Building a Firm for the Next Generation

Meredith: One of the most important things I learned from my dad is that if you love what you do and you are passionate about your career, it doesn’t feel like work.

Jason: My father was a hard worker. I learned my work ethic from him. Those who are unwilling or don't have the time to commit to the hard work of running a firm should NOT go down this road. It's no easy road (though it does freakin' rock). I also learned that running your own firm is a commitment that must be made by your entire family, including those treasured vacations away from the office as well as those times that you are working around the clock.

Darren: What’s the single most important thing you want out of an accounting career?

Meredith: Fulfillment. I am an ambitious person who likes to be challenged on a regular basis with a desire to continue learning. I think the accounting profession satisfies both of these needs.

Jason: The most important thing to me is the ability to be a change agent for clients who put their total trust in the firm and me. I want to change lives, and a career in public accounting allows you to do that more than any other profession. I never thought I would say that, but now I know it's true. It's exciting to live in this space. Public accountants are the bomb!

We are All in This Together

I don’t know about you, but what I get from these responses is a lot of common goals and aspirations across generations. So if we are all working toward similar goals, it makes sense that firms need to give appropriate attention to building a firm of next-generation status in order to compete effectively and attract the most qualified of candidates getting ready to enter the profession.

Remember, we are all in this together —all of you working in the profession now … and the new generation getting ready to move up.