Attracting Future Leaders to Help Grow Your Accounting Firm - Accounting Voices Podcast

Episode 41

Attracting Future Leaders to Help Grow Your Accounting Firm

Published on: 14th March, 2019

Jennifer Wilson

Jennifer Wilson is co-founder and partner of Convergence Coaching, a national consulting firm that helps leaders achieve success. Accolades include:

  • one of Accounting Today’s 100 Most Influential People in Accounting
  • INSIDE Public Accounting’s Top 10 Most Recommended Consultants
  • Practicing CPA’s Top 25 Thought Leaders
  • Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

Jennifer is an experienced change agent who has worked in both public accounting and industry. She is a frequent speaker, writer and thought leader on topics related to leadership, the rise of the next generation and managing change within the CPA or Accounting profession. Shownotes:

  • Why accountants are in the transformation business if they’re any good
  • Change is easier to make happen in some countries – the US tends to lag behind in technology and innovation
  • The biggest challenge faced by accountants globally is change – there is so much happening
  • The impact of so many baby boomers leaving the accounting profession now and in coming years
  • Why the ‘changing of the guard’ impacts not just accounting firms but the businesses they serve
  • Everybody’s thinking of an exit strategy and how they monetize that – this affects culture and growth in accounting firms
  • The generation under the traditionalists and old guard is relatively small
  • The millennial generation may not be big enough to plug the gap of capacity, energy and knowledge capital when older leaders leave
  • Millenials will be filling the gap when older accountants retire, which means they can ‘write their own ticket’ career wise

jennifer wilson on the BD Academy Accounting Influencers podcast with Rob Brown

  • The millennial gap puts accounting firms in a very delicate position with talent attraction and management
  • Many traditionalists in accounting firms are blocking change and investment
  • The number one reason the traditionalists resist change in accounting firms is selfishness – the desire to maximise earnings and minimise investment
  • Many accounting firm traditionalists resist change because they don’t want to learn the new technologies coming in
  • Many older accountants are on the hamster wheel and don’t get AI or data analytics
  • The biggest driver of generational tension is that young people want more say, control and influence on strategy
  • Attracting accounting millennials is less of an issue than engaging them – bringing them into the vision of the firm
  • The vital role of experiential learning in growing your accounting firm – teaching things faster to new millennial accountants
  • Great ideas to get the young accountants in your firm involved more in the great stuff your firm is doing
  • Millennial talent is the #2 reason accounting firms must make changes. The #1 is for the upcoming changes in millennial clients.
  • By 2025, 75% of the workforce will be millennial. For accounting firms, that’s your clients as well as your staff
  • The key things future leaders must to to drive change with their senior accounting firm leaders
  • Tip for accounting millennials ambitious about their career – find out how much the board have left on their clock
  • The number one request traditionalist leaders in accounting firms need to be making of the next generation
  • One killer question accounting firms leaders should ask their staff to guarantee more engagement and productivity
  • Tips to drive technology change in an ageing accounting firm
  • Prediction – 5 years from now, the most progressive accounting firms will be 75% advisory
  • Accountants are obligated because of their trusted advisor role to invest in the success of their clients.

When she isn’t working with clients and influencers to drive change in the profession, Jen can be found running, paddling, practicing yoga, gardening or spending time with her husband and three girls.

Find out more at www.convergencecoaching.com  or to contact Jennifer directly:

Twitter: @JenLeeWilson

Jennifer on LinkedIn

(402) 933-2900

Liked your Accounting Influencers Interview with Rob Brown" target="_blank">email her 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.