professionalissues

BY ERIN DAIBER , CPA AND CHRIS VANOVER

Students are drawn from the stability of the accounting profession to more exciting specialties like data science , engineering and tech , which offer great job opportunities , along with the cuttingedge environment , culture and flexibility .

Firms have had to get creative in recent years to engage and retain a more diverse workforce , many of whom are remote at least part time . This hasn ’ t been easy , but from this challenge , many creative and forward-thinking ideas have emerged . And if these approaches were more common , we ’ d be well on our way to solving our perception problem .

Here are some unique ideas being used by CalCPA members to engage their teams and create an environment where young — and future — accountants want to work .

Creating Connection & Culture When it comes to retention , having an engaging , supportive culture and connection with peers can ’ t be replaced by a slight pay bump . Candidates are searching for work / life integration and meaningful ways to contribute and give back . Weaving these values into your culture is a home run .

“ At LevitZacks , what truly sets us apart is our unwavering dedication to our team ’ s well-being , infusing fun into our workplace and keeping everyone engaged ,” said Bryan Carpenter . And it shows . The firm has built a robust calendar of activities designed to create connection , relieve stress and foster friendly

competition . Many of the activities , like team lunches , are virtual-friendly and held over Zoom , and they commit to gathering together as a team twice per year in San Diego .

They ’ re also finding time to give back . “ Our ’ LZ♥ ’ s ’ community service committee finds unique opportunities to give back . We allow our employees additional paid time off for community services activities and volunteer work ,” Carpenter said .

Finally , the firm has shown a commitment to its team ’ s well-being and personal development . “ We offer golf lessons and support ongoing employee rounds , providing an opportunity for team members to learn ” a new skill they can carry with them for life . Not into golf ? “ Our firm volleyball team competes with fellow accountants and CPAs ,” explained Carpenter , fostering both physical fitness and social interaction .

The Four-Day Workweek Critics of the four-day workweek worry about productivity and the potential impact on meeting deadlines . GSA CPAs has had success with its take on the four-day workweek model where team members have every other Friday off between May and December . On the alternating Friday , the team is responsible for checking in on emails periodically and addressing any critical matters .

This approach hasn ’ t resulted in a drop in productivity or efficiency . In fact , it ’ s improved . According to Dalton Sweaney , this structure allows for producing work with “ high quality and a freshness that allows me to think critically and service my clients at my best .

A six-month study conducted by Autonomy in the UK followed 3,000 workers in 61 companies as they trial the four-day workweek . From an employee perspective , participants noted decreased stress and levels of burnout , with improved productivity . On the company side , absenteeism was down , the number of resignations reduced by half and despite fewer hours , productivity was up 22 percent . And 94 percent of the companies that participated opted to continue utilizing this model . More information can be found at scientificamerican . com / article / a-four-day-workweek-reduces-stresswithout-hurting-productivity / and cnbc . com / 2023 / 02 / 24 / worlds-biggest- 4-day-workweek-experiment-shows-bighealth-benefits . html .

Another of the firm ’ s strategic decisions supports the four-day workweek model . “ We ’ ve found working with fewer clients really aligns with our values as a firm ,” Sweaney said , enabling them to focus on more complex work for a smaller pool of clients . This approach has allowed the team to “ operate within our skill sets and focus on providing tremendous value to the clients .”

20 CALIFORNIA CPA MARCH / APRIL 2024 www . calcpa . org