Posts by Michelle Knights
Outsourcing & Lower Graduate Intakes May Hit Your Future Staffing Structure Hard
Outsourcing & Lower Graduate Intakes May Hit Your Future Staffing Structure Hard There are a couple of different factors in play when we think about outsourcing. The reduced number of graduates being employed, the impact or potential impact of SBR on the profession, as well as the general commoditisation of compliance services and the impact…
Read MoreBuying & Operating Secondary Offices has Some Challenges
Buying & Operating Secondary Offices has Some Challenges As more and more practices seek to achieve growth through acquisition, an increasing number seem to be considering the purchase of secondary offices located, at times, in significantly different geographic areas that vary from their original location. This can be in a completely different area or even…
Read MoreIf Only I Could ….
If Only I Could …. Throughout each year we meet with numerous practitioners who are weighing up whether now is the right time to depart their practice. For many that means an external practice sale. This is often a combination of evaluating likely price and proposed activities post sale, versus what could or would be…
Read MoreIs there a Great Divide in Your Firm’s Culture?
Is there a Great Divide in Your Firm’s Culture? In December last year I attended a conference in San Diego on succession planning. The week long program was most interesting and beneficial, again reinforcing the significant need for this type of planning and preparation. This will be a further area of development in our firm…
Read MoreHighlights from our Latest Charge Rates, Salaries & Benchmarking Survey
Highlights from our Latest Charge Rates, Salaries & Benchmarking Survey The latest edition of the survey was released early last month and remains open to both participating and non-participating firms until May. Part B, a detailed analysis of the top 19 expenses incurred by firms after staff salaries, will be released at the end of…
Read MoreBeing Grounded In Your Succession
Being Grounded In Your Succession Last December I flew to San Deigo to renew my qualifications as a Certified Exit Planning Advisor or CEPA. As part of the preparation for the course, I had a couple of specialist books to read, one of which quoted the poem by Michael Josephson called ‘What Will Matter’. The…
Read MoreSecuring a Successful Transaction is so much more than Simply Finding a Buyer
Securing a Successful Transaction is so much more than Simply Finding a Buyer With most practice transactions taking place off market and without the services of a practice broker, we are bound to find some parties who felt the transaction was a success, whilst others will no doubt have wished the outcome was better. The…
Read MoreWhy Planning for Your Platinum Years or Third Act is a Must
Why Planning for Your Platinum Years or Third Act is a Must We are often asked why the baby boomers have yet to depart their firms. In the professional services industries, there has been much anticipation since the late 1990’s for this time to arrive, and that time is well and truly with us now.…
Read MoreTrying to Control Your Firm’s No. 1 Expense – Staffing Costs
Trying to Control Your Firm’s No. 1 Expense – Staffing Costs For professional firms, staffing costs are the most significant expense that will be incurred, but this is money well spent because without our personnel it is very difficult to leverage our skills, expertise and time to adequately service clients. That said, historically the ratio…
Read MoreWhat’s your Back Up Plan if you Die at your Desk?
What’s your Back Up Plan if you Die at your Desk? Firstly, let’s acknowledge that this is a terrible subject to discuss or consider, however it’s because of this awkwardness that so many people, including professionals, fail to plan for such scenarios. As our baby boomer generation continue to work longer, we need to be…
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