Practice Management - ISCPA's 2025 MAP Conference

Join us for our annual MAP conference ONLY if you are looking for a dynamic, interactive, thought-provoking & inspirational opportunity designed for CPA firm leadership! 

There's no shortage of reports about rapid, pervasive changes in the accounting profession. Talent shortages, changing client needs and expectations, artificial intelligence, and other emerging challenges are disrupting traditional services and the core of many CPA firms. At the same time, along with these challenges come exciting new opportunities. Break away for a day to work on your firm, not just in your firm, as you set your practice up to thrive, not just survive, in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.

Join us for 2 information-packed days focused on skills and knowledge that will help you and your firm become more effective dealing with several major trends impacting the accounting profession.

Day 1 - August 12:

Morning: How to Keep Your Best Leaders

Which leaders in your firm are you most afraid of losing? What are you doing to ensure these key leaders stay with you for the future?

A recent Gallup study highlights significant challenges for organizations concerned about leader retention. Their research found managers more likely than non-managers to be disengaged at work, burned out, looking for a new job, and feeling like their organization doesn't care about their well-being. Among managers surveyed, 55 percent indicated they were watching for or actively seeking a new job, a significant uptick from 44 percent who said that in 2019. Industry-specific research shows the accounting community facing similar struggles.

What can you do to keep your best leaders? You simply can't afford to lose them. These leaders are not only essential to growing a thriving practice today, but they're also crucial to a viable exit strategy for the future. Join an executive roundtable format on four crucial steps to keep your best leaders: Identify Them, Engage Them, Develop Them, and Empower Them. Jump-start your strategy for leader retention, using practical tools to equip you in building a flourishing leadership pipeline from within.

Afternoon: Strategic Thinking and Innovation to Build Your Firm in 2025 and Beyond

Strategic thinking and innovation skills are crucial to effectively navigate change, become a trusted value partner, and deliver exceptional value to your firm and clients. Learn the essence of strategic thinking, how it differs from strategic planning and how to integrate it with traditional planning activities. Develop skills and habits to think like a futurist and better anticipate emerging challenges and opportunities in the marketplace.

Discover a framework to become more innovative and relevant to changing customer needs and expectations. Explore questions that inspire strategic thinking and employ new habits to proactively build it into your routines as a leader. Collaborate with peers and colleagues in a business simulation exercise to put your new strategic thinking and innovation skills into practice, while identifying pivotal insights for your firm and its clients.

Day 2 - August 13:

Moving from "Best Practices" to "Next Practices"

• 8am - 10:30am - Moderated roundtable
  • Join ISCPA Executive Director for a discussion about what's on your mind - submit your questions early to cpe@idcpa.org!
    
• 10:30am - 12:30pm - Accounting/Finance Students & Young CPAs Q & A
  • In today's rapidly-evolving business landscape, the perspectives of young professionals and aspiring CPAs are invaluable to the future success of accounting firms. This presentation aims to highlight the crucial insights and innovative ideas that young CPAs and students bring to the table, addressing key areas that firm leaders need to hear.