Episode 148

Nick Muir: Managing Partner of MGR

Published on: 1st April, 2021

Sam Allred is a qualified CPA and founder of Upstream Academy. He has been regularly recognized as one of the major influencers in the accounting profession and has been listed as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and as one of IPA’s Most Recommended Consultants. He is one of the most sought-after speakers in the accounting profession and is viewed as one of their top strategic thinkers. Shownotes:

  • What separates the good accounting firms from the great, especially in tough times
  • What a strong culture of high performance and a staff of raving fans looks like in a good accounting firm
  • Question answered: do high performing firms recruit high performing people or develop good people into high performers?
  • Shoutout to 'The Ideal Team Player - How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues' by Patrick Lencioni (and what those essential values are)
  • What defines high performance or 'best in class' in professional firms and what research data supports it
  • The 6 areas of discipline demonstrated by all high performing accounting firms
  • Why financial performance is only a small part of what makes an accounting firm successful and high performing
  • Why every firm and every accounting partner can be high performing - it's not the normal distribution curve of poor, average and good
  • How the covid pandemic and remote working has exposed some accounting firms who lack a high performing culture and strong processes
  • What high performing leaders in an accounting firm set examples and drive culture in caring for their people and clients
  • Why it's almost impossible to be a high performing professional in a low performing accounting firm over any length of time
  • The dilemma for accomplished partners fighting against poor performance who are too invested in a poor firm to contemplate leaving
  • How to properly discern whether an accounting firm is worth joining or working for before you're hired
  • The signs from the outside that an accounting firm is high performing
  • The main thing accounting firms and accounting individuals need to start down the road of becoming 'best in class'
  • Critical questions accounting professionals and leaders should ask themselves to assess whether they are or could be considered a high performer
  • The kind of results high performing firms have achieved in a pandemic year and how they will continue to dominate in 2021
  • What all accounting firms are most looking forward to as they emerge from covid restrictions.

Sam Allred on the Accounting Influencers podcast with BD Academy founder Rob Brown

Sam and his wife, Marlene, live outside of Park City, Utah. His hobbies include spending time with his family, fly fishing and golf. Sam and Marlene have seven children. 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.