Episode 136

How Top Accounting Firms Innovate & Generate Ideas

Published on: 7th January, 2021

Heath Alloway of Upstream Academy was National Growth Manager and Director of Business Development at one of the top accounting and consulting firms in the US. Here he led a multi-disciplinary team of 20, focused on strategic growth plans, development and launch of new services and industry verticals, leveraging firm data and innovation. Selected shownotes:

  • The 2 main ways accounting firms can drive organic growth
  • Whose job business development and growing an accounting firm actually is
  • Defining what innovation is and where it comes from in an accounting firm
  • The biggest misconceptions about innovation in an accounting firm
  • The danger of focusing too much on your competition and not your clients
  • How to handle the objection of 'I don't have time to innovate or do business development' in my firm
  • The parallels between innovation and business development for accounting firms
  • Encouraging a culture and mindset of innovating for accounting professionals
  • The importance of diversity of views for worthwhile innovation
  • Technique for dealing with people in your accounting form who are not open to change and innovation
  • The need for leadership support and aligning the firm's culture for good innovation
  • The obstacles that most hinder accounting firm innovation
  • Three critical questions in deciding whether to innovate and create a new product, service or process
  • The dangers of assuming your clients need and will pay for new products or services
  • Three ways an accounting firm can innovate to be more efficient and effective
  • The future for those accounting firms and accountants who cannot or refuse to innovate.

Heath Alloway on the Accounting Influencers podcast with BD Academy founder Rob Brown

When not working, Heath and his wife, Emily, focus on faith, family, health, and friends. He frequently refers to his two precious kids as his innovation team because they generate a lot of ideas – both good and bad – that require his help and/or intervention.. Contact him here:

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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

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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.