For years, the answer to "we're busy" was simple: post a job ad. Good people fix all problems.
Good people still fix problems, but Mike and Matt argue the first question has changed. Before you hire, you have to ask what you're actually hiring someone to do, and whether a machine, a better workflow, or a flat-out no is the smarter answer. Over the last nine months, nine people have left the accounting side of the firm and only one has been replaced. Somehow, the team has more capacity today than it did six months ago.
That doesn't mean automation is a magic fix. Mike admits they can't name a single seat automation has actually removed, and both hosts own up to launching experiments without ever defining what winning looks like. The conversation lands on a simple filter that applies to new tools and new hires alike: if it doesn't grow revenue, improve the client experience, or improve gross profit, you probably shouldn't be doing it yet.
In this episode:
Why "is it time to hire?" has turned into "hire, automate, or say no?"
Nine departures, one replacement, and more capacity than before
The honest answer to "has automation ever removed a seat?"
The EOS three-year picture that called for 12 managers, and hit the revenue target without hitting the headcount
Why staffing math isn't linear, and why revenue per head is the metric to watch
The SDR role they tried twice, and why some roles simply don't get replaced
Replace the work, not the role
Automating document filing, and the questions they haven't fully done the math on yet
Defining the finish line before you start an experiment, so you know when you've won
Tool bloat: when you're paying for 14 tools that all do the same thing
The client "rediscovery call" approach that's great for retention but hard to measure
Why chasing 1 to 3 percent gross profit gains matters, even when it doesn't feel exciting
Using the Impact Filter to vet projects before they get the green light
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Tired of struggling to find qualified accountants for your firm? Check out Cloud Accountant Staffing's candidate portal. Full of pre-vetted offshore accounting candidates ready to interview as soon as tomorrow → https://portal.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/register?p=MatthewPatrick
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