If your best accountants are walking out the door, it's probably not about the money.
In this episode, Tim Schurrer (CEO of David Novak Leadership and author of "The Secret Society of Success") reveals the leadership principle that grew Yum! Brands from $4 billion to $32 billion, and it has everything to do with solving what's plaguing CPA firms right now: the talent crisis.
Here's the reality: when your senior accountant flawlessly closes out another month, files returns ahead of deadline, or navigates a complex client situation without you even knowing there was a problem, they become invisible.
That's the curse of excellence in accounting.
And while you're focused on billable hours and realization rates, your best people are quietly wondering if anyone actually notices the value they bring.
We talk to Tim about how his company studied companies that built decades-long dynasties (Walmart, Southwest Airlines), and found one non-negotiable: they created cultures where everyone counted. Not through pizza parties during busy season or casual Friday perks, but through systematic recognition that made people feel genuinely seen for their contributions.
Tim breaks down how this translates directly to CPA firms struggling to keep talent.
In this episode, we cover:
- The two reasons people quit (spoiler: your compensation package isn't fixing either of these)The danger of taking "the joy of the decision" away from your team, especially during tax season when you're tempted to control every client interactionHow firm owners can stop micromanaging review notes and start empowering staff to own client relationships (with the right training framework)Why so many managing partners hit burnout chasing revenue targets that don't actually align with what success means to them personallyThe "empowerment is an earned right" framework that lets you delegate without losing quality control
Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/
Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.