Strategies to Help Firms, Employees and Clients Navigate the Crisis

We are living in globally unprecedented times. No one is immune from the impact that Coronavirus is having on the world, whether socially, emotionally, mentally, physically or financially. In this episode, host Randy Crabtree interviews six leaders and experts in the world of accounting and finance who offer suggestions and insights on how accounting firms can deal with the many issues and challenges that are arising as a result of the virus, for both themselves and their clients. 

Today’s guests:

  • Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA is the CEO of Maryland Association of CPAs & Business Learning Institute discusses the need for technology and the quick acceleration of its use. Accounting Today says, “Hood uniquely combines three vital traits: He sees the future of the profession clearly; he discovers or creates supremely practical ways to move the profession toward that future; and he generates tremendous enthusiasm for the move in everyone he meets.”

  • Richard Kopelman, CPA, CGMA, CEO and Managing Partner of Aprio offers their newly created website information clients on what to do and makes them aware of specific potential issues.

  • Joshua Lance is a CPA Practice Advisor “40 under 40” and the founder and Managing Director of Lance CPA Group, a virtual CPA firm that focuses on providing accounting and consulting services to craft breweries and digital agencies. Josh, whose company is already completely virtual, offers excellent advice on how to make the transition easier for other firms.

  • David Nissen, CPA, ABV, CVA, CEO/President of Mueller & Co., LLP shares advice to help clients be prepared for a short-term downsizing and a likely quick “ramping up.”

  • John Sensiba, CPA and managing partner of Sensiba San Filippo, discusses California’s shelter in place order, the mental health aspects of suddenly working from home, and how the firm intends to handle the response to the stock market situation.

  • Daniel Pische, Senior Vice President of First American Bank offers insights into Small Business Administrations and why it is essential to have conversations with your bank to discover options that can help keep you afloat during and after this unpredictable period.

Important Links

Tom Hood: Website | Business Learning Institute | LinkedIn | Email 

Richard Kopelman: Website | LinkedIn 

Josh Lance: Website | LinkedIn 

David Nissen: Website | LinkedIn 

John Sensiba: Website | LinkedIn 

Daniel Pische: LinkedIn

Meet the Host

Randy Crabtree, CPA

randy.crabtree@tri-merit.com

Randy Crabtree

Randy Crabtree, co-founder and partner of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals, is a widely followed author, lecturer and podcast host for the accounting profession.

Since 2019, he has hosted the “The Unique CPA,” podcast, which ranks among the world’s 5% most popular programs (Source: Listen Score). You can find articles from Randy in Accounting Today’s Voices column, the AICPA Tax Adviser (Tax-saving opportunities for the housing and construction industries) and he is a regular presenter at conferences and virtual training events hosted by CPAmerica, Prime Global, Leading Edge Alliance (LEA), Allinial Global and several state CPA societies. Crabtree also provides continuing professional education to top 100 CPA firms across the country.

Schaumburg, Illinois-based Tri-Merit is a niche professional services firm that specializes in helping CPAs and their clients benefit from R&D tax credits, cost segregation, the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction (179D), the energy efficient home credit (45L) and the employee retention credit (ERC).

Prior to joining Tri-Merit, Crabtree was managing partner of a CPA firm in the greater Chicago area. He has more than 30 years of public accounting and tax consulting experience in a wide variety of industries, and has worked closely with top executives to help them optimize their tax planning strategies.