This international panel discussion explores the current state and future trajectory of the accounting profession. The distinguished panel includes influential leaders and innovators in the field such as Arun Mehra, Chase Birky, Eric Gregg, and Jody Padar to share their diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

The conversation kicks off with an assessment of the profession's current shape. While the panelists acknowledge the existence of challenges, such as talent shortages and outdated business models, they also recognize the immense opportunities arising from technological advancements, changing client expectations, and the influx of capital from private equity and venture capital firms.

The discussion highlights the importance of embracing change, prioritizing culture and purpose, upskilling in areas like technology and advisory services, and positioning accountants as trusted business advisors rather than mere compliance providers.

As the dialogue progresses, the guests underscore the immense potential for accountants to thrive in the evolving business landscape by embracing innovation, redefining their value proposition, and becoming trusted advisors to their clients.

Key Takeaways:

• The accounting profession is at a crossroads, with firms facing an existential crisis due to outdated business models and a talent shortage. (00:05:00)
• Money pouring into the industry from private equity and venture capital firms is forcing change and disrupting traditional firm structures. (00:18:00)
• The ability to work with technology, including AI, will be more important than accounting experience or subject matter knowledge in the near future. (00:40:00)
• Firms must prioritize culture, purpose, and agency for their employees to attract and retain top talent in the face of better career alternatives. (00:27:00)
• Referrals alone will no longer be sufficient for acquiring new business; firms must embrace transparency and deliver remarkable client experiences. (00:36:00)

Quotes:

1. "There are some real pioneers in this space who are doing things differently, who are trying things differently, sometimes not always working, but I think we should support them and encourage them because if we have those pioneers, other people will follow and ultimately do things differently and innovate." - Arun Mehra (00:44:00)
2. "The best accountants are going to be more technologists than classic accountants." - Chase Birky (00:40:00 - 00:41:00)
3. "We're going to self-serve a lot more of this relationship with a lot more visibility into the steps that are happening behind the scenes." - Eric Gregg (00:45:00)
4. "The technology that's here today, and the technology that's coming in the future, is going to allow us to be more human and help our clients better and faster, and still get to go home on time." - Jody Padar (00:52:00 - 00:53:00)

View this episode in video on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/PF0h65LzTAY

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The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is one of the world's leading shows for accounting leaders, professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, book your place at the next gathering. Great for building your personal brand and making valuable industry connections in return for a small donation to charity: https://accountinginfluencers.com/events

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Thanks 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...

Brannon Poe is the author of "The Unplugged Vacation," and founder of Poe Group Advisors and Accounting Practice Academy. Rob Brown and Brannon Poe delve into the often-overlooked challenges accountants face in managing their time and achieving work-life balance. Brannon, sheds light on the realities of the accounting profession, where the relentless demands of clients and the struggle to maintain boundaries can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction.

Brannon's book, "The Unplugged Vacation," serves as a guide for accountants to reclaim control over their time and learn the art of truly disconnecting from work during vacations. Through personal anecdotes and insights, he underscores the importance of setting boundaries, purging underperforming clients, and implementing value-based pricing to create a sustainable and fulfilling practice.

The conversation explores the challenges accountants face in saying "no" to clients, leading to unfocused and overextended practices.

Brannon emphasizes the importance of firm culture, work-life balance, and the need for accountants to break free from the billable hour mindset, which can perpetuate the cycle of overwork and undervaluation.

Key Takeaways:

• Accountants often struggle with time management, staff shortages, and an inability to let go of work, leading to burnout and dissatisfaction.
• Setting boundaries, purging underperforming clients, and implementing value-based pricing are crucial steps to creating a sustainable and fulfilling practice.
• Taking a truly unplugged vacation requires advance preparation, team readiness, and acceptance that some balls may drop during the absence.
• Firm culture, work-life balance, and moving away from the billable hour mindset are essential for attracting and retaining top talent in the accounting profession.
• Booking a vacation and committing to being unplugged is an actionable step accountants can take to recalibrate their priorities and improve their overall well-being.

Quotes:

"You don't like your practice, keep raising your prices until you do." - Brannon Poe

"If you're equating your time to money, well, there's probably one of the first problems you got to solve." - Brannon Poe

View this episode in video on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/LIP3OXh_yEk

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The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is one of the world's leading shows for accounting leaders, professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, book your place at the next gathering. Great for building your personal brand and making valuable industry connections in return for a small donation to charity: https://accountinginfluencers.com/events

◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢

Thanks 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.com

ACCOUNTEX. Bringing the accounting world together with UK and international events for the accounting and tech world. https://www.accountex.co.uk

If 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.

This international panel discussion explores the current state and future trajectory of the accounting profession. The distinguished panel includes influential leaders and innovators on the field such as Dianne Yetter, Sarah Dobek, Tom Barry and Jeff Seibert to share their diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

The conversation goes through with an assessment of the profession's current shape. While the panelists acknowledge the existence of challenges, such as talent shortages and outdated perceptions, they also recognize the immense opportunities arising from technological advancements and evolving client needs.

The discussion highlights the importance of embracing change, upskilling in areas like communication and strategic thinking, and positioning accountants as trusted business advisors.

As the dialogue progresses, the guests share their visions for the future of accounting. Predictions range from the rise of accounting for virtual economies and cross-disciplinary education to the potential demise of the traditional partnership model and the globalization of services delivery.

The panelists also emphasize the need to address persistent myths and raise financial literacy to foster a better understanding of the profession's true value.

Key Takeaways:

• The accounting profession is in a state of flux, with a divide between those embracing change and those resistant to it. Firms unwilling to adapt risk becoming irrelevant.
• Accountants must go beyond traditional number-crunching roles and develop skills in communication, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurship.
• Technology, such as AI and automation, will eliminate tedious tasks, allowing accountants to focus on delivering value-added advisory services.
• Attracting and retaining talent is a significant challenge, and firms must invest in training and development, particularly in soft skills.
• Branding and storytelling are crucial for changing the perception of accounting as a boring profession and showcasing its dynamic nature.

Quotes:

"We have to tell a better story. What made Anderson great is the way that they onboarded people, the way that they ingrained them into what was great about the profession." - Sarah Dobek

"It's the best of times and the worst of times for accounting." - Tom Barry (paraphrasing Charles Dickens)

Watch in video format on youtube here: https://youtu.be/SuOqR21SLB4

◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢

The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is one of the world's leading shows for accounting leaders, professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers. To participate in our international virtual speed networking events for the accounting community, book your place at the next gathering. Great for building your personal brand and making valuable industry connections in return for a small donation to charity: https://accountinginfluencers.com/events

◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢

Thanks 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.com

ACCOUNTEX. Bringing the accounting world together with UK and international events for the accounting and tech world. https://www.accountex.co.uk

If you'd like to sponsor the show and...