1. Presented By: Gary Adamson, CPA
How to Self-Assess Your Firm in Five Critical Areas of Leadership and Management – An Essential Step to Becoming a Great Firm
Presented By: Gary Adamson, CPA

2. Gary Adamson, CPA Recovering Managing Partner
Over 20 Years as MP of Brady Ware, a Top 200 Firm
Grew firm from 9 to 130+ people
Now working with firms to reach solutions, faster
Consultant, author and speaker

3. Adamson Advisory Follow our blog at www.adamsonadvisory.com/blog
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4. About Adamson Advisory
Partner Succession
Partner Retirement and Agreements
Mergers and Acquisitions
Partner Compensation
Firm Governance
Partner Retreats
Partner Coaching and Goal Setting

5. Is “Good”, Good Enough? Things are “pretty good”.
We’re doing well; pretty “comfortable” (if we could just find more people).
Top line is going up but profits seem to be getting squeezed.
Big changes on the horizon – not sure how that will affect us.

6. How do We Get Better? Positioning the firm for the future.
Too focused on the numbers?
Too comfortable?
Jim Collins’ Good to Great.
Are we focused on the right things to move us forward?

7. What Makes a CPA Firm Great?
Accountability
Leadership Development
Growth
Intangibles
Skilled, Motivated Staff
The Right People on the Bus
Production
Leadership & Management
Quality Work
Delivering Great Service

8. Smart People…
“High expectations are the key to everything.” Sam Walton
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” Thomas Edison

9. Five Critical Areas Client service Growth People development
Partner group performance/leadership
Financial metrics/management

10. Rating Scale 5 Best of the Best – we own this 4 Excellent
3 Good (nothing wrong with good)
2 Just OK
1 Poor
0 We’re not doing this

11. Client Service 7 Best Practices Two Examples
We have a consultative approach in serving our clients in addition to satisfying their compliance needs.
We continually strive to improve our service delivery processes.
Rating
Strengths
Weaknesses

12. Growth 8 Best Practices Two Examples
We track and grow our average revenue per client
each year by at least our top line growth rate.
Our partners have individual business development goals.
Rating
Strengths
Weaknesses

13. Polling Question
We have a consultative approach in serving our clients in addition to satisfying their compliance needs.
True
False

14. People Development 10 Best Practices Two Examples
We are committed to making the investment to hire more than we need.
We have an inclusion (communication) plan to connect to our young hires.
Rating
Strengths
Weaknesses

15. Partner Performance/Leadership
12 Best Practices
Two Examples
We set stretch partner goals and we have a partner performance evaluation process.
We have productive partner meetings and we support the decisions of the group.
Rating
Strengths
Weaknesses

16. Polling Question
We have an inclusion (communication) plan to connect to our young hires.
True
False

17. Financial Metrics 7 Best Practices Two Examples
Our average collected rate per hour is in the top 25% of our peers.
We manage our realization rate to between 85% and 90% of revenue.
Rating
Strengths
Weaknesses

18. Two Most Important MP Duties
Working with partners to maximize their individual performance.
The steward of the firm’s vision and strategy.

19. So, What’s Next? Best Practices Network
Share all 44 Best Practices with you.
Dig deeper into the BP’s in the five areas with focused round table groups.
Help you evaluate based on the size of your firm.
Watch for a follow up communication.

20. Questions?

21. Thank You Follow our blog at www.adamsonadvisory.com/blog
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