Posts by Kristen Rampe, CPA
When The Rosenberg Survey is being compiled, CPA consulting leaders are asked to provide insights and perspectives annually. Rosenberg Associates’ Kristen Rampe, Marc Rosenberg, and Matt Rampe were among the 16 CPA firm consultants who contributed this year. Here’s what they had to say about the past 12 months and predictions for this year. …
As featured in AccountingToday. The basics of running a CPA firm are indisputable: clients need to be served, billings and collections completed. For most accounting professionals, these activities are top of mind and top of the priority list, like a football team running plays in a game. But what sets outstanding firms — ones that achieve…
AccountingToday recently released their ranking of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting – an annual list featuring thought leaders and change-makers who are shaping the profession. Marc Rosenberg, CPA, and I were named among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. This is Marc’s 21st consecutive year on the list and my third. AccountingToday…
By Kristen Rampe, CPA, and Dr. Christopher Harper, CPA, MBA, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University Partner compensation has been a dilemma ever since professionals began joining forces to earn revenue. Although a few firms have mastered this process, compensation mechanisms are more likely to create disappointment and…
The complexities involved in allocating income to a group of owners is not for the faint of heart. With numerous decisions to create a plan that fairly rewards individuals for their contributions to the firm’s profits, it’s easy to fall back on what you’ve heard others doing. In some cases, those plans might work out…
There are many reasons for a sizeable spread in partner income at a CPA firm. For example, at a firm that has both a founder nearing retirement and a first-year partner, the spread would be wide. Some firms are the opposite, with two to four founding partners agreeing to share all profits equally. No spread…
We all know that promoting from within is often the best path to continue a CPA firm’s success. The ability for long-term managers to carry on the client service practices you’ve developed over the years is easier than getting lateral hires up to speed and in alignment with your culture. On this topic, we received…
More and more firms are exploring the benefits of adding a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to their leadership ranks. The COO role often encompasses strategic CPA firm leadership, holding partners accountable, making decisions in line with the firm’s strategy and overseeing all administrative functions. This position can significantly reduce the time client service partners spend…
At a recent NextGen Roundtable meeting, we discussed the successes and challenges of busy season. This roundtable consisted of more than a dozen partners and partner candidates from small to mid-sized firms based in the US. In an initial poll, members rated this busy season from best to worst. Using a five-point scale, 33% of…
Multi-partner CPA firms need to ensure the right person or people make comp allocation decisions. In addition to the mechanism used to allocate income, such as a formula or the criteria used in partner evaluations, firm owners need to specify who will determine the allocation. Sometimes that means “who’s on the comp committee,” but it…
Kristen Rampe, CPA
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