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Succession Planning in Accounting Firms: How to Recruit, Develop and Retain Successors 1 Credit

Jan 04, 2024, 09:30 AM ET

Succession Planning in Accounting Firms: How to Recruit, Develop and Retain Successors 1 Credit

  • William Rothwell

    SPHR, SHRM-SCP

  • Rating

    4.9

  • Reviewed on

    February, 2025

  • Subject Area

    Business Mgmnt and Org

Select your learning mode

  • Access the course at your convenience
  • Take the assessment test
  • Get your certificate
  • Attend the live interactive session
  • Answer the polling questions
  • Get your certificate
Jan 04, 2024, 09:30 AM ET

Learning Objective

  • To determine when you should look for a successor 
  • To decide whether to hire your successor from outside, promote from inside, or do something else? 
  • To describe important choices in developing people for performing work at higher levels of responsibility, transferring lessons gained from experience with a client base, and transferring professional contacts of importance to the business
  • To assess future promotion potential
  • To summarize practical ways to develop people for the future while getting work out of them today

Course Overview

Running your accounting firm all by yourself sounds cool, but let’s face it: you won’t be able to run your business forever. Everybody has to face retirement, even accountants and financial advisers.

Your organization has a reputation to maintain, even after your time as founder or CEO has passed. The future of your accounting firm after your departure is very real, and it’s important that you plan ahead for it, starting right now.

Success in succession!

While it might sound daunting, the succession process doesn’t have to be an administrative headache

This CPE Business Management course on succession planning discusses the importance of leadership continuity for your accounting firm, along with various methods by which you can ensure as hassle-free a succession process as possible.

While succession planning may sound simple to those who have never done it—some claim it is merely an exercise in getting prepared to move from one box on the organization chart to another box! —there is more to it than it appears at first glance.

As an accountant, you will always have questions like:

  • How do you pick your successor, groom him or her for more responsibility, and ensure that you can keep someone for whom you have invested sizable time and money?
  • How do you know when you should look for a successor? 
  • Should you hire your successor from outside, promote from inside, or do something else? 
  • Should the focus be on preparing people for job duties at higher levels of responsibility, or should you also focus on transferring lessons learned from experience in dealing with your client base or focus on transferring professional relationships of critical importance to the business?
  • How do you know that someone can succeed at higher levels of responsibility if you judge them only from their track record at a lower level? 
  • How do you develop and retain good people at a time when 40 percent of the U.S. workforce is looking for other jobs?

You will get all the answers to these and other challenging questions in this online CPE webinar.

Major topics discussed in this course:

  • Overview
  • Facts & Figures on Succession Planning
  • How Accounting Firms Are Different
  • When Should You Look for a Successor?
  • Judging Promotion Potential
  • Developing Potential and Retaining Talent
  • Focus on Promotion, Knowledge Transfer, or Relationship Transfer?
  • Common Problems in Succession

On Demand Credits for All Qualifications

Live Webinar Credits for All Qualifications

License details Credits Status
Business Mgmnt and Org for Certified Public Accountants (CPA-US) 1 CPE Approved
Business Mgmnt and Org for CPA in Canada 1 CPD Eligible
Business Acumen for SHRM Professionals (Approval No. 26-GV47X) (Valid upto : Dec 31, 2026) 1 PDC Approved
Business Mgmnt and Org for Certified Management Accountants (CMA) 1 CPE Eligible
HR Business for Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) (Approval No. 688341) (Valid upto : Nov 30, 2025) 1 RCH Approved
Business Mgmnt and Org for Delaware Licensed Public Accountant (DE-LPA) 1 CPE Eligible
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) 1 CPD Eligible
Chartered Accountant - ICAEW 1 CPD Eligible
Business Mgmnt and Org for Iowa Licensed Public Accountant (IA-LPA) 1 CPE Eligible
Business Mgmnt and Org for Maine Licensed Public Accountant (ME-LPA) 1 CPE Eligible
Chartered Accountants - Ireland (CAI) 1 CPD Eligible
Chartered Accountants - Scotland 1 CPD Eligible
CPA - Ireland 1 CPD Eligible
License details Credits Status
Business Mgmnt and Org for Certified Public Accountants (CPA-US) 1 CPE Approved
Business Mgmnt and Org for CPA in Canada 1 CPD Eligible
Business Acumen for SHRM Professionals (Approval No. 24-FVAK4) 1 PDC Approved
Business Mgmnt and Org for Certified Management Accountants (CMA) 1 CPE Eligible
HR Business for Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) (Approval No. 649992) 1 RCH Approved
Business Mgmnt and Org for Delaware Licensed Public Accountant (DE-LPA) 1 CPE Eligible
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) 1 CPD Eligible
Chartered Accountant - ICAEW 1 CPD Eligible
Business Mgmnt and Org for Iowa Licensed Public Accountant (IA-LPA) 1 CPE Eligible
Business Mgmnt and Org for Maine Licensed Public Accountant (ME-LPA) 1 CPE Eligible
Chartered Accountants - Ireland (CAI) 1 CPD Eligible
Chartered Accountants - Scotland 1 CPD Eligible
CPA - Ireland 1 CPD Eligible

Additional Information

Credit

1

Course Level

Basic

Instructional Method

QAS Self Study

Group Internet Based

Pre-requisites

None

Advance Preparation

None

NASBA APPROVED

MY-CPE LLC, 1600 Highway 6 south, suite 250, sugar land, TX, 77478

MY-CPE LLC (Sponsor Id#: 143597) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

About Instructor

William Rothwell

William Rothwell , SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Vice President (VP), Rothwell & Associates, Inc.

