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'll have the opportunity to discuss current challenges, emerging trends and best practices for common issues faced by HR and operations professionals, like 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 session to learn what knowledge and tools you need to succeed.

Are you a leader responsible for guiding your firm through major changes like M&A, venture capital or staying independent by utilizing AI and automation or offshoring work to create a better workplace? This session will explore how to navigate the human complexities of firm transformation by embracing leadership skills such as authenticity, clarity, transparency, and resilience. Our presenters, both experienced CPA firm partners and current consultants, will share their insights on balancing professionalism with genuine leadership. Join to gain practical advice for a smoother and more effective transformation journey for you and your firm.

In the race for efficiency, many organizations turn to workforce outsourcing as a solution, often believing that more outsourced resources equal better results. But is that always the case? Join this eye-opening session where we unravel the paradox of workforce outsourcing. Discover why increasing your outsourced workforce can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges, from diminished quality control and communication breakdowns to the complexities of managing larger external teams. We'll share real-world examples, key insights, and practical strategies to help you navigate this paradox and optimize your outsourcing strategy for true, sustainable success. Don’t miss out on the chance to rethink your approach and ensure that your outsourcing decisions genuinely add value.

In today’s competitive landscape, accounting professionals are challenged to not only deliver technically accurate and insightful financial guidance but also to enhance team dynamics and performance. This session will explore how embracing inclusive practices can drive team effectiveness, foster innovation, and improve overall business outcomes. It will examine the role of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) in creating environments where all team members feel valued and empowered to contribute their best work. Attendees will learn actionable strategies for building inclusive teams, including recognizing and overcoming unconscious biases, fostering open communication, and leveraging diverse perspectives to solve complex problems.

As a CPA, balancing client demands with the operational needs of your firm and your personal life can feel like a juggling act. With deadlines looming, compliance requirements to meet, and clients expecting timely advice, finding the time to focus on business development, strategic growth, and personal well-being can seem impossible. This session is designed to help CPAs master the art of time and priority management, providing practical strategies for efficiently managing your workload while staying on track with your business goals.

Providing CAS services includes hands-on involvement with your clients’ books. Since bookkeeping software education is not included in formal schooling, your staff and clients typically acquire these skills through on-the-job experience - meaning trial and error. In this session, our highest-rated speaker at last year’s CAS Summit will share benefits and strategies for incorporating successful training into your firm. Learning HOW to teach is as important as knowing WHAT to teach. By integrating training methods throughout your firm, you can reduce inefficiencies and enhance accuracy, simultaneously retaining talent and improving productivity.

Continuously evaluating your team over the course of their careers is crucial to their development and engagement. In this session, you will learn when and how to have the right conversations ensuring your team continues to develop and grow in alignment with the firm’s vision for the future.

This session will discuss how embracing neurodiversity can transform accounting firms from the inside out. In this fireside chat, Meghan will share her personal journey with ADHD and experiences as a leader in a neurotypical world. Learn how to build inclusive systems, foster openness, and harness the strengths of neurodiverse individuals to enhance your firm's culture and client experiences.

What is firm culture anyway? Your culture is the way it feels to work at or with your firm. Culture is multi-faceted and complex and includes both positive elements and the not-so-great aspects, too. Leave this session prepared to assess your firm’s culture and identify specific actions to make your firm an even more inspiring, engaging and yes – captivating – employer and client service organization.

In today’s accounting firms, operational strategies are often planned and executed; yet when it comes to human capital strategy, nearly 80% of firms admit they lack a comprehensive plan. This session explores the critical gap between operational success and talent management, providing a roadmap for firms to elevate their approach to managing their greatest asset—people. Participants will uncover how to craft a talent management strategy that drives both employee engagement and financial performance without over-complicating the process. You’ll learn how strategic talent acquisition, development, engagement and retention not only shape a dynamic workplace culture but also have direct, measurable impacts on your bottom line. Backed by empirical research, if your organization is serious about becoming a place where top talent thrives and profitability soars, this session will offer the tools and insights you need to make that transformation.

The first days on the job set the foundation for long-term success. This dynamic course is designed to provide insights to utilize at your firm to launch new team members’ careers on a trajectory of excellence. Engage in hands-on activities and connect with fellow leaders to form a collaborative network to share ideas and best practices. Join in on transforming the onboarding experience into a cornerstone of success.

If you’re a human being, you have mental health. Even though we know mental health is a universal component of being human, why do many leaders feel the need to conceal their own level of well-being or lack thereof? Unsurprisingly, the most common challenges leaders face in this area are Imposter Syndrome, isolation, anxiety, depression, stress and burnout. Want to learn ways you can make your mental health a priority, talk about it with confidence, and get buy-in to build an organizational culture that supports mental health? This session will address the current state of leaders’ mental health and what you can do to use this component of humanity to be a positive differentiator in your organization.

This comprehensive session will address the pressing Pipeline Crisis in the accounting profession. It will delve into the multifaceted causes behind the decline in new CPAs, examining factors such as starting salaries, CPA education requirements, and more. Following this diagnostic approach, we will shift to potential solutions—both hypothetical strategies and concrete actions currently being implemented or planned. Attendees will gain insights into innovative approaches and collaborative efforts designed to rejuvenate the CPA talent pipeline and ensure a robust future for the profession.