“At the end of the day, it's first impressions. If you get a flat tire those first couple of weeks, it’s just going to really resonate through the entire relationship. You're never going to be able to win back that trust." -Adam Hale The finer details of this episode:● Importance of onboarding for CPA firms● Setting clear expectations and creating a process for onboarding● Activities involved in the onboarding process (accounting discovery, advisory discovery)● Role of project management and client success managers in onboarding● Significance of ongoing evaluation and improvement of the onboarding process● Impact of successful onboarding on long-term client relationships Episode resources:● Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/● If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com● Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/ Timestamps:The importance of onboarding (00:01:07)Adam discusses the importance of onboarding and setting expectations for new clients, emphasizing the need for a structured process.Discovery meetings and setting client expectations (00:02:21)Tom explains the process of accounting and advisory discovery meetings, setting specific dates for deliverables, and aligning on priorities with the client.Organizing work and project management (00:05:51)Adam suggests organizing the team to focus on one area together, emphasizing the need for a solid process and project management for effective onboarding.Client communication and feedback (00:08:04)The importance of setting communication policies and feedback loops with clients during the onboarding process is discussed, ensuring clear expectations are established.Role of a project manager and client success manager (00:11:02)The role of a project manager in organizing the onboarding process and the importance of a client success manager for communication and issue resolution are highlighted.Continual improvement of onboarding process (00:15:59)The discussion emphasizes the continual evolution and improvement of the onboarding process to ensure a positive initial impression for clients.

“The pipeline meeting delivers so much value; it's a strategic conversation around the best way to allocate resources.” – Adam Hale The finer details of this episode:Need for accurate data in pipeline managementStrategic implications of pipeline meetingsChallenges of waiting percentages in pipeline managementMethods for evaluating and forecasting pipeline opportunitiesTools and strategies for pipeline managementAdvice for looking forward and utilizing pipeline management Timestamps:Pipeline Management (00:00:44)Importance of understanding sales cycle, activities creating pipeline, and strategic implications of pipeline meetings. Data Analysis and Forecasting (00:02:47)Evaluating committed projects, analyzing potential opportunities, and using historical data for forecasting. Operational and Financial Alignment (00:03:36)Bringing finance, operations, and pipeline management together in meetings, and using pipeline data as guardrails for improvement. Strategic Resource Planning (00:09:49)Evaluating the impact of big contracts on pipeline size, considering the need for increased resources, and the role of finance in decision-making. Shortening Sales Cycle (00:12:21)Advising on ways to shorten the sales cycle, improving sales efficiency, and the relationship between sales cycle length and pipeline size. Challenges of Waiting Percentages (00:14:59)Disadvantages of waiting percentages in pipeline management and the preference for categorizing deals into simple buckets. Pipeline conversation for service-based clients (00:18:00)Discussion on tools and strategies for service-based and project-based clients, including sales, pricing, and seasonality. Strategic implications of pipeline management (00:19:20)Importance of pipeline management for advising clients and looking forward, and the various ways it can help businesses. Conclusion and call to action (00:19:36)Promotion of the podcast's website for more tips and strategies for achieving success in the accounting industry. Episode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.comCheck out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/  

“ESG is not a measure of ‘good company versus bad company.’ ESG is a collection of roughly 200 different metrics around environmental, social, and government governance data. The way I look at ESG is, it's a measure of transparency; how much information do I have to make an informed decision about a company?” – Kai Gray The finer details of this episode:The changing landscape of ESG adoption and its extension to smaller companiesRegulations and disclosures required by federal agencies for government contractsOpportunities for the accounting profession in the ESG field Episode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.comCheck out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/https://www.esgmotive.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kaigray/  

The finer details of this episode:Challenges of finding and retaining CPAsStrategies for attracting and retaining talentHiring local talent vs. offshoring Episode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.comCheck out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/https://jcgcpafirm.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcgcpa/ 

Explore the benefits of cash balance plans for tax savings and retirement planning, tailored to individual client needs. Learn how to maximize contributions and reduce tax liabilities, while strategically planning for minimal disruption in retirement savings strategies. Delve into the intricacies of income adjustments, company structure, and strategic planning to enhance business value through defined benefit and cash balance plans.

Expert storyteller Jeff Bartsch discusses the importance of storytelling in business success. Topics include engaging clients in the accounting industry, storytelling in client interactions, team communication, and marketing, incorporating personal stories to engage clients, and the power of repeating stories.

“Don't let the needs of the present get in the way from the needs of the future. Build that future, invest now, and it'll pay for itself in the long run.” – Joey Kinney The finer details of this episode:Importance of training and developing the advisory mindsetChallenges of merging existing processes during onboardingBuilding relationships and personal connections with clients Episode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.comCheck out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/ 

“I don't necessarily think that AI is going to replace accountants, but the accountants who use AI are going to really succeed.” – Kyle GeersThe finer details of this episode:Time-saving opportunities for AI in accounting, particularly in data entry and bookkeepingTechnical work and incorporation of AI in complex areasImportance of maintaining a review process when using AI, especially for accuracy and confidentiality Episode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.comCheck out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/https://www.zeroed-inconsulting.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegeers/ 

“A lot of people wonder if they can afford an executive assistant. So, let’s say that you have an executive assistant whom you delegate ten hours of work to every week. How would you spend those ten hours? What high-level work could you get done? I think we're all willing to work a hard day. But then, we want to go home satisfied and fulfilled. It’s about quality of life.” - Gina CotnerThe finer details of this episode:Discussion of “delegate and elevate” and the types of tasks that can be delegatedDifferences between executive assistants and virtual assistantsImportance of communication expectations and finding the right communication channelsPricing models and considerations when choosing an executive assistant serviceEpisode resources:Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.comCheck out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/https://athenaexecutiveservices.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenaea/

Conflict resolution expert Carol Bowser discusses shifting from blaming to curiosity mindset, asking questions to understand complaints, challenges of trust in remote work, and exploring underlying requests. The podcast covers navigating conflict in virtual work settings, recognizing emotions, setting goals for conversations, and importance of giving feedback in remote work environments. It also emphasizes building relationships, leaders' role in conflict resolution, and developing conflict resolution skills.