Emerging Trends and Survey Findings
The ConvergenceCoaching 2016 Anytime, Anywhere Work™ Survey
We are excited to share the results of our 3rd Annual Anytime, Anywhere Work™ Survey as we continue studying the adoption of flexibility programs in CPA firms. We received responses from 160 distinct firms on their adoption of flexible work initiatives and policies. We have written a variety of blog posts exploring findings from our survey, which you can access below:
- Want to Keep Your Next Gen? FLEX! Our 2016 Anytime, Anywhere Work™ Survey Will Show You How
- Flexible Firms Are Moving to Unlimited PTO Programs
- Two Times the Benefits with Anytime, Anywhere Work™
- Anytime, Anywhere Work™, Survey Says Measure Differently to Flex Time
- Where is Your Firm with AnyWHERE Work Programs
- Seven Technology Strategies to Enable Your Flexible Work Programs
And, if you missed our webinar summarizing the survey, you can access the recording here:
A few notable statistics from the published posts include the following:
- 97% of firms allow team members to flex hours, which has held steady since 2015
- 51% of firms offer some sort of Fridays off benefit during the summer
- 39% of firms no longer mandate Saturday office hours, up from 36% in 2015 (but still too many firms still mandating Saturday hours – which is not good PR for our profession!)
We are excited to see an increased number of firms this year offering unlimited time-off programs. We also learned about the gains that firms are experiencing in recruiting and retention efforts by employing flex benefits.
What is your firm doing to increase flexibility and Anytime, Anywhere Work™?
If you have examples to share or want to ensure that you participate in next year’s survey, email Renee Moelders. If you would like to receive our future survey posts, plus our other weekly blog posts, subscribe to our Inspired Ideas blog by clicking here and providing your email address in the “Subscribe Me” field.
ConvergenceCoaching and INSIDE Public Accounting Partner for “The Road to Retention: Motivators and Drivers for Young Public Accounting Professionals Survey”
INSIDE Public Accounting and ConvergenceCoaching released results of an extensive survey conducted of young public accounting professionals aged 21-40 on their motivators and values within the profession. The report centers on the motivators and values of young CPAs in public accounting:
- 80% of respondents were from the all-important Millennial generation, aged 21-33, with 20% coming from the 34-40 age group. Male and female respondents were about evenly split at 51% and 49%, respectively.
- Topics discussed include the importance of work/life balance, flexibility, and clarity of their growth path.
- The survey also explores key differences explored between CPAs and Non-CPAs; men and women; various age categories; and varying levels of experience.
Download the executive summary and order your copy of the report here.
Knowledge Share Roundup
ConvergenceCoaching partners with AICPA CPA Insider, Accounting Today and other publications to provide you with perspectives on the top issues facing the public accounting profession. We want to be sure you have access to those resources, so be sure to subscribe! See some of the samples of our recent articles, provided here for you:
- 3 “Must-Haves” for Retaining Top Talent
- 5 Phrases Established Leaders Should Never Say Again
- Consulting Services Can Grow Your Firm – If Managed Properly
- How Firms Can Close the Gender Gap
- Retirement: Avoid the Pitfalls and Plan for the Possibilities
- Want to Keep Your Next Gen Leaders? Make These Changes ASAP!
- Want to Make More Money? Focus on Revenue-Producing Behaviors
Generational Viewpoints:
- Help with a Hurdle
- Dress for Success – Why “Dress for Your Day” is the Policy of the Future
- New Keys to Attraction and Retention
- Remaining Relevant – Different Takes on Where the Profession Needs to Go
- New Ways of Making Rain
- All Around the World – How You Travel for Work Depends on How Old You Are
HR Helpline:
In addition to the partner article contributions above, there are several videos and podcasts available to you also:
Journal of Accountancy: Millennials need to show some respect; Boomers need to listen:
International Federation of Accountants: Who Is the Ideal Emerging Leader in Accounting Firms Today:
Accounting Today Podcast: Next Gen leaders: Smart, fearless and change-driven:
Accounting Today Podcast: Why won’t partners change?
