In pursuit of a flourishing future for all, activities within the Allinial Global US region continue to positively impact the Allinial Global brand, future fitness of firms, exchange of commerce, connectivity, and client-focused solutions.

Global Brand

Allinial Global is steadily well-positioned in the US, which strongly supports our global brand and superior value proposition. Further, I can’t rave enough about how our global brand is reinforced by our independent member firms’ quality, responsiveness, and collegiality, which provides a healthy atmosphere for the exchange of expertise and client referrals!

Future Ready

“Strategy is about shaping the future.” Max Mckeown

We are committed to helping firms discover future-ready strategies that drive adaptability and resiliency, and embrace emerging service areas for elevated profitability. Here are a few ways our member firms are strengthening their future readiness.

Member-driven Communities on AGConnect are supporting members as they shift to being at the forefront of exciting opportunities that are increasingly becoming a strategic component of CPA firms’ offerings because of their high growth potential.

• The US Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAAS) Community provides recurring roundtable meetings for those looking to take their client accounting and advisory services to the next level. And the AG CAAS Journey provides a strategy and a standardized toolset for growing a CAAS practice where members can personalize the pathway that makes the best sense for their firm.
• The Global Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) Community offers a forum for US members to collaborate with international members to make progress in ESG challenges and opportunities. As a result of this collaboration, we’ve recently released an ESG Insights report that outlines the current ESG landscape and demonstrates how Allinial Global firms are advising clients. Member firms can co-brand the report and share it with clients and prospects.
• We are exploring the possibility of a US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Community for members from all three countries who have clients that do business in Mexico. This community would cover the current global situation, the commercial relationship between Mexico, the US, and Canada, and the impact of the USMCA Free Trade Agreement. Email natasha@allinialglobal.com if you have an interest.

Our flagship event, Global Forum & Summit 2022, prepares us for today and what’s ahead. Currently, 70% of US Allinial Global firms are making quite an impression by having one or more people from their firm attend the event. With four tracks—US Tax, US A&A, Global Advisory, and Global Firm Management—there is timely content for everyone, plus increased networking possibilities from across the globe. Also, it’s worth taking note of these future-focused sessions:

Disrupt Disruption: Pascal Finette will provide a practical framework and battle-tested principles on how not to allow the future of your business to be something that happens to you but instead actively shape it to your advantage.

Advising with Strategic Foresight: Mark Koziel will examine emerging trends and how to consider and strategically plan for their impact on clients and your firm.

Transformation: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: Jennifer Wilson will discuss how to drive changes in your firm’s talent management approach, ensure your competitive advantage, and identify ways to build a practice that your people love, including culling clients and ensuring incentives drive the right behaviors. You’ll leave with a clear sense of how to prioritize the business model shifts needed to solidify your team for the future.

For more information, including details on sessions, and speakers, and who is attending, visit the conference website. I’m looking forward to seeing you from Nov. 13–16, 2022, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas!

The Leadership Progression (LP) Program continues to be the cornerstone of our professional development offering for future readiness. Many of my recent conversations with firm leaders cite the program as having a profound effect on their leaders. We need to ensure the program continues to have a meaningful impact on member firms and to prepare top talent with future-ready skills that keep up with our ever-evolving profession. As such, we are exploring areas of the program that may need to be enhanced. As part of this process, 40 people from US Allinial Global firms generously shared their feedback during interviews to help us pinpoint areas needing enrichment. We are on track to have the enhancements identified by year-end.

“The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development.” John Maxwell

Engine for Commerce

Allinial Global fosters a culture where member firms work together to grow their practices and better serve their clients. Members are asking for more support in this area through a centralized access point that promotes broader connectivity and commerce for all firm sizes. We are building an online Driving Commerce Marketplace on AGConnect, which will serve as a grand central station of sorts, where firms can educate each other about unique service abilities and depth of experience in distinct areas of expertise to fast-track commerce. This will also be an access point for member firms to seek and engage the expertise of firms with experience in these specialized areas for insights on expanding or developing their own specialized service area. I am working with firms of various sizes to pilot test the Marketplace before we finalize it for all members, expected later this year.

Connectivity

AGConnect is our online expertise-matching portal where members can locate firms by specialty niche and location. It is also the centralized access point for all Community activities. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to tap into the power of the platform and see for yourself. Don’t be left behind! Email AGConnectInvite@allinialglobal.com to get started. I’m pleased to report that each month, 100+ members are setting up their user profiles on AGConnect.

Over the last several months, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with a majority of our US member firms with 1:1 virtual introductory meetings to learn about specific needs and priorities for each firm and seek to understand how we can provide intentional support. During these discussions, it’s become clear that several firms are interested in a refresher on resources that are available to their teams. As such, Lara Joseph, EVP of Member Services, and I have had the honor of hosting personalized virtual road-trip tours of Allinial Global member resources, services, and tools, and how to access them.

This fall, I’m embarking on a journey to visit all US member firms in person. Personal connection is a powerful element of the culture and strong community at Allinial Global, and I would like to thank each firm that has generously shared their time and hospitality with me. I look forward to many more in-person visits over the next several months.

“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued.” Brene Brown

Client Focused

To help you save time and build stronger client relationships, we have upgraded our market research tool offering. The new industry intelligence platform Vertical IQ is your source for industry and niche profile news and research. Vertical IQ also offers monthly updates on current conditions and recent developments. Further, industry dashboards summarize the most critical aspects of the industry so you can be informed at a moment’s notice, and a working capital summary lets you see how cash moves in a typical business within that industry. Start accessing the resource today on AGConnect via the Member Resources tab. This is another example of Allinial Global vetting and identifying best of the best solutions and establishing key alliances and strategic partnerships in support of our Allinial Global member firms.

The autumn season is proof that change can be beautiful. Similarly, as the profession continues to transform, together we are making shifts and enjoying the scenery of opportunity by being All In. Thank you for being a valued member of Allinial Global. Enjoy the crisp fall days ahead.