What Entry-Level Accounting Staff Should Be Asking the Partners

“If I had an hour to solve a problem…I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”

–Albert Einstein

Though it may appear that this blog is intended for college students or your young staff, it is equally important for CPA firm partners and managers, the ones who do the bulk of the mentoring at firms. Young people often don’t know what questions they should be asking. It’s the job of mentors to coach them on these questions.

I have been mentoring accounting majors for ten years at Chicago’s three top colleges for accounting. I frequently start with questions: “What do you want to know? What do you want to ask me? What have you been curious, anxious, and puzzled about? How can this session knock the ball out of the park for you?”

To my surprise, they usually don’t know what to ask. I shouldn’t be surprised because when I recall what I was like in college, I most likely wouldn’t have known either. And if I did have questions, I didn’t know who to ask or was too intimidated to assert myself.

Our book, CPA Firm Staff: Managing Your #1 Asset, Second Edition, is packed with invaluable insights and best practices. It’s a veritable encyclopedia that covers everything you need to know about attracting, retaining, training, and mentoring your staff. Chapters cover: Talent management • Retention • Importance of the boss • Mentoring • Leadership development • Advancement • Performance feedback • Recruiting • Workplace flexibility • Remote vs. in-office work • Job descriptions

Don’t let your staffing challenges hold your firm back. Order your copy today!

Here are some of the questions that I have been helping my mentees ask. Partners at CPA firms should do the same with their young staff.

1. What opportunities and benefits does a career in public accounting offer?
2. What personality traits and skills would mean accounting could be a suitable long-term career for me?
3. I’ve heard that networking is important, but I’m not sure what it is exactly. How do people network? Can a shy or introverted person be a good networker?
4. How do people at our firm get clients? Is it important for me to bring in clients to advance in the firm?
5. What’s it like to work with clients? What can I do to please clients?
6. As someone just getting started, what can I do now to qualify myself for higher level positions, not just in accounting but other careers? What does it take to be successful?
7. What is the career path for someone like me? How do I qualify for promotions? What would higher level positions in the firm look like? What are the responsibilities of each position? How long does advancement take?
8. What alternative jobs and careers would I be qualified for in the future, both within the firm and outside?
9. What made you successful?
10. How will I know if I am doing a good job?
11. How is our firm structured? How is it managed? What are the keys to our firm’s success?
12. What are all the services that our firm provides?
13. What are the current trends in the accounting profession?
14. What is our firm’s strategy going forward?
15. I’m curious about…
16. What’s your best piece of advice for starting work at our firm?

Are there other questions that should be on my list?