Episode 57

How to Disrupt Accounting Firms – Moneyball Metrics

Discover how Bob Lewis shapes CPA firm futures with M&A, advisory services and growth tactics. Essential listening for accountants and CPAs

In this episode, host Rob Brown interviews Bob Lewis, CEO of The Vision Group, about major disruptions happening in the accounting industry.

They discuss the key inflection points causing disruption such as aging partners, workforce shortages, emerging technologies, and private equity investments. Bob explains the importance of recognizing these disruptions and taking proactive steps to get "disruption ready".

He shares insights on managing people, improving firm profitability, preparing for leadership transitions, and rethinking service offerings to meet evolving client needs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Aging partners, workforce shortages, and emerging technologies are disrupting accounting firms, requiring changes in strategy.
  • Firms must invest in technology, people, and new service offerings to stay competitive. Lack of investment reduces profitability.
  • Metrics like revenue per professional and realization rates indicate a firm's pricing, profitability, client mix and other performance factors.
  • Future-focused firms are expanding into advisory services beyond compliance work to add value.
  • Staff want vision, training, and empowerment - not just remote work options - to stay engaged.
  • Private equity investments are changing ownership models and bringing new leadership approaches to firms.

Quotable Quotes:

"The disruption is occurring all around them and they can't control it."

"CPA firms, accounting firms, they're becoming consultant agencies."

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Accounting Voices 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.

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Rob Brown

Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.