In this final episode of the Managing Partner Reality series, Chad Person and Dawn Howard discuss the critical importance of succession planning and leadership development within firms. They explore the gaps in leadership capacity, the necessity of mentorship, and strategies for effective leadership transition. The conversation emphasizes the need for proactive planning and building a culture that supports leadership growth to ensure the firm's future success.Takeaways•Succession planning is essential for firm growth.•Leadership capacity is often concentrated in a few senior partners.•Mentorship should extend beyond technical skills to include strategic decision-making.•Firms need to prepare for leadership transitions well in advance.•Building a culture of leadership is crucial for long-term success.•Younger professionals should be exposed to leadership roles early on.•Effective communication is key during leadership transitions.•Planning for succession should be an ongoing conversation.•Firms must consider the emotional aspects of client transitions.•Shared leadership is vital for sustainable growth.LinksDawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.Ways to Tune In•Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/esco/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod•Youtube: https://youtu.be/PHasGfFW8l4Accounting for Growth podcast is produced by Frost Media GroupLearn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person and Dawn Howard discuss the challenges faced by accounting firms in navigating growth while protecting margins. They emphasize the importance of communication among leadership, strategic decision-making, and the role of technology in enhancing client experience. The conversation highlights the need for firms to be proactive in their approach to growth and to understand the implications of their decisions on profitability and talent retention.

Takeaways

•Costs are rising, and talent is becoming more expensive.

•Not all growth contributes positively to profitability.

•Effective communication is essential for managing partners.

•Firms must protect their margins while investing in growth.

•Understanding where you want to grow is crucial for strategy.

•Pricing power begins long before proposals are made.

•Underselling value can significantly harm margins.

•Innovation should not be halted during uncertain times.

•Clients expect firms to leverage technology for efficiency.

•Clear communication and vision lead to better decision-making.

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Youtube: https://youtu.be/6L0kHViCnKU

Accounting for Growth podcast is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person and Dawn Howard discuss the critical role of governance and structure in firm growth. They explore how effective leadership and decision-making processes can drive growth, the importance of clarity and accountability, and the need for strategic leadership that empowers others. The conversation emphasizes that governance is not about control but about creating a clear path for growth and efficiency within the firm.

Takeaways

•Governance is about leadership, not bureaucracy.

•Effective decision-making requires a clear leadership structure.

•Growth can create stress; proper governance can alleviate it.

•Clarity in goals leads to faster decision-making.

•Empowering team members is essential for effective leadership.

•Leadership roles should evolve as the firm grows.

•Communication among leaders is crucial for success.

•A clear vision helps align the team towards common goals.

•Investing in leadership structure can improve efficiency.

•Strategic leadership is necessary to navigate growth challenges.

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Youtube: https://youtu.be/FK4ngu3XCh8

Accounting for Growth podcast is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode of the Accounting for Growth podcast, Joseph Frost and Don Howard delve into the complexities of client mix, pricing strategies, and the transition from compliance to advisory services. They discuss the emotional and strategic challenges firms face in optimizing client portfolios for growth, emphasizing the importance of clear client profiles and value-based pricing. The conversation also explores the need for leadership in advisory roles and the operational shifts required to align firm practices with growth objectives.

Takeaways

•Client mix is often a growth constraint for firms.

•Emotional attachment to clients can hinder strategic decisions.

•Value-based pricing is crucial for modern firms.

•Leadership in advisory roles is essential for growth.

•Operational shifts are needed to align with growth objectives.

•Clear client profiles help in optimizing portfolios.

•Transitioning from compliance to advisory services is challenging.

•Firms must prioritize time and investments for growth.

•Marketing and business development should align with firm goals.

•Continuous conversations are key to evolving firm practices.

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Youtube: https://youtu.be/mv5IIsijaBo

•Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, host Chad Person and fractional CMO Dawn Howard tackle one of the biggest pressures facing CPA firm leaders today: technology.

Instead of chasing buzzwords and shiny tools, they walk through what it really looks like to modernize a firm in a way that drives growth, improves realization, and supports your people.

They discuss why so many firms feel behind on tech, how to build a realistic roadmap, the role of change management, and what meaningful ROI actually looks like—beyond just licenses and implementation costs.

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways

•Why every firm feels pressure to “modernize” (and why most don’t feel ready)

•Start with the problem, not the tool

•Build a realistic technology roadmap

•Staff training & adoption as the real barrier

•Client & staff experience: the invisible ROI

•Change management & “getting people in the boat”

•Measuring ROI beyond licenses

•Start small, pilot, then scale

•Leadership & talent development through tech projects

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

Youtube: https://youtu.be/bQhQGbU4kyA

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this kickoff episode of Managing Partner Realities: Leading the Modern CPA Firm, host Chad Person is joined by Dawn Howard, a fractional CMO with 25+ years of experience in marketing, sales, business development, and brand strategy inside CPA firms.

Together they unpack why talent is no longer just a hiring problem it’s a leadership and growth problem. They dive into culture beyond perks, what “belonging” really looks like in a firm, how remote and hybrid work are reshaping engagement, and why consistency from leadership and mid-level managers matters more than grand gestures.

They also explore how marketing, HR, and leadership can work together to build a culture that retains top people, upskills them into advisory roles, and ultimately drives firm growth.

________________________________________

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways

•Talent as a growth lever, not just a headcount issue

•Belonging, purpose & culture that actually sticks

•Remote/hybrid realities & engagement

•Employee experience ➝ Client experience

•Upskilling & advisory capacity

•Communication & consistency as culture drivers

•Gen Z and the evolving workforce

•The bottom line for managing partners

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

Youtube: https://youtu.be/OOXTk9SsnAA

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

The conversation explores the importance of fostering a culture of continuous improvement within organizations, particularly in marketing. It emphasizes that growth should be viewed as an ongoing practice rather than a static goal, highlighting the role of leadership in driving this mindset.

Takeaways

•Firms that thrive treat growth as an ongoing practice.

•Continuous improvement is essential for all marketing organizations.

•Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering a growth mindset.

•Improvement should be seen as a cultural norm, not a one-time effort.

•Every organization has potential for enhancement.

•A culture of continuous improvement leads to sustained success.

•Non-marketing leaders can influence marketing growth positively.

•Growth strategies should be dynamic and adaptable.

•Encouraging feedback is vital for continuous improvement.

•A proactive approach to growth can differentiate successful firms.

Links

Charles Brower – CMO, Growth and Demand Generation Specialist

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesdbrower

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode, Chad and Charles discuss the critical elements of driving growth in professional services firms. They emphasize the importance of defining a clear vision for marketing success, establishing a robust go-to-market framework, and ensuring effective execution and measurement of marketing plans. The conversation highlights the need for alignment between marketing and sales, the role of technology in enhancing efficiency, and the significance of client feedback in shaping strategies.

Takeaways

•A growth goal is not a vision.

•Marketing vision requires leadership buy-in.

•Understanding current state is crucial for growth.

•Align marketing with business structure.

•Define segments for realistic growth planning.

•Sales and marketing must be aligned.

•Client feedback is essential for go-to-market success.

•Execution is key to achieving marketing goals.

•Leverage technology for efficiency in marketing.

•Regularly measure and adjust marketing strategies.

Links

Charles Brower – CMO, Growth and Demand Generation Specialist

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesdbrower

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

Youtube: https://youtu.be/-E-24oJcKPk

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com