The Modern CPA Success Show

“These aren't just numbers; numbers represent things that people care about, and when you start thinking about it that way, that's when you get clients who stay with you for life.” –Jeff BartschThe finer details of this episode:Importance of storytelling and communication skills in the accounting industryStrategic use of storytelling, empathy, and understanding deeper motivations of clients in the context of financial numbers and business strategyThe role of communication skills in human connection, client retention, team management, and business growthThe core outcome of storytelling as human connection and building trust 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/Jeff Bartsch is the founding communication strategist at Story Greenlight, which empowers accounting advisors to attract and keep their ideal advisory clients.  With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry and client coaching, Jeff has helped shape content for clients including ABC, NBC, Disney, Apple, Netflix, and many others. Jeff has been recognized as a Top 30 thought leader in the accounting advisory world, and his commentary has been featured in publications including Accounting Today, the Associated Press, Time Magazine, and USA Today. He believes that the power of story is within reach of everyone, and that human connection is everything.Connect with Jeff at https://www.storygreenlight.com/moderncpa/Timestamps:Introduction (00:00:00)Welcoming listeners to the podcast and discussing the upcoming conversation with Jeff Bartsch. Demystifying Storytelling (00:00:22)The importance of storytelling in becoming a better communicator and advisor in the accounting industry. Jeff Bartsch's Background (00:02:00)Jeff Bartsch introduces himself, highlighting his background in communication strategy and thought leadership coaching, including his experience in Hollywood. The Power of Storytelling (00:03:49)Jeff Bartsch shares a personal experience about the transformative power of storytelling and its impact on human connection. Transition to Accounting Industry (00:05:51)Jeff Bartsch explains his transition from Hollywood to working with the accounting industry, emphasizing the importance of human connection and trust-building in the accounting profession. Strategic Communication and Storytelling (00:10:15)Discussion on the strategic level of storytelling, including the definition of a story and its impact on communication with clients. Virtual CFO Playbook Advertisement (00:13:08)An advertisement for a virtual CFO playbook, offering essential tools for creating and delivering scalable CFO services. Strategic Communication and Tough Questions (00:15:20)Exploring the role of strategic communication in asking tough questions and guiding clients through challenging financial situations. Empathy in Strategic Storytelling (00:16:55)Jeff Bartsch discusses the importance of empathy in strategic storytelling and understanding the deeper motivations of clients beyond just the numbers. The importance of strategic storytelling (00:20:28)Strategic storytelling as a crucial element in client advisory services, influencing clients' perc

“Telling the story behind the figures is not about compliance; it's about triggering an action in the heads of business owners.” –Soufyan HamidThe finer details of this episode:Importance of storytelling in financePractical tips for effective financial communicationTransforming financial data into compelling narratives 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://soufbp.com/ Timestamps:Introduction to Financial Storytelling (00:00:00)Discussion on the importance of storytelling in finance and challenges faced by finance professionals. Practical Tips for Effective Financial Communication (00:01:46)Introducing the guest, Soufyan Hamid, and his background in financial storytelling and finance. Challenges Faced in Financial Storytelling (00:02:55)Soufyan shares his personal experience and challenges faced in financial storytelling. Reverse the Narrative Concept (00:07:29)Explaining the concept of "reverse the narrative" in financial storytelling and its impact on communicating financial information effectively. Adopting Financial Storytelling (00:12:35)Challenges in adopting financial storytelling, including the struggle to leave out details and focus on the main message. Practicing Effective Presentation and Public Speaking (00:15:19)Tips for effective presentation and public speaking in financial storytelling, including the importance of practice and engaging the audience. Adapting Financial Communication to Small Group Discussions (00:21:14)Discussion on adapting financial communication to small group discussions and the importance of anticipating questions and reactions. Visual Aids in Financial Communication (00:23:31)Discussion on the use of visual aids like dashboards and graphs in financial communication and their role in supporting the narrative. Adapting Visuals for Effective Storytelling (00:24:37)The importance of visually adapting graphs and charts to focus on specific points and guide the audience's attention in financial storytelling. Preparation and Structuring for Effective Financial Communication (00:27:12)The significance of preparation, structuring the message, and using visuals to guide the audience's attention in financial presentations. The Four Steps of Financial Storytelling (00:33:07)The four essential steps in financial storytelling: preparing a message, structuring the story, creating presentation slides, and practicing delivery. Time Management for Preparation (00:38:17)Discussion on the time required for preparation, practice, and the overall impact of effective storytelling in financial communication. Course Content and Expected Results (00:40:41)Details about the financial storytelling course, its duration, interactive elements, and the expected outcomes for participants.  

