Episode 126

The Entrepreneurial Wake-Up Call for Accountants

In this episode, Rob Brown delivers a wake-up call to accounting firms stuck in legacy thinking and explains why entrepreneurial mindsets are now mission-critical.

Accounting used to be about consistency, caution, and compliance. Today, it's about creativity, innovation, and commercial bravery. In this solo episode, Rob Brown unpacks why accounting firms must ditch their old ways of working and embrace an entrepreneurial mindset. Whether it’s the pressure from private equity, client expectations, or shrinking margins, the message is clear: evolve or get left behind.


This episode explores what entrepreneurial thinking looks like in a firm, how to identify intrapreneurs, and what leaders must do to create a culture of experimentation and growth. A must-listen for partners, managers, and future leaders who want to stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry.


Key Takeaways:

➜ Traditional firm models are being disrupted by tech, client demands, and PE influence

➜ Entrepreneurial thinking isn’t optional, it’s survival

➜ Innovation doesn't happen in 6-minute increments

➜ Billable hours can kill creativity and change

➜ Firms must reward courage, not just efficiency

➜ Intrapreneurs are the untapped growth engine inside most firms

➜ Leadership must model risk-taking, not just manage it


Killer Quotes:

"Stability is no longer a growth strategy."

"Firms that can't innovate will quietly fade away."

"Billable hours are the enemy of entrepreneurship."

"Clients don’t want accountants. They want problem-solvers."

"Stop managing what is. Start imagining what could be."

"The future of accounting won’t be found in last year’s playbook."

"Entrepreneurial thinking is not a department. It’s a culture."


The Accounting Influencers Podcast (AIP) is aimed at accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally.


You can find this on youtube here:

https://youtu.be/7ZrBD_UmLoA

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The Accounting Influencers Podcast serves accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally. The show focuses on helping professionals strengthen their personal brand, stay informed about industry changes, and navigate disruptive forces affecting accounting business models and trends. The content includes solo insights from host Rob Brown as well as interviews or panel discussions with industry leaders. Check out the show on your preferred podcast app or platform, or go to the Accounting Influencers YouTube channel for all of the episodes in video format.

Rob works with consultants/experts in the accounting space via personal interviews to create video snippets and thought leadership pieces. If you have success stories, valued expertise or a brand that needs amplifying, but lack the time to create thought leadership or video content, chat with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Thanks to our sponsors:

ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.com

If you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore.

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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.