The Anticipatory CPAHow to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead and shift from Reactive to Proactive
By: Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA
www.blionline.org
Source: CPA.COM Insight into the CPA of the Future Study 2014
Only 8% of CPAs are Future Ready
Future Ready is the capacity to be aware, predictive, and
adaptive of emerging challenges, tech innovations, and trends and changes in business, population, and
social environment.
Two of the world’s biggest oil and gas groups are set to deploy artificial intelligence software to do the work of back-office accountants and call-centre workers, in the latest sign that white- collar jobs could be under threat from the rise of smart machines.
'If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.’ – Jack Welch
In the next five years we will TRANSFORM
How we market, sell , communicate, collaborate, innovate, and educate
– Dan Burrus
Top Five Barriers
1. Not enough time.2. Being reactive versus
proactive.3. Doing more with less.4. Information overload
(standards and regulations).
5. Managing change.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.” – Jon Kabat Zinn
Start by riding the hard trends…
Legislation & Regulation
• Election implications • Dodd-Frank • Patent holding companies • Cash basis • STEM • EEOC
• IRS Service • Tax Extenders • 3115 Repair Regs • Workforce Mobility • Tax Reform
Work environment
Retention challenges
Leadership diversity
Skills gap
Leadership gap
Exam/pipeline numbers
Tech’s impact on CPA functions
Young CPA concerns
Technology’s impact on firm service lines
• Efficiencies • Innovation
• Efficiencies • Innovation
• Transformative • Revenue Growth
New Opportunities Emerging
Dramatic Change
Audit Tax Accounting
services
Source: AICPA Spring Council 2015
Cloud computing trends
Source: Sage North America
of small businesses are demanding cloud-based computing
61%
Technology adoption remains slow
Source: Sage North America
of firms are using online or cloud solutions to collaborate and share accounting information with their clients
10%
ANTICIPATION Strategic Thinking External Awareness Vision Con7nuous Learning Innova7on Crea7vity Problem Solving Priori7za7on Business Acumen Decisiveness Influencing/Persuading Emo7onal Intelligence Consensus Building Collabora7on Inspira7on Risk Management
The competency of “anticipation” actually includes a number of competencies included in many of the top companies of today and the CPA Profession as well.
Across these models, you'll see a common theme of "strategic thinking," "innovation" and "leading change."
Many of these organizations build (and validate) fantastic competency models and know what they want people to do.
The beauty of the Anticipatory Organization model is that it offers a clear process that makes highly-abstract leadership competencies attainable and trainable.
If an organization wants to make "strategic thinking" or "innovation" a core competency, we can provide clear, trainable activities that can be targeted to a wide range of learners (from individual contributors to senior leadership).
We provide the bridge between the competency model and the desired observable behaviors.
Anticipation – The Critical Competency
CPAs are trusted advisors who help business and organizations shape their future. Combining insight with integrity they deliver value by:
• Communicating the total picture with clarity and objectivity;
• Translating complex information into critical knowledge;
• Anticipating and creating opportunities;
• Designing pathways that transform vision into reality.
Source: AICPA: CPA Horizons 2025 Report
TrustIntegrityObjectivityExcellence Lifelong Learning
Stimulate Progress and Protect the Core.What should not change…
Five Steps to Get Started1. Start with Certainty2. Start Focusing on the
Future3. Start Learning New
Skills4. Protect the Core
(Purpose & Values)5. Collaboration &
Relationships are key
“Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the
change that is inevitable.” - William Pollard
If there is a conversation about the future of the profession, you're bound to hear Hood's name mentioned as one of the people leading the way. – Accounting Today
Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA
CPA Practice Adviser Accounting Hall of Fame Named the Second Most Influential in Accounting by Accounting Today Magazine 2013 Top 150 Influencer by Linked-In Top 25 Influencers in Learning & HR by HR Examiner Top 25 Public Accounting Thought Leaders by CPA Practice Adviser Working on Learning Management with AICPA/CPA2Biz, Cloud Curriculum, Performance Management /XBRL, Leadership & Generations
CEO Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) www.macpa.org Business Learning Institute (BLI) www.blionline.org
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhood/