Stories & Lessons from Leading a Global Accounting Alliance - Accounting Voices Podcast

Episode 34

Stories & Lessons from Leading a Global Accounting Alliance

Published on: 24th January, 2019

Graeme Gordon

Graeme Gordon is a chartered accountant and prior to joining Praxity was Managing Director and Senior Tutor of Emile Woolf Group, the international training and development firm. He was also previously Group Finance Director of a technology company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Graeme has extensive international experience including in Europe, Russia, North America, the Far East, the Indian Sub-Continent and the Middle East. He is a member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and formerly twice President of the Thames Valley Chartered Accountants. Shownotes:

  • From the Navy, a double glazing franchise and the NFL to CEO of Praxity – the journey of Graeme Gordon in 60 seconds
  • Why the Praxity Accounting Alliance is a very unique animal and just behind BDO and Grant Thornton in size and reach
  • The lure of variety and the ability to make a difference in creating a job that you love doing – applicable to all jobs but particularly to accounting professionals
  • The key differences between an accounting alliance and an accounting network – useful to know if you’re in one or thinking of joining one
  • Questions an accounting firm might ask themselves in considering whether to join an accounting alliance
  • Three stand-out benefits of joining an established and global accounting alliance like Praxity
  • Why it’s vital that specialists in accounting firms know their opposite numbers in different countries
  • The importance of collaboration within firms and within member firms of a network or alliance
  • Speed dating for managing partners of large accounting firms why it works for networking and collaboration
  • Culture and values must fit if firms are going to merge well and fit well into an alliance like Praxity
  • Ways to ascertain the values and culture of an accounting firm with ‘due diligence’
  • The number one quality that’s present in the very best accounting professionals, especially the ones that have to win work
  • What makes a good managing partner in an accounting firm of any size
  • What is ‘co-opetition’ and how does it help accounting firms to collaborate optimally across countries and cultures?
  • One of the biggest advantages of being able to tap into an alliance like Praxity is the shared intelligence of plans, problems and strategies
  • Thoughts on legacy and reputation in your accounting role – what will people say about you after you’re gone?
  • The critical way in which running a global accounting alliance is different to running a Navy mission!
  • The accounting audit in 10 years will be very different from the audit from just a few short years ago, and how AI will affect that…

Before becoming a chartered accountant Graeme served as an officer in the Royal Navy. Praxity is the largest Alliance of Independent Accounting, Tax and Consulting Firms in the world. As at January 2018, 64 Firms in over 100 countries with 700+ offices, 3,500+ partners and 37,500+ other professionals and a combined turnover of US$5.25bn. Find out more at www.praxity.com or to contact Graeme directly:

Twitter: @GRG_praxity

Graeme on LinkedIn

01372 738 190

Liked your Accounting Influencers Interview with Rob Brown" target="_blank">email Graeme directly>>

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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.