Posts by Matt Rampe
Originally featured in Accounting Today A recent poll we conducted revealed that 80% of firms said their advisory services were more profitable than compliance, and 67% said advisory was a high or critical priority. You’ve likely also heard that advisory will be the high ground that remains after automation filters through the profession. So, firms clearly…
CPA firms are facing unprecedented changes, from AI and advisory growth to succession and private equity, yet many struggle with how to make change happen and make it stick. We conducted a poll to see what changes firms are prioritizing, what their process for change is, and how well it’s working. Here are the results…
Outcomes from two firms I led through strategic planning in the past year: Firm A: Successfully retired two senior partners, added seasoned tax professionals, advanced the build out of their niches, created robust performance management guidelines for all levels in the firm Firm B: Named the next managing partner, two future partners identified and developed,…
One of our most popular blogs1 from last year was an allegorical tale about two firms: Wurkin Hard, a well-meaning but struggling firm, and Focus CPA Advisors, a more modernized and thriving firm. We now pick up their story a year later as the industry landscape continues to evolve quickly. At an AICPA conference, a…
INSIDE Public Accounting and Rosenberg Associates conducted a survey to gather perspectives from professionals across the accounting profession on the advisory services. The survey respondents provided insight into the impact of advisory services on revenue, margins, and long-term growth, as well as the internal challenges firms face when scaling beyond compliance work. View the full IPA…
Originally featured in Accounting Today I talk with many CPA firm leaders who know the right priorities to focus on, so why is it so difficult to make headway in these areas across the industry? In my strategic planning engagements, many managing partners have the right words on their vision flip charts, and they genuinely…
Private equity has accelerated its investments in accounting firms in recent years and entered the collective consciousness of our industry. However, while PE is on the lips of many managing partners, many still have questions about what it’s really like. My goal is to give you a peek behind the PE curtain based on our…
Since becoming a certified coach a decade ago, the start of the year has become a natural time for my clients and me – to reflect on what’s just passed and to set intentions for what’s ahead. When I coach managing partners, I like to ask them three specific questions to help them learn from…
A firm I worked with this year said, “We have a pay-equal partner compensation system, and the cracks are starting to show! No one is taking advantage of it, but it is frustrating the high performers, and I have no leverage to improve my lower-performing partners. I want a comp system that rewards performance. How…
Originally featured in Accounting Today. I’ve been crisscrossing the country this year, doing strategic planning with CPA firms from California to Delaware and from Minnesota to Louisiana. I worked with firms of all sizes; most were in the Top 500. Here’s what I learned from working with these firms: On Partner Alignment At several firms,…
Matt Rampe
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