(June 22, 2016) Ron Loberfeld, CPA, Principal and Managing Partner of Chestnut Hill, MA accounting firm, Abrams Little-Gill Loberfeld PC (ALL) presented What Keeps Accountants Up at Night, an interactive presentation on the accounting industry’s most challenging issues, at the 2016 New England Graduate Accounting Studies Conference (NEGASC), held at Keene State College, Keene, NH.
What Keeps Accountants Up at Night focused on top “hot button” issues facing CPA firms and sole practitioners including:
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keeping up with the changes & complexity of tax laws;
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seasonality/workload compression;
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attracting and retaining qualified staff;
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succession planning;
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changing partner roles and
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bringing in new clients.
Ron examined how each issue is affecting the accounting industry and offered proactive solutions. For example, firms have been complaining for years about staffing shortages and lack of available qualified talent. Using statistics gathered by the AICPA, Ron shared that there are actually more accounting graduates now than ever. However, the recruiting landscape has changed with Millennials.
Ron said, “Millennials breathe different air than Baby-Boomers. They want and expect certain things out of the companies they work for. They want a firm culture that they can feel a part of, they want a rewarding career and place a huge emphasis on work/life balance.” Ron shared strategies on how firms can attract and retain Millennials, such as reducing non-busy season working hours, having leadership programs and even going as far as closing the office on Fridays during the summer (Ron’s firm recently introduced this benefit).
Cover slide of Ron’s presentation illustrating What Keeps Accountants Up at Night.
Ron kept the presentations interactive, pausing for questions, and also told several entertaining stories including how the IRS will give you a “courtesy hang-up notification” after already placing you on hold for an hour. When it came time to discuss succession planning, Ron was able to give deep insight. As a practicing managing partner and M&A consultant, providing advisory, strategic planning and coaching services to CPA firms and managing partners across the country, Ron knows firsthand the factors involved in driving growth, succession and change management. At the completion of his two-part morning presentation to the NEGASC crowd, Ron also led two breakout workshops, expanding on the topics from his presentation. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of the problems facing their firms and solutions they can put in place.
An accomplished public speaker and panelist, Ron regularly presents on growth and succession, M&A challenges, issues and insights for CPA audiences at national and regional level conferences, CPA State Societies and industry round table forums. As an experienced coach and consultant, he regularly facilitates annual firm retreats as well as provides ongoing strategic and succession planning services for small and mid-sized CPA firms.
About NEGASC
NEGASC is an independent organization providing high quality and affordable professional education to the accounting profession via its annual conference, largely attended by small and mid-sized CPA firm partners, managing partners and sole practitioners in the Northeast.
About Ron
