Episode 151

How Top Firms Solve Succession & Rapidly Develop Skills

Sam Allred is a qualified CPA and founder of Upstream Academy. He has been regularly recognized as one of the major influencers in the accounting profession and has been listed as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and as one of IPA’s Most Recommended Consultants. He is one of the most sought-after speakers in the accounting profession and is viewed as one of their top strategic thinkers. Shownotes:

  • Why the accounting profession is actually in a strong position in these uncertain times
  • The biggest challenge most accounting firms think will be their biggest challenge in growth
  • The most critical mistake professional firms make with their recruitment strategy, which is why talent holds them back in growing
  • The key differentiators between most accounting firms and the high performing ones
  • The three crucial areas in which high performing accounting firms excel that the rest fall down on
  • The importance of being intentional in teaching and training your people in soft skills if you lead in an accounting firm
  • The fallacy of hoping that strong technical skills alone will further an accountant's career progression or solve an accounting firm's succession problem
  • Why so many accountants 'flatline' after 8-9 years of career progression, often after reaching partner level
  • Where the responsibility lies to develop the talent in accounting firms, and how this ties to culture and leadership
  • How a lack of growth and personal development in accounting firm partners and leaders has such a negative impact on the rest of the practice
  • Debunking the notion that accountants have to 'serve their time' to reach partner or effectively contribute to their accountancy firm
  • How accounting firms can invest 12 years of career development into a new hire accountant with raw talent to make them 'partner-ready' in 5 years
  • Why time is the slowest developer of accounting professionals and partner talent in accountancy practices
  • Ways for firm-wide leaders to stretch and challenge their accounting professionals to develop their skills and experience more quickly
  • Creating the right mix for accelerated skill development with accounting firm top talent
  • What the older people in accounting firms need to do if they want to stay current, relevant and inspirational to others.

Sam and his wife, Marlene, live outside of Park City, Utah. His hobbies include spending time with his family, fly fishing and golf. Sam and Marlene have seven children. Contact him here:

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About the Podcast

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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.

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About your host

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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.