Is the traditional office becoming obsolete for accounting firms? Are we witnessing the death of remote work, or is the push to return to the office shortsighted?

Rob Brown digs deep into the contentious issue of returning to the office in the accounting industry. He explores the rationale behind companies pushing for a return to in-person work, examining the belief that physical presence enhances collaboration, creativity, and company culture. Rob challenges these notions, highlighting the importance of flexibility and employee preferences in today's evolving workplace.

This episode offers valuable insights for both accounting firm leaders and professionals facing pressure to return to the office. Rob provides practical advice on how to navigate this transition, emphasizing the need for open dialogue, compromise, and a focus on outcomes rather than physical presence. He also discusses the importance of investing in remote work technology and support, as well as the need for accounting professionals to communicate their value and propose solutions that benefit both themselves and their firms.

Key Takeaways:

• Companies are pushing for a return to the office, citing benefits like improved collaboration and culture
• Open dialogue with employees is crucial before implementing return-to-office mandates
• Flexibility is key - consider hybrid models and staggered schedules
• Focus on outcomes and results rather than physical presence
• Accounting professionals should communicate their value and propose solutions when facing pressure to return

Quotes:

"Without your physical or mental health, nothing else in life has much flavor."

"Invest in your skills, keep them updated... regardless of where you work, your skills keep you relevant."

You can watch this specific episode on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/RJ1hWo3lKJ4

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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.

The Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) runs regular international virtual speed networking events to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections network in the accounting, finance and tech world: Book your place at our next gathering here: https://accountinginfluencers.com/events

More Accounting Influencers content here:

https://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencers for all of our podcast episodes

https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencers for our events and posts

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

Are you struggling to find top accounting talent? Could remote hiring be the solution you've been overlooking?

Rob Brown sits down with Jeff Phillips, to discuss how hiring remote accountants could be the key to solving recruitment challenges in the accounting industry. Jeff, co-founder of AccountingFly, shares his expertise on tapping into a vast pool of domestic remote talent, highlighting the benefits and addressing common concerns associated with remote hiring.

The conversation goes into the shifting landscape of talent acquisition in accounting, introducing the concept of the "new talent stack" - an innovative approach to building a diverse and skilled workforce.

Jeff provides compelling insights into why top performers are increasingly choosing remote work options and how firms can adapt to this new reality. He also offers practical advice on implementing remote hiring strategies, from onboarding to maintaining company culture in a virtual environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Domestic remote hiring expands the talent pool from local to national
• Remote positions can be filled in about 40 days compared to year-long vacancies
• By 2030, there will be 50 million more knowledge jobs than workers to fill them globally
• Training and maintaining company culture is possible with remote workers through technology and hybrid models
• Data-driven project management tools can effectively measure remote worker productivity

Quotes:

"The race for talent is over and the talent won. Let's accept that reality and use it to our advantage."

"This is a mindset flip from 'I must see you to trust you' to 'I want to see data to trust you.'"

You can watch this specific episode on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/5oF2uE3A7ZQ

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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.

The Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) runs regular international virtual speed networking events to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections network in the accounting, finance and tech world: Book your place at our next gathering here: https://accountinginfluencers.com/events

More Accounting Influencers content here:

https://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencers for all of our podcast episodes

https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencers for our events and posts

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...

Is trust the missing element in your organization? How can you close the trust gap between leaders and employees?

In this compelling episode of the Accounting Talent Podcast, host Rob Brown sits down with Cory Sheer, the author of "Closing the Trust Gap," to explore the critical issue of trust within accounting firms. With a deep dive into the multiple trust gaps identified by Cory's research, this conversation uncovers the staggering reality that leaders often overestimate their trustworthiness compared to frontline employees.

From dissecting the organizational trust gap to understanding the epidemic of distrust affecting productivity, retention, and profitability, Cory and Rob shed light on why trust is the ultimate currency in today's business landscape. They discuss the impact of collective trauma, technological evolution, and economic conditions on trust, and why trustworthy policies and practices are as crucial as trustworthy people.

Tune in to discover practical strategies for fostering trust, enhancing organizational policies, and aligning them with the evolving needs of employees and clients. Whether you're struggling with talent attraction, retention, or simply aiming to build a more cohesive and loyal team, this episode is packed with insights to help your firm thrive in a trust-deficient world.

Key Takeaways:

- There is on average a 31% gap in trust between leaders and frontline employees across industries

- 51% of employees do not have a high level of trust for their leaders

- Trust must be built through both people and policies/practices in an organization

- The three building blocks of trust are competency, problem-solving, and care for others

- Regular evaluation and iteration of policies is crucial for maintaining trust

Quotes:

"Trust is a vital currency that we need to grow in our companies."

"Trust is something that Stephen Baradel calls an actionable asset. It is an actionable asset that you can take action on in order to strengthen and improve."

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

https://youtu.be/Vj0wWi9bAqw

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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.

The Accounting Influencers Roundtable (AIR) runs regular international virtual speed networking events to build your personal brand and make valuable industry connections network in the accounting, finance and tech world: Book your place at our next gathering here: https://accountinginfluencers.com/events

More Accounting Influencers content here:

https://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencers for all of our podcast episodes

https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencers for our events and posts

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...