Webcasts and Upcoming Events

Introduction to the Eat What You Kill and Building a Village Models of Operations—New and Revised

This webcast sets the stage for the two common CPA firm operation models. We take you through their strengths, weaknesses, and the typical obstacles and conflicts each create. Most firms are a hybrid of the two models, but in the end, while you can operate with a combination of both, we have found that firms are deeply rooted in one or the other. And whichever model you are rooted in will drive the future success of your firm. Often succession planning becomes the catalyst to change the firm’s model because the retirements of a few key people highlight the cracks in the firm’s current operating structure.

Duration: 2 hours Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2017  Time: 11:30 a.m. Eastern

Content:

• How the Upside-Down Pyramid™ is the root of many firms’ profitability problems
• How the gap in book size between partners creates a chasm that over time makes it difficult to keep the firm together
• Why the phrase “the stronger the partner, the weaker the firm” is true of most firms
• Building a business model that supports partners managing double their book size in 5 years and triple the size in about 10 years
• Organizational models that best support succession

Moving from an Eat What You Kill (EWYK) to a Building a Village (BAV) Model—New and Revised

This webcast assumes the knowledge gained in the first webcast and focuses on the changes required to move from an EWYK to a BAV operating model, or to root the hybrid model in BAV instead of EWYK. The change sounds simple, but there are several steps required to support this transformation. We go through the process step-by-step and discuss decisions that need to be made along the way, even though some of those decisions may need to be revised as you travel further down this path. Our approach is proven to help the partner group gain the traction needed to make these changes stick.

Duration: 2 hours Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2017  Time: 11:30 a.m. Eastern

Content:

• The natural process firms need to follow as they move from one model to the next
• The critical role governance plays in this transition
• Why retirement benefits typically have to be the first step if you want any changes to stick
• Why equity reallocation is a normal part of this evolution
• Establishing the roles and responsibilities of partners
• The role compensation plays in maintaining the new firm operating structure

Becoming a More Effective 21st Century Leader

CPAs are known for being honest, hard-working, high integrity, detailed people with project implementation as one of our best attributes. Because of these characteristics and skills, CPAs are quickly elevated into leadership positions in whatever organizations they serve. The problem is that this leap is from a technical position to a people position requiring a whole new set of skills, including management, communication and persuasion skills, just to name a few. This webcast looks at the kind of skills and perspectives leadership/management requires if we want to be as effective in our people positions as we have been in our technical ones.

Duration: 2 hours Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2017  Time: 11:30 a.m. Eastern

Content:

• Why you as its leader are the first person that needs to evolve for your organization to get better, faster and stronger
• Common areas of misfocus for leaders/managers
• How and why to develop people faster
• Improving management skills to run your firm more profitably
• Tips for communicating clearly

Common CPA Firm Management Mistakes

CPAs are often so busy helping clients with their businesses that they fail to run their practice as effectively as they should. This webcast addresses some of the more commonly found problems in the management of smaller CPA firms. Partners can enhance their bottom-line profitability and the residual value they stand to realize upon exiting their firm by addressing these issues and making the changes the authors suggest in this webcast.

Duration: 2 hours Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2017  Time: 11:30 a.m. Eastern

Content:

• Mini-case studies of common situations and how they can be better managed
• Top mistakes that can damage your firm and your retirement
• Why you can’t procrastinate any longer—changes must be made now
• What to avoid or change in areas from accountability to billing, to collections, to developing people, and more
• Tips on planning and managing key changes