Programs - People & Culture

This gathering of Human Resources and Operations professionals in the CPA industry will offer an engaging and interactive session that explores the most pressing and relevant topics affecting our field today. In this collaborative setting, you will have the opportunity to discuss current challenges, emerging trends and best practices for common issues faced by HR and operations professionals, such as talent acquisition, employee retention and process optimization – all while building connections with Alliance peers who understand the priorities and demands faced by fellow attendees in these roles. Whether you're looking to enhance your strategic approach, improve efficiency, or simply gain new perspectives, join this roundtable to learn what knowledge and tools you need to succeed.

Accounting isn’t just a numbers game, it’s a people game. And in today’s workforce “people” includes a rising wave of professionals who think, process, and contribute in ways that may fall outside traditional expectations. Neurodivergent individuals (those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, bipolar, and other cognitive variations) are increasingly represented in the profession. Leaders have a powerful opportunity, not just to accommodate, but to amplify the strengths neurodiverse professionals bring. This session is a fresh, engaging look at neurodiversity in public accounting, built for firm leaders who want to create environments where every brain can thrive. We’ll move beyond compliance checklists and dig into real strategies for inclusive team design, communication, and leadership. Through case stories, practical frameworks, and a bit of myth-busting, attendees will walk away better equipped to hire, support, and retain neurodiverse professionals, all while unlocking the kind of innovation and problem-solving that drives long-term success.

The accounting profession’s chronic talent gaps, rising service demands, and pressure to deliver more with less require fresh leverage. Beyond efficiency gains, AI agents now offer a new way to unlock our human potential by transforming how teams learn, develop, and deliver client service. This session explores how AI agents are helping firms reimagine how work gets done—reshaping roles, upskilling talent at every level, and creating more fulfilling, resilient workplaces. Through case studies from Top 100 firms already integrating agents firmwide, attendees will learn where to begin, what to delegate, how to train teams to collaborate effectively with AI, and how firms are strengthening culture, retention, and future readiness in the process.

Staying compliant with employment laws is critical – and it’s a responsibility shared by both firm leaders and HR staff. This session breaks down the key HR compliance issues affecting CPA firms, including hiring practices, employee classification, medical leave, harassment, and accommodations — all without the legal jargon. Attendees will gain practical strategies to identify risks early, ask the right questions, and work together effectively to protect employees and the firm.

Gen Z brings both promise and pressure to today’s workplace. They are ambitious, creative, and eager to contribute, but they also bring bold expectations around flexibility, feedback, and purpose. For many firms, the challenge is not just attracting Gen Z talent but keeping them engaged and committed for the long term. This interactive session reframes that challenge as an opportunity. Attendees will gain practical strategies to attract, develop, and retain Gen Z talent – strengthening both team performance and employer brand.

In today’s dynamic work environment, leaders and managers often express frustration about the difficulty of finding “good” team members. But what does “good” truly mean in the context of your team’s unique needs and goals? This session will challenge participants to rethink their assumptions about what makes a valuable team member. Through guided discussion and real-world examples, we’ll explore how to define and identify the specific qualities and skills that contribute to team success—beyond traditional metrics or job descriptions. By the end, attendees will be equipped with actionable insights to build more effective, diverse, and resilient teams.

The skills needed to run a successful accounting firm are rapidly evolving. While professional accounting expertise remains central to firm success, talent shortages and technology advancements are prompting top-performing organizations to focus more on developing internal talent and expanding the skills required of team members beyond traditional accounting roles. In this session, attendees will gain insights into what the new talent map looks like and when it’s most effective to hire from within. Discover where to find external candidates and how to screen them effectively to ensure the right fit for your organization. We’ll also explore strategies for navigating the competitive hiring landscape, including how brand differentiation can give your firm an edge during the hiring process. Take away best practices for managing hybrid and remote firm models from a talent management perspective, ensuring your team is equipped to thrive in today’s environment.

Initiative fatigue is real. Every new program gets the eye-roll treatment from your team. Even genuinely good ideas die from cultural antibodies before they have a chance to take root. This session provides change management strategies specifically designed for skeptical accounting professionals who've seen every management fad come and go. Drawing from real change leadership in growing firms, you'll learn how to build genuine buy-in (not just compliance) from teams that have stopped believing in "the next big thing." Attendees will leave with practical tools including cynicism assessment frameworks, trust-building strategies that work on burned-out teams, and change communication strategies proven to work on people who've heard it all before.

AI is not a technology problem—it’s a leadership challenge. While 75% of executives believe their company's AI rollout over the past year has been successful, only 45% of employees share this sentiment. Leaders are misaligned with their people on the success and vision of AI. It is a hurdle that will prevent organizations from achieving AI transformation without a strategic leadership approach. The presenter will show how the leadership lessons he learned at USMA/West Point, leading in Iraq, and in corporate roles can be applied to adopting and planning for AI in 2026.

Artificial intelligence, automation, and globalization have transformed how firms grow, yet most are still approaching offshoring as a transactional or temporary fix. This session challenges that mindset featuring a dynamic discussion with leaders from top outsourcing and consulting firms on how CPA firms can move beyond outsourcing to build scalable, sustainable, and culturally aligned offshore operations. We will share real-world strategies and lessons learned from different models – from hourly outsourcing to long-term team integration – giving attendees a clear understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and how to future-proof their own approach.

Accountants and CPAs today have the opportunity to expand their role as trusted advisors by integrating HR analytics and strategic HR advisory services into their Client Advisory Services (CAS) offerings. As organizations face a transformed workplace, shifting employee-employer dynamics, and ongoing human capital challenges, accounting professionals can leverage HR insights to help clients make more accurate financial forecasts, optimize talent management, and minimize risk. This session, featuring CAS and HR leaders, will provide actionable strategies for developing and scaling an HR advisory practice within an accounting firm. Explore effective service offerings, technology solutions, and advisory models, and gain practical tools to elevate your advisory expertise, enhance client value, and generate new revenue streams.

The accounting profession is built on accuracy and trust. But when it comes to leading teams and clients, too many professionals default to being “polite” instead of being clear. That might feel safe in the moment, but it slows down decisions, frustrates staff, and leaves clients second-guessing your firm’s guidance. This session gives leaders a modern framework that works in today’s environment—one where hybrid teams, generational shifts, and evolving client expectations demand more clarity and less hedging. As the author of Kind Transparency, the presenter will share the real stories of how speaking truth with clarity and care has turned difficult projects into stronger partnerships, and why the old model of “professional polish at all costs” is holding firms back. Attendees will leave with tools to navigate tough conversations, build influence faster, and lead with a style that resonates across an ever-changing workforce.