  • 4.4
  • rating
  • rating
  • rating
  • rating
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William J. Rothwell, Ph.D., SPHR, SHRM-SCP, RODC, CPLP Fellow is President of Rothwell & Associates, Inc. & Rothwell & Associates, LLC. His consulting focuses on succession planning and talent management.  He is also a Professor at Penn State University, University Park, where he teaches graduate courses in Organization Development and Change. 

Before becoming a professor 28 years ago, he had nearly 20 years of full-time human resource management experience in government and in business. He has consulted on succession planning with corporations, small businesses, family businesses, charities, and Federal, State and local government agencies. He has traveled to China 83 times and has consulted on succession on nearly every continent. Among his 127 published books are these, which are relevant to this webinar: The essential HR guide for small businesses and startups; Optimizing talent in the federal workforce; Building a talent development structure without borders; Effective succession planning: Ensuring leadership continuity and building talent from within; The leader’s daily role in talent management: Maximizing results, engagement and retention; Career planning and succession management: Developing your organization’s talent for today and tomorrow; The competency toolkit; Talent management: A step-by-action-oriented guide based on best practice; Becoming an effective mentoring leader: Proven strategies for building excellence in your organization; Working longer: New strategies for managing, training, and retaining older employees; Invaluable knowledge: Securing your company’s technical expertise-Recruiting and retaining top talent, transferring technical knowledge, engaging high performers; The manager’s guide to maximizing employee potential; and Cases in government succession planning: Action-oriented strategies for public-sector human capital management, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent management.

On Demand FAQs

What is Self Study (QAS)?

Self Study QAS (Quality Assurance Service) is a NASBA and other regulatory bodies approved program designed for Professionals to complete their Continuing Professional Education credits through self-paced, interactive courses that meet the highest standards of quality and compliance. We are approved by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other regulatory bodies.

How do I earn CPE credits through self-study?

To earn CPE credits, you must complete the self-study course, pass the required assessments, and submit the necessary documentation. Credits are awarded based on the completion of course hours and successfully passing the assessments.

Are the self-study courses approved by NASBA and other regulatory bodies?

Yes, all our self-study courses are approved by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other regulatory bodies, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards for quality and educational content set by these organizations.

What are the requirements to maintain compliance with self-study courses?

To maintain compliance, you must follow the guidelines set by NASBA and other regulatory bodies, which include completing the course within the specified timeframe, passing the assessments, and keeping accurate records of your learning activities.

How can I access my course completion certificates?

After successfully completing a self-study course and passing the assessments, you can access and download your course completion certificates from your account dashboard on our platform. These certificates are recognized by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other regulatory bodies for compliance and reporting purposes.

How are credits reported to governing bodies?

We issue instant credit certificates, ensuring they are valid for presentation to governing bodies. Typically, we report IRS, CTEC, CFP, IDFP, IWI, VBOA Ethics credits within 7 days – the fastest in the industry.

Live Webinar FAQs

What is a Live Webinar Group Internet-Based Credit?

A Live Webinar Group Internet-Based Credit is an interactive, real-time online seminar where professionals can earn Continuing Education credits by participating in live sessions led by experts in various fields. These sessions meet the standards set by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other regulatory bodies.

How do I earn credits through live webinars?

To earn credits, you must attend the entire live webinar, actively participate in any polls or questions, and complete any required evaluations or assessments. Credits are awarded based on your attendance and participation in the live session.

Are the live webinars approved by NASBA and other regulatory bodies?

Yes, all our live webinars are approved by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other regulatory bodies, ensuring they meet the high standards for quality, interactivity, and educational content set by these organizations.

What are the requirements to maintain compliance with live webinar courses?

To maintain compliance, you must adhere to the guidelines set by NASBA and other regulatory bodies, which include attending the full duration of the webinar, participating in interactive elements, and completing any post-webinar evaluations or assessments.

How can I access my webinar completion certificates?

After successfully attending a live webinar and fulfilling all participation requirements, you can access and download your completion certificates from your account dashboard on our platform. These certificates are recognized by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other regulatory bodies for compliance and reporting purposes.

How are credits reported to governing bodies?

We issue instant credit certificates, ensuring they are valid for presentation to governing bodies. Typically, we report IRS, CTEC, CFP, IDFP, IWI, VBOA Ethics credits within 7 days – the fastest in the industry.

Reviews and Ratings

out of 5

Excellent

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Average

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SB

Steven Blake, CPA (US)

5

This was a very good course. The material was very good, and the presenter did a good job. Very relevant.

JV

Julie Vaello, CPA (US)

5

Very knowledgeable instructor. Very practical advice that we can put into action immediately.

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