The Power of Community in Accounting

Accounting may have long been considered a community of professionals, yet not many have felt the true sense of what that means or have bothered to take advantage of it. Moreover, there’s been no greater need to recognize and utilize community in accounting than now.

As the profession moves its way through yet another point of inflection, one not likely seen for decades, the list of factors impacting how accountants work, and why they do what they do, continues to grow:

  • Professionals aging out or simply just leaving accounting
  • Fewer accountants are doing the work in an increasingly complex financial and regulatory environment
  • Technology’s increased impact on the work
  • Post-Pandemic focus on life-work balance
  • The growing need for more equitable compensation for all work
  • Questions around the entire firm structure as a business

I could actually go on but I want to get to my point. For those of you that are not only searching for a reason to stay in accounting, but want to have successful careers, or firms that allow for growth and life-work harmony, figuring it all out on your own is not a viable option.  To that end, attending  live events these days gives you the best chance to see what the power of community is all about — none more so than the recent Bridging the Gap conference, hosted by Tri-Merit Group.

In its sophomore year, the Bridging the Gap conference increased its overall attendance numbers, vendors/sponsors, and paid attendees, but that was not what stood out the most. The co-mingling of future/forward-thinking accountants and those there to learn from them and even teach them is what makes an event like this work. What’s more is that it was an accounting event focused on the human aspects of being an accounting professional, as well as the technical and “soft skills” needed to run a practice and work smarter, not harder.

With a stage set up like that, it allowed for the free flow of information, shared experiences, and real-life exchanges. Certainly there’s CPE, but that is no longer the draw of a live accounting event. It helps, but what is more impactful is the level of speakers and attendees that get together over two to three days (or however long it is scheduled). This is when community comes alive.

But it’s not just at an event like Bridging. Community works when you find your people. I’m not saying those who think and behave as you do, far from it. What I mean is locating those individuals you can actually learn from and, yes, share what you are going through, as they can for you.

Even in an event the size of ENGAGE, where it is not all accountants in the room, you can find your people, your community. Sometimes you need to be deliberate, and even do some pre-planning to meet up, connect, and yes, engage with one another. But if you know where your people will be, and when, it makes it all worth the trip.

Streaming CPE into your office or living room may be convenient, but community happens out in the world. Yes, it is an expense and time away from production and even client interaction. But being around your community can unlock so much in what you struggle with the most. Because, let’s be clear, you are in the business of accounting, and that business can always be better.

This is where the often-heard phrase “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” comes into play. I cannot stress enough how true it is. I’ve seen and heard ideas surface in a room one day that become a reality by the end of the day, or not long after. All of this and more, simply be being among people who share your pains and experiences, and what to share with you and learn from you.

Even the live event TaxTwitter Retreat, also in its sophomore year, came about out of the need for tax pros to be amongst each other in order to learn, shout, laugh, cry, and just be human as well as the tax professionals they are. This event also continues to grow, but like Bridging, won’t likely reach an untenable or even intimidating size, so you will always find your people.

My purpose in writing all of this is that the profession right now, and arguably for the past few years, is at a point of inflection. Myself and others have said as much.

How you move forward and how you go further is indeed together, in one of the most supportive communities I’ve ever witnessed in my professional career. And it’s not just in one event but in the act of being in the room with those who share your journey, and you can help them on theirs as well.

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