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 Staffing Needs Dominate Top MAP Issues Survey Finding qualified staff at all levels is the most critical concern for the majority of firms with multiple professionals within the United States. This underscores the staffing crisis facing the accounting profession, according to the 2007 AICPA Private Company Practice Section’s (PCPS) Top Management of an Accounting Practice (MAP) Issues Survey. Retention — a separate issue — grows more important as firm size increases; for the first time this year, the survey listed this issue separately from hiring to get a better understanding of the challenges recruiting and retention pose for firms. For sole practitioners, tax complexity and concerns about standards and technology dominate the list, with work/life balance another important consideration. “CPAs can use these lists to benchmark their own experiences against those of other practitioners in firms much like their own,” said Jim Metzler, AICPA vice president, Small Firm Interests. “They can confirm that similar practices are facing the same challenges and identify trends that will affect their own firms as they grow. In addition, we at PCPS use the data to create programs and resources that meet the real needs of our members.” “The results by firm size were enlightening,” Metzler commented.
It is interesting to note that marketing/practice growth and client
retention – two challenges that appeared on the 2005 PCPS Top MAP Issue
lists – do not appear on any of the 2007 lists. Instead, in 2007, CPAs are
concerned with maintaining their technical competence and locating and
retaining high-quality staff. |
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| PO Box 5068 Troy, MI 48007-5068 Phone: 248.267.3700 Fax: 248.267.3737 E-mail: macpa@michcpa.org | |
