Episode 133

What Accountants Need to Know Know About KPIs

Published on: 17th December, 2020

Bernie Smith coaches businesses to develop meaningful KPIs and present their management information in the clearest possible way to support good decision making. Frustrated by the random way in which performance measures are often chosen and implemented, Bernie set up Made to Measure KPIs in 2007. He has since authored author of 19 KPI books to share simple, structured and repeatable ways to create KPIs that normal humans could design and use to improve businesses. Selected shownotes:

  • How the book 'KPI Checklists' came about and why you should read it
  • How the right business and financial information is vital to drive improved performance
  • The need for linking measures, targets and goals to strategic objectives using KPIs or key performance indicators
  • A definition of KPIs that everyone can relate to which centres around measuring things that count and that you care about
  • The different types of KPIs, particularly leading (activity-based) and lagging (outcome-based) measurements
  • How the ROKS method (Results Oriented KPI System) works with an illustration on how you choose a tool to do a DIY job
  • What makes some KPIs more useful and relevant than others
  • The joys and drawbacks of visual dashboards, plus the ideal number of KPIs to have on them
  • How accountants are ideally places to capitalise on KPIs because of the amount and quality of data they can access
  • How to measure and how often to measure the data that drive your KPIs
  • The common fears and challenges accountants have with embracing KPIs in their firms and client offerings
  • How KPIs link to incentives, rewards and motivations in accounting firms
  • Best practice steps to start working with KPIs and how to drive a KPI oriented culture in an accounting firm
  • How accountants can effectively use KPIs to add value and advisory services to their clients
  • Why fact-based decision making vz guesswork is at the heart of KPI thinking.

Bernie Smith on the Accounting Influencers podcast with BD Academy founder Rob Brown

Using the experience (and scars) of working with a huge variety of organisations over his consulting career, spanning banking (HSBC, Credit Suisse, UBS), aerospace (Airbus, AirTanker, Leonardo), and even cheesemaking, Bernie has boiled that experience down into simple, sensible and practical advice on performance measurement. When not working, Bernie is a keen hill walker, photographer and technology enthusiast. At any given point he has at least half a dozen over-ambitious and incomplete technology projects on the go. Contact him here:

Website and blog

LinkedIn

 

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Accounting Voices Podcast

About the Podcast

Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.
Accounting Voices, hosted by Rob Brown, helps decision makers and leaders in accounting and finance stay relevant, visible and vocal in a profession being reshaped by technology, private equity, regulation and shifting client expectations. Each episode interprets the trends disrupting accounting and finance such as AI, automation, M&A, talent and the move to advisory and translates them into practical insight that strengthens authority and influence.
Accounting Voices is also a platform for the wider ecosystem of networks, associations, educators, consultants, software vendors and technology experts who serve accountants and finance professionals worldwide. It extends into regular Accounting Voices networking sessions that connect this audience and amplify ideas that move the profession forward. With its international reach and long shelf life the show delivers credibility and commercial value for listeners and sponsors alike. Search for "Accounting Voices" on YouTube for all episodes and connect with Rob Brown on LinkedIn to find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

About your host

Profile picture for Rob Brown

Rob Brown

ob Brown is the creator and host of the Accounting Voices Network, a media platform that includes the flagship solo podcast Accounting Voices and the panel shows Accounting M&A and Accounting Tech. He chairs conferences, panels and virtual events worldwide and is recognised as a leading advocate for the accounting profession.

He is an accomplished speaker and authority on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, succession, executive presence and the forces shaping the future of accounting. Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk The Personal Brand of You has been viewed more than 400,000 times.

A former co-founder of the Accounting Influencers Roundtable, Rob now focuses on amplifying the voices of leaders, firms, networks, vendors and influencers across the global accounting ecosystem.

Outside of work he is a stroke survivor, lives with epilepsy, holds a black belt in kickboxing and is based in Nottingham, UK. He plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.