Accounting CMO

02/27/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!

Managing Partner Realities – Succession Planning, Leadership Capacity, and the Future of Firm Growth
What happens to firm growth when leadership is concentrated in just a few people?

In this final episode of the Managing Partner Realities series, Chad Person and Dawn Howard unpack one of the biggest long-term challenges firms face: succession planning. They talk about why leadership development can’t wait until retirement is around the corner and why mentorship, communication, and shared leadership are essential for a healthy transition.

This conversation is a practical reminder that succession planning is not a one-time event. It’s an ongoing leadership strategy that protects client relationships, builds future leaders, and helps firms grow with confidence.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 Why succession planning is critical for firm growth
🔹 The hidden risk of leadership capacity being too concentrated
🔹 Why mentorship must include strategic decision-making
🔹 How to prepare for leadership transitions earlier
🔹 Building a firm culture that develops leaders over time
🔹 Why younger professionals need leadership exposure sooner
🔹 How communication shapes smoother transitions
🔹 Why succession should be an ongoing conversation
🔹 The emotional side of client transitions
🔹 Why shared leadership supports sustainable growth

Perfect for:
🔹 Managing partners planning for long-term firm stability
🔹 Firm leaders building the next generation of leadership
🔹 Teams navigating partner transition and retirement planning
🔹 Firms focused on culture, continuity, and client trust
🔹 Leaders who want growth that lasts beyond one generation

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/PHasGfFW8l4
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6W5PeTlQz6TVmznOmTYdZo?si=V0Cnym3vTb25UDIk91wkVg

In this final episode of the Managing Partner Reality series, Chad Person and Dawn Howard discuss the critical importance of succession planning and leadersh...

02/26/2026

🚀 If Leadership Lives With 2 People, Growth Has a Ceiling
Accounting for Growth Podcast – Managing Partner Realities (Part 6)

A lot of firms say they care about succession.
But if leadership decisions, client trust, and strategic direction all sit with a few senior partners, the future stays fragile.

In this episode, Fractional CMOs Chad Person and Dawn Howard close out the Managing Partner Realities series with a practical conversation on succession planning, mentorship, and leadership transition. They discuss why firms need to build leadership capacity early, how to create a culture that develops future leaders, and why communication and planning are critical when navigating retirement transitions and client handoffs.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why succession planning can’t wait for retirement timelines
✅ How concentrated leadership creates growth risk
✅ What strong mentorship looks like beyond technical coaching
✅ Why younger professionals need leadership exposure sooner
✅ How communication reduces friction during transitions
✅ Why client transitions require emotional as well as strategic planning
✅ How shared leadership builds resilience and continuity

📅 Drop Date: February 27

Perfect for partners and leadership teams thinking about the next generation of firm leadership, client continuity, and sustainable growth.

02/24/2026

🚀 Succession Planning Is a Growth Strategy (Not a Retirement Task)
Accounting for Growth Podcast – Managing Partner Realities Episode #14

Most firms don’t struggle with succession because they lack good people.
They struggle because leadership capacity is concentrated in too few hands—and the transition conversation starts too late.

In this final episode of the Managing Partner Realities series, host and Fractional CMO Chad Person speaks with Fractional CMO Dawn Howard about why succession planning and leadership development are essential to firm growth. They unpack the leadership gaps many firms ignore, why mentorship must go beyond technical training, and how proactive planning creates smoother transitions for teams, clients, and future leaders.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why succession planning is a core growth strategy
✅ Where leadership capacity gaps show up in firms
✅ Why mentorship must include strategic leadership skills
✅ How early leadership exposure strengthens the bench
✅ Why succession planning should be an ongoing conversation
✅ How to manage the people side of leadership transitions
✅ Why shared leadership supports long-term firm growth

📅 Drop Date: February 27
Perfect for managing partners and firm leaders who want to build leadership depth, protect client relationships, and prepare their firm for long-term success.

02/20/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!
Accounting for Growth – Episode #13

Managing Partner Realities: Leading the Modern CPA Firm (Part 5) – Dawn Howard
Growth isn’t always good especially when it eats your margins and stretches your team thin.

In this episode, Chad Person and Dawn Howard unpack what managing partners are dealing with right now: rising costs, expensive talent, and the hard truth that not all growth improves profitability. They break down how stronger leadership communication, clearer strategy, and smart technology choices help firms grow without losing efficiency or margin.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 How to spot growth that hurts profitability
🔹 Why communication is a managing partner superpower
🔹 Protecting margins while still investing in growth
🔹 Pricing power starts before the proposal
🔹 Why underselling value damages margins
🔹 Using tech to improve client experience + efficiency

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/LTgWZiYurX8
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KjxoDY6Jl1d5pkRSiSgV6?si=YZl0v-2lTeuVAEpNlSFqAg

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person and Dawn Howard discuss the challenges faced by accounting firms in navigating growth while protecting...

