Rob Brown of the Accountants Influencers Podcast interviews Will Farnell on the important components of growth for accounting practices in a digital world - Accounting Influencers Podcast

Episode 35

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Published on:

22nd Oct 2021

Expert Interview Highlights: Will Farnell (Bestselling Author - The Digital Firm)

Episode 35. On today's episode, Rob Brown of the Accountants Influencers Podcast interviews Will Farnell on the important components of growth for accounting practices in a digital world.

Will Farnell is a former record shop owner and band manager who then worked in a Big Four firm advising predominantly public sector bodies on efficiency and process improvement. In 2007. he founded Farnell Clarke, an award-winning innovative UK accounting firm in 2007 which was one of the first globally to fully adopt cloud accounting technology.

Will is now a global authority on digital-based strategies for practice growth. He wrote ‘The Digital Firm’, a blueprint for digital transformation and provides consulting services to support firms in becoming a digital practice.

Key shownotes from the whole interview include:

◆ The journey to writing the popular accounting practice book 'The

Digital Firm'

◆ The ultimate definition of a digital accounting firm and the two key areas it covers

◆ Who leads the world in accounting practice digital and cloud adoption, and who is still catching up

◆ Why many accountancy firms who claim to be digital are actually just 'playing at it'

◆ How a digital firm embraces both people and technology to evolve into a 'human firm'

◆ The key difference between accountants in the UK and the CPAs in North America

◆ The key drivers of digital transformation in accountancy practices

◆ What will happen to accounting firms who fail to adapt to change, refuse to evolve and back away from digital reform

◆ The number one reason accounting professionals should want to change, and it's not profits or government regulation

◆ Why accounting firm succession is such a big issue right now

◆ The choices millennials have to invest in an accounting practice

◆ The critical factors that effect the sale value of an accounting firm

◆ Comments on the private equity and venture capital companies moving into the accounting sector to buy firms

◆ The difference between growing an accounting practice and scaling one

◆ What accountancy firms need to do to create more value for potential buyers and become more commercial

◆ The importance of vision and values to build a structure that scales an accounting practice

◆ Blending process, people and technology to deliver success in accounting firms

◆ Different ways to define growth in an accountancy practice or CPA firm

◆ What defines a good client experience for accounting professionals

◆ Questions accountants should ask themselves if they want to give their clients a better experience

◆ The importance for accountants of touchpoints to make clients feel valued and emotionally engaged

◆ The role technology plays for accounting practices in creating a better client experience

◆ Cutting through the compliance vz advisory debate by defining what each one really means

◆ The business landscape in the UK (and probably similar in other countries) and what it means for growing accounting firms

◆ Asking how relevant accountants are to many small businesses

◆ Words of advice for accounting firm leaders to be successful in these challenging times

When not working, you'll find Will somewhere near water on anything that floats, but ideally a sailing boat with the family.

Guestname on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/willfarnell

Guestname website: www.willfarnell.com

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

This is a condensed highlights version of the full interview (usually 20-30 mins long), which you can catch as a bonus episode at the weekend.

Martin and Rob love to hear from the show's 5000+ listeners in 138 countries around the world. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or success stories, just type sayhi.chat/aip into your browser and leave us a quick and easy voice message. We may just feature you on the show!

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About the Podcast

Accounting Influencers Podcast
Host Rob Brown shows accounting professionals and leaders how to be more influential, grow their personal brand and be more authoritative, relevant and high profile in their roles..
The Accounting Influencers Podcast, hosted by Rob Brown, is a must-listen for accounting professionals looking to strengthen their leadership presence, stay informed on disruptive forces in accounting and build credibility within their firms. Geared toward firm leaders, managers, partners and influencers, the show covers key topics like career development, influence, personal branding and interpreting the evolving trends impacting the accounting world. Rob brings his expertise to each episode, offering insights and guidance on how to grow your personal brand and stay strategically important in a rapidly changing profession. Whether you're aiming to influence within your firm or expand your reputation outside of it, this international podcast offers practical advice and forward-thinking insights that will keep you informed and prepared for the future.
Accounting leadership
Executive presence for accountants
Building influence in accounting
Accounting industry trends
Personal branding for accountants
Accounting firm strategy
Accounting business models
Leadership in accounting firms
Talent management in accounting
Authority in accounting profession
Career development for accountants
Accounting firm growth strategies
Influencers in accounting
Accounting firm management
Disruptive forces in accounting
Accounting leadership strategies
Accounting career success
Accounting firm decision-makers
Accounting business trends
Building credibility in accounting

About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown hosts the multiple accounting podcast and chair conferences, panels and events globally for the accounting and fintech profession. He is co-founder of Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) which helps vendors, experts and influencers serve the accounting and finance world. He is a dynamic speaker and accomplished expert on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, career development, succession, gen z/generations, employee advocacy and executive presence. Rob is author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk ‘The Personal Brand of You’ has been viewed 400,000 times on YouTube. He is a stroke survivor, has epilepsy, is a committed Christian and has a black belt in kickboxing. He is based in Nottingham UK, home of Robin Hood, plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.