In this episode of the Accounting Talent podcast, Rob Brown and Jeff Phillips discuss the contrasting views on the accounting profession's performance in 2024 and make predictions for 2025. They explore the challenges of attracting talent, the impact of private equity, the return to office trends, and the role of AI in the industry. The conversation emphasizes the need for a stronger value proposition in accounting and the potential for entrepreneurial opportunities as younger generations enter the field.

Takeaways

• 2024 was a challenging year for the accounting profession, with mixed opinions on its impact.
• Predictions for 2025 include a focus on enhancing the value proposition for accounting careers.
• Private equity is becoming increasingly influential in the accounting sector, especially for small firms.
• The return to office trend may drive talent away from firms that enforce it too strictly.
• There is a continuing decline in the number of new professionals entering the accounting field.
• AI is expected to play a significant role in automating accounting tasks in the near future.
• Younger generations are likely to start their own accounting firms, creating new opportunities.
• Compensation and work-life balance are critical factors in attracting and retaining talent.
• The accounting profession must adapt to the changing expectations of the workforce.
• Collaboration among stakeholders is essential to strengthen the accounting brand and attract new talent.

You can watch this specific episode on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/fS_VWemRmDU

SHOW DETAILS HERE

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You can watch this specific episode on our YouTube Channel here: [LINK]

This is the Accounting Talent Podcast, dropping every Thursday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. 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.

Check out the Accounting Talent page on LinkedIn for more relevant content on getting ahead in the hiring game:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/talent-in-accounting

Thanks to our sponsors:

ACCOUNTINGFLY. Accountingfly connects employers with top U.S.-based accounting talent through a variety of services including dedicated searches, Always-On Recruiting, and freelance placements for seasonal or temporary needs. They specialize in remote accounting recruitment, recognizing early on the significant advantages that remote work offers to employers, job-seekers, and their own operations. They pride themselves on their track record of matching the right candidates with the right opportunities and building a robust team of industry experts. Additionally, their partnership with Going Concern—an esteemed source for accounting news and insights—further enhances their ability to stay on the cutting edge of remote recruiting by tapping into a natural pipeline of job seekers.

TOA GLOBAL. TOA helps you hire elite talent for your accounting firm. Join thousands of leading firms empowering their teams with job-ready outsourced accountants & bookkeepers. They work to unlock your firm’s potential with strategic accounting outsourcing services. The "TOA Global Difference" is simple - build a flexible, scalable outsourced accounting team to align with your firm now and as you grow. Crush the talent crisis and outsmart your competitors by adding highly skilled accounting professionals to your firm faster. Permanently increase your firm’s capacity with a dedicated outsourced accounting team in weeks, not months. Access elite professionals and discover a...

Rob Brown is joined by Jeff Phillips to discuss the return-to-office mandates sweeping across the industry and how small firms can turn this moment into an opportunity. We explore hybrid working models, the talent stack, and the increasing demand for remote roles. They ask and answer the question: "can firms thrive with a fresh hiring strategy, or are they falling behind?"

Highlights and questions:

• Why mandate a return to the office?
• How can small firms win with remote work?
• Are hybrid models reshaping accounting?
• What’s behind the return-to-office push?
• How can small firms attract remote talent?
• Why is hybrid staffing the future?
• Are remote jobs solving the talent gap?
• Is returning to the office a bad idea?
• How do hybrid models give firms an edge?
• What makes a winning hybrid workforce?

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You can watch this specific episode on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/ztUL-apcBrg

This is the Accounting Talent Podcast, dropping every Thursday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. 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.

Check out the Accounting Talent page on LinkedIn for more relevant content on getting ahead in the hiring game:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/talent-in-accounting

Thanks to our sponsors:

ACCOUNTINGFLY. Accountingfly connects employers with top U.S.-based accounting talent through a variety of services including dedicated searches, Always-On Recruiting, and freelance placements for seasonal or temporary needs. They specialize in remote accounting recruitment, recognizing early on the significant advantages that remote work offers to employers, job-seekers, and their own operations. They pride themselves on their track record of matching the right candidates with the right opportunities and building a robust team of industry experts. Additionally, their partnership with Going Concern—an esteemed source for accounting news and insights—further enhances their ability to stay on the cutting edge of remote recruiting by tapping into a natural pipeline of job seekers.