Service Spotlight: Professional Development Programs
If you or someone in your firm is seeking structured, long-term opportunities to develop leadership or business development skills, consider enrolling in one of our comprehensive professional development programs. Registration is open for both our 2017 Spring Transformational Leadership Program™ (TLP) and Rainmaker Development Program® (RDP).
Transformational Leadership Program™ (TLP)
Our year-long leadership program is specifically designed for your high potential future leaders. In it, we focus on key leadership areas that will enable your high potentials to be more inspirational and effective leaders. During the program year, individuals participate in:
- Two in-person workshops
- Three self-study courses
- Five virtual web seminars
- Six individual coaching calls
Participants focus on development in three specific goal areas that are tailored to their development objectives and they undertake an in-firm project that benefits the firm and stretches them in ways that reinforce their development.
Begin the transformation process for your high potential managers, senior managers, principals/directors, and new partners by enrolling them in our 2017 Spring TLP. For more details about the TLP, read our program overview or to register, visit convergencelearning.com/tranformational. The one-year investment to transform each up-and-comer into a true firm leader is $6,500 and the class size is limited to 26 participants.
Rainmaker Development Program® (RDP)
The ability to develop business is a skill that most firms seek in their future leaders. It is also the one area where professionals feel most uncomfortable. If you have one or more professionals who wish to become better business developers, consider enrolling them in our public Rainmaker Development Program® (RDP). This 6-month program provides a mix of learning and “real life” experiential activities to build real skills in personal marketing and business development.
During the RDP, participants engage in six virtual roundtable sessions, with video cameras deployed, on buildable topics related to critical personal marketing and business development concepts. Between sessions, RDP participants will be tasked to complete assignments, reporting their progress by the next session. In each subsequent roundtable, we discuss challenges and successes, learn the material for the next personal marketing concept and agree on a new assignment to facilitate real learning and progress.
The dates and topics for our 2017 “public” RDP are as follows:
- Roundtable 1: Developing as a Rainmaker – Monday, May 15 from 11am – 1pm CT
- Roundtable 2: Making a Bigger Difference for Your Clients – Monday, June 19 from 11am – 1pm CT
- Roundtable 3: Building Your Sphere of Influence – Monday, July 24 from 11am – 1pm CT
- Roundtable 4: Developing Referral Sources and Tracking Your Rainmaking Activities – Thursday, August 31 – 2pm – 4pm CT
- Roundtable 5: Sales Strategies to Close More Business – Monday, October 2 from 11am – 1pm CT
- Roundtable 6: Furthering Your Target Accounts and Building Thought Leadership – Monday, November 6 from 11am – 1pm CT
Our RDP is limited to 12 participants from firms across the country. The cost to participate in the RDP is $1,995 per person, including CPE credit. One new closed engagement will more than return your investment that should result from the learning in each session and homework activities. For more information or to enroll in the RDP, visit our Learning Center.
If your firm has up to 12 individuals interested in elevating their rainmaking skills, we can also facilitate a custom program specifically for your firm.
For more information about the TLP and RDP, or to learn more about a custom program for your firm, contact Brianna Johnson by email or by phone at 402-639-4132.
Client Corner
Accounting Today Best Firms to Work For
We truly admire our clients and friends that were honored as one of Accounting Today’s 2016 Best Accounting Firms to Work For based on a two-part survey evaluating workplace policies and practices and anonymous employee feedback. Congratulations to Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith LLC, Bland & Associates, P.C., Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, Haddox Reid Eubank Betts PLLC, HoganTaylor LLP, James Moore & Co., Marvin and Company, P.C., Johanson & Yau Accountancy Corporation, MiddletonRaines + Zapata, LLP, Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas), Smith & Howard, Smith Leonard PLLC, WellsColeman, Wilkin & Guttenplan, PC, Williams Benator & Libby, LLP and Windes, Inc. We are so proud of your investment in your team and culture!