“The accounting profession historically has been like taking a trip with an atlas that’s 10 years out of date. However, today, what we can do with modern accounting and advisory services is much like the Waze app or Google Maps; you're getting instantaneous data that will tell you ‘Up ahead there's a roadblock and here's a workaround.’ This real-time info keeps you on track with your financial forecast. You can't make any business decisions on historical information; you must have current information and be able to look forward so that you can make good decisions and stay on track to reach your goals.” –John Scott The finer details of this episode:Importance of thought leadership in the accounting and legal professionsJohn's experience with a law firms’ growth and scaling based on data and metricsDiscussion and insights from John's book, “Judicial Dollars and Cents,” on understanding cash needs and working capital for businesses, including law firmsUnique elements of serving law firms and the complexities of partner compensation plansThe significance of data-driven decision-making in business management 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/Get the book: https://home.virtualcfo.cpa/johnscott Timestamps: The Introduction (00:00:00)Introduction to the podcast and its mission. Discussing Thought Leadership and Writing a Book (00:00:22)Adam and Tom discuss the value of thought leadership and the process of writing a book. John's Background and Experience (00:01:45)John Scott introduces himself and discusses his experience working with law firms and the collaboration between Anders and Summit. Scaling a Law Firm (00:02:58)John shares a story of an entrepreneurial attorney scaling his business and the focus on data and metrics. Inspiration for Writing the Book (00:04:06)John explains the inspiration behind his book, “Judicial Dollars and Cents,” and the need to provide guidance for attorneys in managing their finances. Unique Elements of Serving Law Firms (00:07:32)Discussion on the unique financial aspects of law firms, including trust accounts and fee structures. Forecasting and Real-Time Data (00:05:55)John uses an analogy to emphasize the importance of real-time data in financial forecasting and decision making. Key Metrics and Client Experience (00:12:13)John discusses the importance of key metrics, staff retention, and client experience in law firms. Availability of the Book (00:13:58)John confirms the availability of the book. Challenges of Writing a Book (00:18:49)John shares the challenges and the process of organizing the content of the book. Advice for Aspiring Authors (00:19:58)John offers advice for those aspiring to write a book. These are the timestamps covered in the podcast episode transcription segment, along with the titles for each topic. Dictation and Writing Process (00:20:03)John discusses using dictation software and his process for capturing thoughts and organizing them for writing. Involving Others in the Writing Process (00:20:59)John explains how he involved others to critique, develop thoughts, and help with

“We did a lot of due diligence; we landed on Guadalajara, Mexico not only because of time zone, cultural assimilation, and a direct flight from the west coast but its citizens are highly educated, so there's a big pool of talented individuals working there.” – Martin MollThe finer details of this episode:Discussion of nearshoring and its benefits for accounting firmsDifferences between nearshoring in Mexico and offshoring in IndiaChallenges and advantages of nearshoring, including nurturing and training nearshore team membersExperiences with offshore teams and challenges faced when working with teams in IndiaImportance of critical thinking and cultural differences in offshore workChallenges of finding talent and benefits of outsourcing for smaller firmsImportance of building a strong bond with the offshore team and treating them as an extension of the firmEpisode 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.cadencia.io/ Timestamps:Introduction (00:00:00) Introduction to the podcast and its mission to provide insights on accounting and related topics. Martin Moll's Career Story (00:00:54)Martin Moll shares his career journey from being a lawyer to becoming the president of Cadencia, emphasizing his experience with CPA firms and offshore operations. Choosing Guadalajara for Nearshoring (00:03:58)Martin explains the decision-making process behind choosing Guadalajara, Mexico, as a nearshore location, considering factors such as education, economy, and safety. Cultural Assimilation and Language Barrier (00:06:47)Discussion on the importance of cultural assimilation and the differences in exposure to tech stacks between nearshore locations like Mexico and offshore locations like India. Benefits of Nearshoring and Staff Integration (00:10:51)Martin highlights the benefits of nearshoring, emphasizing the potential for highly motivated and well-educated professionals and the integration of nearshore team members with the onshore firm. Advertisement for Virtual CFO Playbook (00:08:24)An advertisement for the Virtual CFO Playbook, offering essential tools for creating and delivering scalable CFO services. Comparative Analysis of Offshoring and Nearshoring (00:15:39)Comparison of offshoring and nearshoring, focusing on the cost, effectiveness, and the approach to hiring and training team members in Mexico. Career Development and Critical Thinking Training (00:17:28)Discussion on the career development opportunities and critical thinking training provided to nearshore team members, highlighting the focus on long-term career growth and skills enhancement. The learning curve (00:19:49)Discussion about the learning curve when working with offshore teams and the challenges of cultural differences. Outsourcing challenges (00:21:08)Addressing the challenges faced by smaller firms in finding people and considering outsourcing as an alternative. Community support (00:22:08)The importance of community support and sharing best practices among firms, especially for smaller firms. Establishing a bond (00:23:30)The significance of establishing a strong bond with offshore teams, including visiting them and integra

“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.