Portrait of a Successful Partner
Source: The Marc Rosenberg Blog
The following includes excerpts, reproduced with permission, from a blog entry by Marc Rosenberg. In it, Rosenberg lists 12 characteristics of a successful CPA firm partner. Here are the first seven:
- Exercise good judgment, never circumventing policies and procedures or ignoring questionable client practices. Clients trust their partners to get the help they need.
- Focus on satisfying clients' needs and providing “oh wow” service quality, resulting in strong client loyalty. Most successful partners have relationships with their clients that border on being a friendship as well as the CPA connection.
- Give their clients good ideas and great value. The ideas come whether the clients ask for them or not. The ideas are not limited to accounting and tax, but [also address] real-world challenges that businesses face every day (consulting).
- Know people. They are the quarterbacks of the business world. If they can't do it themselves, they know others who can. Clients rely on great referrals from their partners.
- Nurture and mentor staff. Successful partners go beyond merely being “nice” to the staff. They help staff learn and grow. Staff advance under their tutelage. Clients benefit tremendously from a CPA firm that employs great staff.
- Genuinely care about people. Without empathy, a partner cannot lead effectively. And if you can't lead, it's unlikely you will be successful.
- Bring in business. Bringing in clients is the most important function in a CPA firm [and] is the hardest to do. But partners find a way to do it.
In addition to the above, successful partners are team players, are delegators, avoid complacency, have specialized expertise, and have a back-up.
For the complete entry, read “Ask Yourself: Why Are You Successful?”
From The Marc Rosenberg Blog, June 13, 2016, blog.rosenbergassoc.com.