Posts by Marc Rosenberg, CPA
The CPA profession has witnessed profound transformations in firm management. This blog aims to shed light on the sea of changes in partner income allocation methods, showcasing how these changes have influenced the overall dynamics of CPA firms. We will reflect on the changes over the past 20 years and, more importantly, delve into the…
The challenge to us Several managing partners have recently asked us what spread between the highest and lowest paid partner is appropriate. We use the term “partner” to mean equity partner. First, some facts The latest Rosenberg Survey showed the ratio of highest to lowest paid partner: Over $20M – 3.9 to 1 $10–$20M –…
Ask CPA firms about the effect of the staff shortage, and 99% of them will say it is negatively impacting their firm’s bottom line. This is the finding of a poll of 250 CPA firms in May 2023 conducted by PR Newswire and Censuswide. This doesn’t mean that profits are disappointing – far from it…
Aspiring accountants who are invited to become a partner in their CPA firm usually face the hurdle of a buy-in requirement. This requirement is a payment that new partners must make to gain an ownership stake in the firm. Depending on the practice’s size, the buy-in requirement can be substantial at some firms, ranging from…
We’ve written over 500 blogs in the past 15 years. Our material is pitched mostly to partners and managers. We would love it if this blog was read by entry-level hires, staff at CPA firms senior or below, and interns. Partners, you should forward a copy of this blog to your firm’s young people. We…
Our Chicago area roundtable group, comprised of 70% of Chicago’s local CPA firms, invited the accounting department heads of two leading universities to talk to us about today’s accounting students. We were privileged to host Brad Cripe, PhD, from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., and Kevin Rich, PhD, from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisc….
Jeffrey Weiner joined Marcum in 1981 and has led the firm since 1990 when he was named managing partner. Marcum LLP is a national accounting and advisory firm. Accounting Today puts their annual revenue at $1.2B, making them the thirteenth largest CPA firm in the U.S. They have 39 offices from coast to coast. If…
For about ten years now, there has been a merger frenzy in the CPA profession, fueled by three interrelated factors: (a) baby boomers are rapidly approaching or reaching retiring age; (b) succession planning is not a strong suit of CPA firms so, they often find themselves with no bench to take over the firm and…
My colleague, Art Kuesel of Kuesel Consulting (art@kueselconsulting.com), and I have been leading three roundtables in the Chicago area for over 20 years. Each group has about 25 partners, mostly MPs. The group that this blog reports on comprises roughly 75% of the largest local firms in Chicago. Revenues range from $7M to $35M. We…
Our Chicago large-firm roundtable brings in premier MPs from across the country to share their management practices with us. Our most recent visitor was Richard Kopelman, MP of Atlanta-based Aprio, the twenty-fifth largest CPA firm in the U.S., with revenue of $340M, 80 equity partners, 80 non-equity partners, and 1,500 total personnel. One would be…
Marc Rosenberg, CPA
Get our expertise delivered to your inbox.