How CPAs Can Be Better Bosses

Source: Accounting Office Management & Administration Report

Partners, managers, and administrative people are responsible for the human assets of the firm. Here are some things they should learn:

• Be a better listener—ignore distractions and repeat the message.
• Be honest. Trust others and let them know it.
• Recognize and praise good work, and give frequent feedback.
• Be creative and develop ways to give more interesting and challenging work to staff.
• Give clear, concise directions. This is very challenging because of the lack of partner unity in processing the work product.
• Be consistent. Most employees can learn to live with any boss if they know what to expect.

While the above resolutions are helpful for all leaders, these ideas are especially important for partners.

It is not uncommon to hear: “We have a partner or two who needs to go.”

Here are some random thoughts on this topic:

• Team members are anxiously awaiting the retirement of some older, nonproductive, difficult, and somewhat incompetent partners.
• In this economy, some baby-boomer partners are saying: “Now I’ll have to work until I’m 90!” and they are actually happy about the prospect.

Put these two points together and you have troubles down the road:

• Partners need to push down the routine review time they do in busy season (something that has needed to happen for years for some partners).
• It’s time for partners to teach managers and staff how consulting actually works.

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From Accounting Office Management & Administration Report, Institute of Management and Administration, Inc., Newark, NJ, [email protected], February 2009, p.1 , “Exclusive AOMAR Survey: Staffing & Human Resources Are Still Top MAP Issues for CPA Firms.”