TOA GLOBAL. TOA helps you hire elite talent for your accounting firm. Join thousands of leading firms empowering their teams with job-ready outsourced accountants & bookkeepers. They work to unlock your firm’s potential with strategic accounting outsourcing services. The "TOA Global Difference" is simple - build a flexible, scalable outsourced accounting team to align with your firm now and as you grow. Crush the talent crisis and outsmart your competitors by adding highly skilled accounting professionals to your firm faster. Permanently increase your firm’s capacity with a dedicated outsourced accounting team in weeks, not months. Access elite professionals and discover a hidden pool of elite accounting talent ready to enable your firm’s growth with additional capacity. Build a dedicated team of highly skilled outsourced accountants and bookkeepers for your firm today.https://toaglobal.com

What’s really causing top talent to leave traditional accounting firms? It’s not what you might think. In this episode, Rob Brown explores why 70% of top performers are ready to jump ship to private equity-backed firms. It’s not just about the money. It’s about opportunities and reimagined career paths. Rob also breaks down the strategies private equity firms use to attract and retain talent that traditional firms often overlook. From accelerated career growth to performance-based equity, you’ll discover why private equity is shaking up the profession.

Key Takeaways

• PE-backed firms have 40% lower turnover rates than traditional firms
• The traditional partnership model is no longer attractive to top talent
• PE firms are creating new roles and faster advancement opportunities
• Compensation isn't just about money - it's about impact and opportunity
• Career ecosystems are replacing traditional career ladders
• PE firms invest 3-4 times more in talent development
• Flexibility and equity participation are critical for retention

Killer Quotes:

• "70% of top performers would jump to PE-backed competitors right now"
• "The old model of recruiting is dead"
• "PE firms understand what traditional firms have missed for decades"
• "Young talent wants to be builders, not just maintainers"
• "In six months, I've done more than in my previous six years"
• "People aren't just quitting jobs - they're leaving career models"
• "The talent war isn't about hiring - it's about reimagining careers"

You can watch this specific episode on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/4CYlP1bmPCk

This is the Accounting Talent Podcast, dropping every Thursday to accounting professionals, finance specialists, software vendors, tech providers and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. 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.

Check out the Accounting Talent page on LinkedIn for more relevant content on getting ahead in the hiring game:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/talent-in-accounting

Thanks to our sponsors:

ACCOUNTINGFLY. Accountingfly connects employers with top U.S.-based accounting talent through a variety of services including dedicated searches, Always-On Recruiting, and freelance placements for seasonal or temporary needs. They specialize in remote accounting recruitment, recognizing early on the significant advantages that remote work offers to employers, job-seekers, and their own operations. They pride themselves on their track record of matching the right candidates with the right opportunities and building a robust team of industry experts. Additionally, their partnership with Going Concern—an esteemed source for accounting news and insights—further enhances their ability to stay on the cutting edge of remote recruiting by tapping into a natural pipeline of job seekers.

TOA GLOBAL. TOA helps you hire elite talent for your accounting firm. Join thousands of leading firms empowering their teams with job-ready outsourced accountants & bookkeepers. They work to unlock your firm’s potential with strategic accounting outsourcing services. The "TOA Global Difference" is simple - build a flexible, scalable outsourced accounting team to align with your firm now and as you grow. Crush the talent crisis and outsmart your competitors by adding highly skilled accounting professionals to your firm faster. Permanently increase your firm’s capacity with a dedicated outsourced accounting team in weeks, not months. Access elite professionals and discover a hidden pool of elite accounting talent ready to enable your firm’s growth with...