In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person and Dawn Howard discuss the critical role of governance and structure in firm growth. They explore how effective leadership and decision-making processes can drive growth, the importance of clarity and accountability, and the need for strategic leadership that empowers others. The conversation emphasizes that governance is not about control but about creating a clear path for growth and efficiency within the firm.

Takeaways

•Governance is about leadership, not bureaucracy.

•Effective decision-making requires a clear leadership structure.

•Growth can create stress; proper governance can alleviate it.

•Clarity in goals leads to faster decision-making.

•Empowering team members is essential for effective leadership.

•Leadership roles should evolve as the firm grows.

•Communication among leaders is crucial for success.

•A clear vision helps align the team towards common goals.

•Investing in leadership structure can improve efficiency.

•Strategic leadership is necessary to navigate growth challenges.

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Youtube: https://youtu.be/FK4ngu3XCh8

Accounting for Growth podcast is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode of the Accounting for Growth podcast, Joseph Frost and Don Howard delve into the complexities of client mix, pricing strategies, and the transition from compliance to advisory services. They discuss the emotional and strategic challenges firms face in optimizing client portfolios for growth, emphasizing the importance of clear client profiles and value-based pricing. The conversation also explores the need for leadership in advisory roles and the operational shifts required to align firm practices with growth objectives.

Takeaways

•Client mix is often a growth constraint for firms.

•Emotional attachment to clients can hinder strategic decisions.

•Value-based pricing is crucial for modern firms.

•Leadership in advisory roles is essential for growth.

•Operational shifts are needed to align with growth objectives.

•Clear client profiles help in optimizing portfolios.

•Transitioning from compliance to advisory services is challenging.

•Firms must prioritize time and investments for growth.

•Marketing and business development should align with firm goals.

•Continuous conversations are key to evolving firm practices.

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Youtube: https://youtu.be/mv5IIsijaBo

•Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, host Chad Person and fractional CMO Dawn Howard tackle one of the biggest pressures facing CPA firm leaders today: technology.

Instead of chasing buzzwords and shiny tools, they walk through what it really looks like to modernize a firm in a way that drives growth, improves realization, and supports your people.

They discuss why so many firms feel behind on tech, how to build a realistic roadmap, the role of change management, and what meaningful ROI actually looks like—beyond just licenses and implementation costs.

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways

•Why every firm feels pressure to “modernize” (and why most don’t feel ready)

•Start with the problem, not the tool

•Build a realistic technology roadmap

•Staff training & adoption as the real barrier

•Client & staff experience: the invisible ROI

•Change management & “getting people in the boat”

•Measuring ROI beyond licenses

•Start small, pilot, then scale

•Leadership & talent development through tech projects

Links

Dawn Howard– Fractional CMO, YorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-howard-m-s-b4a6b911

Accounting for Growth is the podcast for CPA firm leaders who know referrals aren’t enough. Hosted by Chad Person, founder of AccountingCMO and fractional CMO to high-growth accounting and advisory firms, each short episode features outside experts with fresh takes on how accounting firms can overcome inertia, unlock opportunity, and confidently scale.

In under 12 minutes, you’ll hear punchy, actionable conversations with marketers, data experts, technologists, and strategic advisors working at the edge of accounting innovation. Whether it's AI in sales, better positioning, or building a smarter pipeline, each guest brings a clear takeaway on how to drive meaningful, measurable growth.

Brought to you by AccountingCMO and powered by yorCMO, this podcast helps you rethink growth, without fluff or filler.

Ways to Tune In

Youtube: https://youtu.be/bQhQGbU4kyA

•Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/es-co/podcasts/0dd0a29a-4f47-4480-b01b-6115ddccb42e/accounting-for-growth

•Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uGxGsuJPMs2vgc7RThgWm?si=fQxYnDEiQtinP5co97EuZA

•Creator: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/accounting-for-growth-pod

•Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com