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

Episode 41

full
Published on:

14th Mar 2019

Attracting Future Leaders to Help Grow Your Accounting Firm

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>>

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Accounting Influencers Podcast

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

Profile picture for Rob Brown

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.