This summer, our Aprio communications team interviewed Mike and I about the Firm Alliance.
We thought it might be helpful to share this with this community and any prospective members thinking about joining the Alliance.
What is the Aprio Firm Alliance?
The alliance is a membership organization that supports local accounting firms. As a Top 25 Accounting firm, Aprio has access to resources that local firms (in general) do not have access to. Just like tax or audit, the Aprio Firm Alliance is a service line under Aprio.
The idea was born from Aprio’s Channel Referral Program, as Aprio has historically supported firms with specialty work. “Our goal was to take that to the next level. We wanted to do more than the niche projects that the smaller firms couldn’t do – we wanted to help that firm run itself as a business”, shares Mike.
How does the Alliance support its member firms?
1. Resources & Guidance: Members receive an entire L&D plan and learning platform, pointing them to the information they need to succeed, and providing the resources they need to grow and thrive.
2. Peer Led Discussions: Members gain the ability to engage in facilitated business discussions on everything ranging from technology and IT resources to leadership best practices.
3. Topical Roundtables & Webinars: Hitting on important topics including change management and outsourcing – the Alliance invites industry experts (include those from Team Aprio!) to speak on essential topics within the industry.
Alliance members also gain access to Aprio insights, have the option to elect for coaching, and are invited to attend the Annual Firm Alliance Partner Summit each year.
What is the Firm Alliance Partner Summit?
“It is the most valuable (and most fun) thing we do all year”, shares Mike. “It’s a practice management conference, so we don’t hit on any technical items. We’re not discussing tax or audit – we’re talking about how to run your firm and make the best decisions as a leader all 12 months of the year”.
“Accountants are so good at serving their clients that business management can fall to the wayside – and historically that’s been okay. But our firms want to be better than okay – so we’re trying to teach them how to run the business side of their business and holding them accountable to follow the advice that they know they would give themselves”, Mike continues.
The Alliance makes sure to #keep things fun at their annual Summit too – immersing themselves in the cities and local cultures each year. Next stop, Nashville!
The Alliance will celebrate it’s 5th Anniversary in 2025. What has been the most rewarding part of this experience?
“It’s really fun to see the firms that did something bold and brave find their success. In the moment, they were full of fear and anxiety when faced with the unknown, and to see it work out is a great feeling”, shares Mike.
One example is the member firm who elected to hire an expensive resource to lead a new CAAS practice for the firm, before they had the clients to do so. A year later and they now lead a team of four and have become the fastest growing branch of that business. Putting the money before the revenue is a gamble, but theirs paid off.
Looking forward, what is the Alliance excited for in the years ahead?
When looking ahead, Joey’s passion for what’s next is undeniable. “A number of our members are needing to change their audit methodology, and despite Mike and myself not being auditors, we’re going to learn”, shared Joey, who continued that as Alliance leaders, her and Mike want to support their member partners in the areas that are important to them.
“Firms are also in high growth mode”, she added, noting the increase in M&A activity within the industry. “Its cool to work with the firms that really want to grow and are just starting out. Hopefully in 1 – 2 years, they’ll be there”.
How does the Aprio Firm Alliance differentiate itself from other alliances and organizations?
“We’re backed by an accounting firm”, shares Mike, who adds that the majority of the alliances offering this type of support are peer-to-peer organizations. “We’re one of the only accounting backed alliances that focuses on the local firms. We pride ourselves on putting the project in the right place – as we believe that there’s enough work for everyone to win”.
Joey continued, “I think the mindset of our alliance is different, which is evidenced in how we talk to our sponsors and members”. While most organizations like the alliance are pay to play – the Aprio Firm Alliance wants member who are as passionate for what’s next as we are. “You can’t just give us money and join the Alliance. You need to be on board with the mission. If you’re a firm – you have to be a forward thinking firm; looking to take yourselves to the next level. It is not worth disrupting our group and where our firms want to go, to let in a firm that wants to keep doing things the ‘same old way’”.
Closing Thoughts:
Joey: I like that we get to work with firms of all different shapes, sizes, and geographies. “One of the things I’ve always loved doing in my career is solving problems, and there’s no shortage of problems to solve. No day is the same as the next – it’s fun to get to be creative and do something different.”
Mike: “I like that we’re building the boat while we’re sailing it. There is not a path that someone else went down, and we’re trying to deviate from that path. There is no path – we get to define and change that path as we see fit, as we go.”
“We get all the support to have an entrepreneurial spirit within Aprio – and really can make an impact.”
Know of a firm that is passionate for what’s next? Contact Joey Ross, Operations Director and Mike Maksymiw, Executive Director of the Aprio Firm Alliance to discuss!