Accounting Today Top 100 VARs
Congratulations are also in order to our friends and clients that were named to Accounting Today’s 2016 Top 100 VAR list including: Arxis Technology Inc., Central Consulting Group, Eide Bailly, Stambaugh Ness Business Solutions, and Warren Averett Technology Group. Congratulations to your teams!
Welcome New Clients!
The ConvergenceCoaching team welcomes our new clients to the ConvergenceCoaching circle of friends! Warmest welcome to:
Albrecht, Viggiano, Zurkek & Company, P.C. in Hauppauge, NY
Bland & Associates in Omaha, NE
Brock Schechter & Polakoff, LLP in Buffalo, NY
Cooper Norman CPA & Business Advisors in Boise, ID
Crowe BGK in Montreal, Canada
Henry & Peters, P.C. in Tyler, TX
Johnson, Miller & Co. P.C. in Midland, TX
Kruggel Lawton CPAs in Elkhart, IN
Piccerelli, Gilstein & Co. LLP in Providence, RI
Rodman CPAs in Waltham, MA
Sensiba San Filippo, LLP in San Jose, CA
Thompson Greenspon in Fairfax, VA
TJS Deemer Dana LLP in Savannah, GA
Warren Averett, LLC in Montgomery, AL
We are grateful that you have taken the ConvergenceCoaching leap of faith and look forward to making a difference for your organization!
Awards and Mentions
Top 100 Most Influential People and Most Recommended Consultants for 2016!
Congratulations to co-founder and partner, Jennifer Wilson, for being recognized as one of Accounting Today’s 2016 Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, this year ranking in the top 10.
Jennifer is also grateful to be recognized by INSIDE Public Accounting on their list of 2016 IPA Most Recommended Consultants!
Thank you to the award and list sponsors and also our clients and friends for their continued support of our mission to transform teams, drive change and help leaders achieve success. We are humbled and grateful.
Upcoming Speaking Events
The ConvergenceCoaching team will attend and speak at a number of events this summer, including:
March 22-23 – Helena, MT
Industry Conference
www.mscpa.org
Presentations:
> Four Winning Strategies Every Woman CPA Should Know
> Providing Awkward Feedback Effectively
April 25 @ 11am – 12:30pm ET – Virtual
Web Seminar
www.convergencelearning.com
Presentations:
> Partner Transition Panel – Letting Go with Grace
May 2 – Las Vegas, NV
2017 BDO Alliance Conference
www.bdo.com
Presentations:
> Providing Tricky Feedback Effectively
> Strategies to Truly Engage and Retain Your People
> Market Prominence: What Does It Take to Dominate Your Market?
May 10 – Malvern,PA
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Women’s Conference
www.picpa.org
Presentations:
> Mentoring Your NextGen Leaders
> Closing the Gender Gap
June 12-15 – Las Vegas, NV
AICPA Practitioners Symposium and Tech+ Conference
www.aicpaengage.com
Presentations:
> The Psychology of Letting Go – Retiring With Grace
> Effectively Transitioning Responsibility from One Generation to Another
> Improve Retention By Engaging Your People
June 15 – Memphis, TN
CPAmerica’s 2017 A&A Conference
www.cpamerica.org
Presentations:
> If You Want to Keep Your Next Gen, Do These 9 Things
> Using Social Media to Drive Growth
Take a look at the content and register today! We’d love to see you so let us know if you will be attending any of these events.
To access our catalog with a complete listing of topics for speaking, teaching, and custom in-firm programs, visit www.convergencecoaching.com/learning.
Spread the Word!
If you know someone who would benefit from receiving their own copy of our Coaching Concepts e-newsletters along with invitations to our web seminars and other events, e-mail their information to us at info@convergencecoaching.com.