02/19/2026

🚀 Margin Pressure Is a Leadership Issue, Not a Finance Issue

Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 13
Managing Partner Realities (Part 5)

When margins tighten, most firms look for a quick fix. Cut costs. Work harder. Add volume.
But the real leverage usually sits in leadership decisions: where you grow, how you price, and how clearly the team is aligned.

In this episode, Chad Person and Dawn Howard unpack the realities firms face as they scale: increasing talent costs, pressure on profitability, and rising client expectations around technology and efficiency. They discuss why strategic decision-making must be proactive, how clear communication creates better ex*****on, and why firms that keep innovating - even in uncertain times build stronger client experience and long-term resilience.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why talent costs are forcing new margin decisions
✅ How unclear growth direction creates profit leaks
✅ The leadership habits that protect margins
✅ Why pricing power is built before proposals
✅ How to stop undervaluing your services
✅ Why innovation is part of profitability strategy
✅ How technology shapes client experience expectations
✅ Why clearer vision leads to faster, better decisions

📅 Drop Date: 20 February

Perfect for partners and leadership teams navigating growth, pricing, and profitability without burning out their people.

02/17/2026

🚀 Not All Growth Is Good Growth (Protect Your Margins)

Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 13 - Managing Partner Realities (Part 5)

Costs are rising. Talent is getting more expensive. And “more clients” doesn’t automatically mean more profit. If your firm is growing but margins are shrinking, you don’t have a growth problem you have a strategy problem.

In Part 5 of this series, host and Fractional CMO Chad Person speaks with Dawn Howard about how accounting firms can pursue growth without sacrificing profitability. They break down why leadership communication matters more during expansion, how pricing power starts long before the proposal, and why underselling value quietly destroys margins. They also cover why innovation can’t pause in uncertain times and how technology is now part of the client experience, not just back-office efficiency.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why rising costs change the growth equation
✅ How to spot growth that hurts profitability
✅ Why managing partner communication is a margin-protection tool
✅ How to invest in growth without eroding profits
✅ Where to grow (and why focus matters)
✅ Why pricing power starts before the proposal
✅ How underselling value damages margins fast
✅ Why innovation must continue - even in uncertainty
✅ How tech impacts client expectations and retention

📅 Drop Date: 20 February

Perfect for managing partners and firm leaders balancing growth targets, margin pressure, and talent retention.

02/13/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!

Accounting for Growth - Governance That Scales: Structure, Clarity, and Leadership for Firm Growth

If your firm is growing… but decisions feel slower, messier, and more stressful - it’s probably not a “people problem.” It’s a structure problem.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person and Dawn Howard, M.S. Howard unpack the real role of governance in firm growth - not as bureaucracy, but as leadership. They break down how the right decision-making structure creates clarity, speeds up ex*****on, and reduces the stress that growth naturally brings.

This conversation is all about building a leadership system that empowers people, drives accountability, and keeps the firm aligned as roles evolve and complexity increases.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 Why governance is leadership - not red tape
🔹 How clear structure improves decision-making
🔹 The hidden stress growth creates (and how governance fixes it)
🔹 How clarity in goals speeds up action
🔹 Accountability without micromanagement
🔹 Why leadership roles must evolve as the firm scales
🔹 Communication rhythms that keep leaders aligned
🔹 How a clear vision reduces friction across the team
🔹 Why investing in leadership structure improves efficiency
🔹 Strategic leadership that helps you navigate growth challenges

Perfect for:
🔹 Firm owners scaling past “everyone does everything”
🔹 Partners trying to speed up decisions and reduce friction
🔹 Leadership teams dealing with growth stress and complexity
🔹 Managers stepping into bigger responsibilities
🔹 Firms that want alignment, accountability, and momentum

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/FK4ngu3XCh8
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/48USX6i9DkpXFeWqBTMDt4?si=-5FqtmjPQ5a7N9LEshvOzg

02/12/2026

🚀 Faster Growth Needs Clearer Leadership

Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 12
Managing Partner Realities (Part 4)

If every decision has to run through one or two people, growth will eventually slow down.
Not because the team isn’t capable but because the structure isn’t built for scale.

In this episode, Fractional CMOs Chad Person and Dawn Howard dive into how governance and leadership structure drive firm growth. They discuss why decision-making frameworks matter, how clarity creates efficiency, and why strategic leadership isn’t about holding the reins tighter - it’s about building systems that align leaders, empower others, and keep the firm moving forward under pressure.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why leadership structure matters more as you grow
✅ How governance reduces friction and improves efficiency
✅ The link between clear vision and team alignment
✅ How accountability supports better ex*****on
✅ What to change as leadership roles evolve
✅ Why strong leader communication prevents chaos
✅ How strategic leadership helps navigate growth challenges

📅 Drop Date: February 13

Subscribe to Accounting for Growth:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6eRlKulpY4w0hDSVWFpTfT?si=42f1ca8862d948e3

Perfect for partners and leadership teams working through growth pains, operational strain, and the shift toward a modern advisory-focused firm.

02/10/2026

🚀 Governance Isn’t Red Tape—It’s a Growth System

Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 12
Managing Partner Realities (Part 4)

Growth doesn’t just test your capacity. It tests your leadership structure. When decisions are unclear, accountability is fuzzy, and leaders aren’t aligned - growth becomes stressful instead of scalable.
In Part 4 of this series, host and Fractional CMO Chad Person speaks with Fractional CMO Dawn Howard about the role of governance and structure in building a modern CPA firm. They unpack why governance isn’t about control or bureaucracy - it’s about creating clarity, faster decision-making, and a leadership system that empowers the team to execute.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why governance is leadership, not red tape
✅ How a clear structure speeds up decisions
✅ Why growth creates stress—and how governance reduces it
✅ How clarity in goals improves accountability
✅ What it means to empower leaders (not bottleneck them)
✅ How leadership roles must evolve as the firm scales
✅ Why communication among leaders is non-negotiable

📅 Drop Date: February 13

Perfect for managing partners and firm leaders who want faster decisions, stronger accountability, and a scalable leadership structure.

01/30/2026

🚀 Just Released!
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 11 – Part 3
Managing Partner Realities

In Part 3 of the Managing Partner Realities series, host and Fractional CMO Chad Person continues the conversation with Fractional CMO Dawn Howard, diving into one of the most complex growth challenges facing CPA firms today: client mix and pricing.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 How client mix limits firm growth
🔹 The emotional side of letting go of clients
🔹 Why value-based pricing matters
🔹 Leadership’s role in advisory growth
🔹 Operational shifts needed for scale
🔹 Defining ideal client profiles
🔹 Moving from compliance to advisory
🔹 Prioritizing time for growth initiatives
🔹 Aligning marketing with firm goals
🔹 Why ongoing conversations drive change

Who this is great for:
🔹 Managing partners shaping growth strategy
🔹 Firm leaders rethinking pricing models
🔹 CPA firms transitioning to advisory services

🎧 Tune in now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/mv5IIsijaBo
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/11AIuII76hhUiiJPBGadKo?si=0ZHB5GQnRL-8HMd7J5bqzA

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 tran...

01/29/2026

🚀 Making Hard Choices That Drive Firm Growth
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 11
Managing Partner Realities (Part 3)

As firms evolve, not every client or service fits the future vision. Growth often requires difficult decisions around pricing, client portfolios, and advisory focus.

In this episode, Fractional CMOs Chad Person and Dawn Howard dive into how CPA firm leaders can align client mix and pricing with growth objectives. They discuss the mindset shifts needed to move beyond compliance, the importance of clear client profiles, and how leadership must guide firms through operational change to unlock advisory potential.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ How client portfolios shape firm performance
✅ Why value-based pricing supports sustainable growth
✅ The challenge of shifting from compliance to advisory
✅ Leadership responsibilities in advisory transformation
✅ Aligning operations with long-term growth objectives

📅 Drop Date: January 30

Subscribe to Accounting for Growth:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6eRlKulpY4w0hDSVWFpTfT?si=42f1ca8862d948e3

Perfect for firm leaders, partners, and growth-focused professionals navigating pricing, advisory strategy, and client alignment

01/27/2026

🚀 Rethinking Clients Pricing and the Path to Advisory
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 11
Managing Partner Realities (Part 3)

Growth is not always about adding more clients. Sometimes it starts with taking a hard look at who you serve, how you price, and where your time truly creates value.

In Part 3 of this series, host and Fractional CMO Chad Person speaks with Fractional CMO Dawn Howard about one of the toughest leadership challenges in CPA firms. Client mix and pricing decisions. They explore the emotional and strategic shifts required to move from compliance-heavy work toward advisory services that support long-term growth.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why client mix can limit firm growth
✅ How emotions impact client and pricing decisions
✅ The role of value-based pricing in modern firms
✅ Why advisory leadership is critical for the future
✅ Operational shifts needed to support growth goals

📅 Drop Date: January 30

Perfect for managing partners, firm leaders, and advisors rethinking client portfolios, pricing strategy, and advisory growth