp.co◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you!Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcastFor announcements of published shows, tagging guest so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/accinfluencershttps://twitter.com/accinfluencershttps://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencersThanks to our sponsors:Accountex. Accountex will return to ExCeL London UK on the 10-11 May 2023. Bringing together 250+ top fintech companies and cutting-edge start-ups, visitors can browse new software and stay up to date with the latest technology, tools and ideas in accountancy and finance. Alongside the exhibition, attendees will take away actionable tips from the CPD-accredited seminar programme, led by 200+ thought leaders shaping the profession.Accountex is Europe’s largest annual event for the accounting and finance profession. It attracts 8,000+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors. Attendees can get up to 16 CPD hours with 200+ free seminar sessions across 12 theatres.https://www.accountex.co.uk/london/

"Soft Skills Mastery in a VUCA World: Bailey Parnell", owner of Skills Camp, emphasises the importance of soft skills in the workplace, particularly in high-pressure professions like accounting. She stresses that grit is just one element of resilience and that soft skills are often the skills that characterise our relationships with ourselves and others. Bailey also explains how the VUCA acronym, Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, applies to the current workplace environment and how soft skills are crucial in navigating it.Bailey and Rob discuss the need for a growth mindset and being open to continuous learning and development. They emphasise the importance of seeking feedback and auditing one's skills to identify areas that require action, especially with the increasing automation of some roles. The speakers differentiate between optimists and pessimists and explain how having an optimistic mindset, particularly in times of change and stress, is crucial. The conversation concludes by emphasising the need for a learner-centric approach to teaching soft skills that prioritises the learners' interests and learning styles over serving the institution.You can also watch this on youtubeKey takeawaysSoft skills are essential in accounting, as they play a significant role in building relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.Resilience is a critical soft skill, but it's not enough. Other essential skills include stress management, empathy, and cross-cultural communication.The VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) acronym is a helpful way to describe the current workplace environment, and developing soft skills is crucial in navigating it.To develop soft skills effectively, a learner-centric approach should be taken that prioritises the learners' interests and learning styles over institutional needs.Having a growth mindset, seeking feedback, and auditing one's skills are essential to continuous learning and development.Being optimistic is crucial, especially in times of change and stress. Optimism isn't necessarily about being positive or negative, but rather how one views oneself about what happens.Bailey Parnell is a 2x TEDx speaker, Founder & CEO of SkillsCamp, and named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She is an internationally-recognized entrepreneur, an active humanitarian, and an expert in soft skills training. Bailey has nearly 4 million views on her TEDx talks, and her work has been featured in Forbes, Good Morning America, CBC, and other notable media outlets. She completed her Masters in Communications and Culture at Ryerson University with research on social media's impact on mental health. This research led to the creation of her signature 5 Steps Towards #SafeSocial and a connected non-profit of the same name. Bailey is known for her skilful storytelling, confidence, research, and humour. She frequently speaks on social media and mental health, soft skills, intergenerational understanding, and being a woman in business.Bailey's company SkillsCamp is a soft skills training company that works with businesses and educational institutions to help their staff and students develop the essential skills needed for personal and professional success - personal branding, stress management, emotional intelligence, and public speaking. Bailey's engaging and informative presentations have reached over 4 million people worldwide. Bailey enjoys wine, cheese, good TV, and "thought experiments" when she's not working. You can follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook at @BaileyParnell or @baileytaylorparnel. For more information, visit her website at baileyparnell.com or contact her at bailey@skillscamp.co◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢The Accounting Influencers Podcast drops every Monday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers across 150 countries in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, go to https://accountinginfluencers.com/events and book your place at the next gathering. Great to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections. ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencersJoin the Accounting Influencers community and get invitations to our international speed networking events to build your personal brand and network in the accounting, finance and tech world: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubeThanks to our sponsors:ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.comACCOUNTEX. Join us at Accountex London, the pinnacle of fintech innovation, May 15-16, 2024! Discover ground-breaking solutions from 295+ brands and gain invaluable insights at our CPD-accredited sessions. Connect with 10,000+ finance professionals. Elevate your practice – attendance is free, plus earn up to 16 CPD points! https://www.accountex.co.uk/londonDEXT. Streamline your accounting practice with Dext! Our cutting-edge tools, Dext Prepare, Commerce, and Precision, revolutionize data handling, saving you precious time and ensuring accuracy. Connect seamlessly with leading software like Xero and QBO. Join 500,000+ customers transforming their practices. Start your free trial and embrace efficiency today! https://dext.comIf you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore. https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

In this Talent Special bonus, "Leading in a People First Culture: Xero's Jen Surtees," host Rob Brown speaks with Jen Surtees, the Director of People Experience (UK & EMEA) at Xero, about the importance of building and leading in a people-first culture.Jen explains that a people-first culture prioritises employees' well-being, development, and growth. She emphasises cultivating a culture where employees can thrive and feel supported. She identifies the first step as identifying the values that will drive the culture and developing a clear vision.Leaders should create a safe environment for employees to voice their opinions and concerns. People leaders can support the culture by ensuring policies and practices align with the company's values. Jen shares top tips for understanding and developing culture, including listening to feedback, identifying areas for improvement, and incorporating change where needed.You can also watch this on Youtube - https://youtu.be/7gz1D2r1IdkGuest Bio:Jen is the Director of People Experience (UK & EMEA) at Xero, with extensive experience in coaching and a passion for supporting individuals to be their best selves at work. Jen designs recruitment, development, and cultural programs for businesses that prioritize people at heart. She thoroughly researched the psychological conditions that foster high-performing teams and a sense of belonging, resulting in strong team cultures. Jen works at Xero, ensuring the company provides every employee with a world-class and inclusive experience. She creates an environment where employees can believe, belong and flourish. Under her leadership, Xero has been named the 5th Best Workplace in Tech and the 2nd Best Workplace for Women in the UK Large Business Category. Jen loves the great outdoors and recently moved with her husband and daughter to the coast, where they enjoy spending time outdoors and experiencing nature.Key takeaways ➤ A people-first culture is crucial for businesses in today's recruitment landscape.➤ Leaders must prioritise employee well-being, development, and growth to cultivate a thriving culture.➤ To build a people-first culture, leaders should identify the values that drive the culture and develop a clear vision for the organisation.➤ Leaders should create a safe environment for employees to voice their opinions and concerns.➤ People leaders can support the culture by ensuring policies and practices align with the company's values.➤ Top tips for understanding and developing culture include: listening to feedback, identifying areas for improvement, and incorporating change where needed.➤ Businesses need to specialise in a niche and become thought leaders.➤ Firms offering client advisory services (CAS) must focus on sales and marketing to succeed.➤ Verticals matter in CAS, and firms must think beyond write-up and controllership to provide more value to their clients.➤ To scale successfully in CAS, firms must focus on hiring and training staff, creating processes and systems and building technology infrastructure.➤ CPA and BPO firms can compete with low-priced providers in the current market by providing niche expertise and thought leadership.◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you!Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcastFor announcements of published shows, tagging guests so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/accinfluencershttps://twitter.com/accinfluencershttps://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencers