Accounting CMO

05/01/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!
Accounting for Growth – Episode #18
The 3 Pillars of Sustainable SMB Growth: Sales, Leadership & AI (with Patrick O’Donnell)SMB growth doesn’t break because of a lack of ideas - it breaks when sales, leadership, and ex*****on aren’t aligned.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, host Dawn Howard sits down with Patrick O’Donnell Fractional VP of Sales, Sales Xceleration to unpack what sustainable growth really looks like for SMBs. They talk about building trust and protecting your reputation, why value creation has to come before pitching, and how coaching-based leadership creates alignment without burnout.
They also dig into the practical role of AI in sales—how to use it for productivity, lead generation, and coaching—plus how tools like CRM and AI can support operational excellence when teams are stretched.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 Why value creation must come before the pitch
🔹 How to build trust and safeguard your reputation
🔹 Coaching models that create alignment for owners + sales leaders
🔹 How servant leadership drives growth without burnout
🔹 Using AI to improve sales productivity and lead generation
🔹 How AI can support coaching and consistent ex*****on
🔹 Practical ways to integrate CRM + AI into daily operations
🔹 How to address staff turnover and inconsistent processes

Perfect for:
🔹 SMB owners who want growth that lasts
🔹 Firm leaders supporting SMB clients with strategy + ex*****on
🔹 Sales leaders building consistent performance
🔹 Teams adopting AI without losing the human side of trust

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/b15F5DS_Cd8
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/7GGQfqWBbcpRXJ47Oyephb?si=7X1bn0a1RGq-WEaG8o_Xhg

The 3 Pillars of Sustainable SMB Growth: Sales, Leadership & AI- with Patrick O'Donnell- Episode #18

04/30/2026

🚀 SMB Growth Gets Predictable When These 3 Pillars Are In Place
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 18
The 3 Pillars of Sustainable SMB Growth: Sales, Leadership & AI – with Patrick O'Donnell and Dawn Howard
If your growth feels inconsistent, it’s rarely because you need a new tactic.
It’s usually because sales isn’t systemized, leadership isn’t aligned, and technology isn’t being used with purpose.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, host Dawn Howard sits down with Patrick O'Donnell Fractional VP of Sales, Sales Xceleration to unpack the three pillars that make SMB growth sustainable: sales, leadership, and AI. They explore how trust and reputation are built through value-first conversations (especially in workshops), how coaching models create alignment between owners and sales leaders, and how AI can boost sales productivity without replacing strong fundamentals.
They also get practical about integrating CRM + AI for operational excellence, and how to solve common growth blockers like turnover and inconsistent processes.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ How to build trust and reputation as a growth asset
✅ Why value creation must come before pitching in workshops
✅ Coaching models that align owners and sales leaders
✅ How servant leadership supports growth without burnout
✅ Where AI fits in sales: productivity, lead gen, and coaching
✅ How to integrate CRM + AI for better ex*****on
✅ How to handle turnover and inconsistent processes as you scale

📅 Drop Date: May 1

Perfect for SMB owners and firm leaders building repeatable sales, stronger teams, and scalable growth systems.

04/28/2026

Sustainable SMB Growth Isn’t a Hack - It’s Sales + Leadership + AI
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 18
The 3 Pillars of Sustainable SMB Growth: Sales, Leadership & AI – with Patrick O'Donnell and Dawn Howard
Most SMBs don’t struggle because they lack effort.
They struggle because growth is built on inconsistent sales habits, unclear leadership rhythms, and tools that aren’t tied to a real system.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, host Dawn Howard sits down with Patrick O'Donnell Fractional VP of Sales, Sales Xceleration to break down three pillars that drive sustainable SMB growth: sales, leadership, and AI. They explore how to build trust and protect your reputation, why value creation has to come before pitching (especially in workshops), and how coaching models create alignment between owners and sales leaders. They also dig into practical ways AI can boost productivity- lead generation, sales coaching, and repeatable ex*****on without burning out your team.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why sustainable growth starts with value creation (not pitching)
✅ How relationships, trust, and reputation drive long-term sales
✅ Coaching models that align owners and sales leaders
✅ How servant leadership supports growth without burnout
✅ Where AI fits: productivity, lead gen, and coaching
✅ How to integrate CRM + AI for operational excellence
✅ How to reduce turnover and fix inconsistent processes

📅 Drop Date: May 1

Perfect for SMB owners, firm leaders, and growth-focused teams building repeatable sales systems and scalable leadership.

04/24/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!
Accounting for Growth – Episode #17
Mastering CRM Success: Avoiding Implementation Pitfalls (with Alina Schenk)
CRMs don’t fail because the tool is bad they fail because the business isn’t clear on how it sells and serves clients.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Alina Schenk and host Chad Person break down the most common CRM implementation pitfalls in professional services (especially accounting firms) and how to avoid them. From leadership buy-in and accountability to process clarity, automation, and data hygiene, this conversation is all about building a system that actually drives visibility and revenue - not more admin work. If you’re starting fresh or trying to rescue a messy CRM rollout, this episode gives you a practical path forward.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 The real root causes of CRM failures (beyond “bad setup”)
🔹 Why process clarity must come before CRM configuration
🔹 How leadership alignment and accountability determine success
🔹 Automation + data quality as the foundation for scaling
🔹 Designing a CRM around how your firm actually sells and operates
🔹 Why external audits and phased rollouts reduce risk
🔹 Practical steps to fix an existing CRM (or build the right one from day one)
🔹 Using the client journey to improve adoption and effectiveness

Perfect for:
🔹 Accounting firms implementing a CRM for the first time
🔹 Firms stuck with a CRM no one uses
🔹 Leaders who want better pipeline visibility and forecasting
🔹 Teams looking to scale without adding chaos

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/8GkTStR3M0g
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/7chvJ87VHv5Q2LxjShARKR?si=QoMLTX8vTzWx2gVYHpc7CA

Mastering CRM Success: Avoiding Implementation Pitfalls | Alina Schenk | Episode #17

04/17/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!
Accounting for Growth – Episode #16
Leveraging Offshore Staffing for Growth in Accounting Firms (with Conner Bland & Jordan Sublette)
Offshore staffing can’t be a last-minute fix. If it’s treated like a bandaid, it will feel like one.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, host Dawn Howard sits down with Conner Bland and Jordan Sublette to kick off your offshore staffing journey the right way moving from reactive hiring to a strategic, long-term operating model. They break down how firms are building repeatable systems around offshore teams, what it takes to integrate talent into day-to-day operations, and which KPIs actually matter when you’re trying to improve ROI without breaking quality or culture.

What you’ll learn:
🔹 Offshore staffing as a short-term fix vs. a strategic asset
🔹 How to build long-term operational models around offshore teams
🔹 The KPIs and metrics that show real success
🔹 Onboarding, communication, and cultural integration that works
🔹 Common pitfalls firms hit (and how to avoid them)
🔹 The impact on profitability, capacity, and growth
🔹 Emerging offshore talent markets beyond the usual regions
🔹 Practical steps to start or scale your offshore staffing plan
Resources mentioned:
🔹 Cloud Accountant Staffing
🔹 Candidate portal + assessment platform
🔹 Book: The Four Disciplines of Ex*****on (McChesney, Covey, Huling)

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/nGCnR_ncJdc
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ybBT4o9I9WB1pS37etDXv?si=cXjT7Q9QReW4of1rsU1zyQ

In this episode we kick off your offshore staffing journey with insights on transitioning from a reactive bandaid to a strategic, long-term business model. D...

04/16/2026

🚀 Want Better ROI From Offshore Teams? Start With This
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 16
Leveraging Offshore Staffing for Growth in Accounting Firms – with Conner Bland and Jordan Sublette
Adding offshore staff won’t solve a broken workflow.
But building offshore staffing into a clear system with expectations, communication rhythms, and measurable outcomes - can change everything.

In this episode, host Dawn Howard sits down with Conner Bland and Jordan Sublette to talk about what it really takes to make offshore staffing work inside accounting firms. They discuss how to transition from reactive hiring to strategic growth planning, which KPIs matter most, and how to onboard and integrate offshore team members so they become a true extension of the firm - not a separate function.
They also share practical steps for getting started (or scaling), plus what challenges to expect and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Why offshore staffing must be tied to a long-term model
✅ How to integrate offshore teams into your firm’s operations
✅ What to track: KPIs, performance, and ROI signals
✅ How to onboard and communicate for speed + consistency
✅ Pitfalls that lead to rework, frustration, and churn
✅ How offshore staffing can strengthen profitability
✅ New and emerging offshore talent markets
✅ Simple steps to start or expand offshore staffing

📅 Drop Date: April 17

Perfect for managing partners and operations leaders building capacity, improving delivery, and scaling without sacrificing quality.

04/14/2026

🚀 Offshore Staffing Isn’t a Band-Aid It’s an Operating Model
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 17

Leveraging Offshore Staffing for Growth in Accounting Firms – with Conner Bland and Jordan Sublette
Offshore staffing only “fails” when it’s treated like a quick fix.
When it’s built into your operating model with the right onboarding, communication, and KPIs it becomes a real growth lever.

In this episode, host Dawn Howard speaks with Conner Bland and Jordan Sublette to kick off your offshore staffing journey the right way. They break down the shift from reactive hiring to a strategic, long-term approach, how firms are integrating offshore teams into day-to-day operations, and what leaders should measure to ensure performance, ROI, and profitability improve over time.
They also cover common pitfalls, cultural integration, and emerging offshore talent markets beyond the usual regions.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ Offshore staffing as a short-term fix vs a strategic asset
✅ How to build an operational model around offshore teams
✅ The key metrics and KPIs that signal success
✅ Why onboarding, communication, and culture make or break results
✅ Common challenges and pitfalls to avoid
✅ How offshore staffing impacts profitability and growth
✅ Where offshore talent markets are expanding next
✅ Practical first steps to start or scale your offshore team

📅 Drop Date: April 17
Perfect for firm leaders who want a scalable staffing strategy that protects margins, improves capacity, and supports sustainable growth.

03/13/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming!

Accounting for Growth – Operational Bottlenecks: Creating Capacity Without Just Hiring More (with Kathryn Crosby)
If your firm is growing but everything still feels “stuck,” it’s probably not an effort problem - it’s an operations problem.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person and Kathryn Crosby break down the real operational challenges professional services firms face as they scale: unclear roles, leaders becoming bottlenecks, and systems that don’t support growth. Kathryn shares practical ways to spot capacity drains, build clearer workflows, and create more space for the work that actually moves the firm forward.
This is a grounded conversation about delegation, trust, automation, and leadership habits that unlock growth - without assuming the answer is always “hire more people.”

What you’ll learn:
🔹 The common operational bottlenecks that slow firm growth
🔹 Why role clarity + strong systems create real capacity
🔹 How leaders accidentally become the bottleneck
🔹 Delegation that empowers teams (and frees leaders)
🔹 Hidden capacity drains like admin overload
🔹 Building trust so teams perform with confidence
🔹 Where automation can remove routine busywork
🔹 Simple check-ins to surface blockers early
🔹 Practical self-assessments to improve operations
🔹 Why coaching mid-level managers accelerates leadership growth

Perfect for:
🔹 Firm leaders who feel overloaded as the business grows
🔹 Professional services teams improving operations and efficiency
🔹 Partners and managers working on delegation + accountability
🔹 Firms that want growth without constant hiring

🎙️ Listen now:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/KRbZx227VSM
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/711pu0eIQ4ghV6V1kvWSTf?si=tO7NPDMZRoCLWU_oWmYiQw

In this episode of the Accounting for Growth podcast, Chad Person and Kathryn Crosby discuss the operational challenges faced by professional services firms ...

03/12/2026

🚀 If Your Firm Feels Busy but Not Better… It’s Probably Chaos
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 15
Calming the Chaos: The Key to Professional Services Success – Kathryn Crosby

A lot of professional services firms look “successful” from the outside.
Inside, it can feel like nonstop urgency - too many priorities, too many exceptions, and too much work living in people’s heads.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person sits down with Kathryn Crosby to break down how firms can calm the chaos and build operational clarity that actually scales. They talk about why chaos creeps in as firms grow, what leaders can do to create simple structure without bureaucracy, and how repeatable systems protect capacity, margins, and client experience. Because when the firm runs calmer, the team executes better and growth becomes far more sustainable.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ The common patterns that create chaos as firms grow
✅ How to simplify priorities and reduce decision drag
✅ Why “everything is urgent” kills capacity and margins
✅ How to build repeatable systems without slowing the team down
✅ What leaders can do to reduce fire drills and improve ex*****on
✅ How calmer operations improve client experience and retention

📅 Drop Date: March 13

Perfect for managing partners and professional services leaders who want clearer operations, stronger delivery, and growth without burnout.

03/11/2026

🚀 Calm the Chaos - Then Growth Gets Easier
Accounting for Growth Podcast EP 15
Calming the Chaos: The Key to Professional Services Success – Kathryn Crosby

Most professional services firms don’t have a talent problem. They have a chaos problem - too many priorities, unclear processes, and constant fire drills that drain time, margins, and momentum.

In this episode of Accounting for Growth, Chad Person sits down with Kathryn Crosby to unpack what it really takes to calm operational chaos and build a firm that runs with clarity. They explore how leaders can simplify decision-making, create repeatable systems, and protect capacity so the team can deliver consistently without burnout. It’s a practical conversation on getting organized, staying focused, and building the kind of structure that makes growth sustainable.

💡 What You’ll Learn
✅ How to identify what’s creating chaos inside your firm
✅ Practical ways to create clarity, priorities, and repeatable systems
✅ How calming the chaos protects margins and capacity
✅ Why strong leadership rhythms reduce fire drills
✅ How to improve ex*****on without adding more workload
✅ What “calm operations” looks like in modern professional services

📅 Drop Date: March 13

Perfect for managing partners and professional services leaders who want smoother ex*****on, healthier teams, and growth built on stability.