Page 659 - TaxAdviser_2022

TAX PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Leading the new,

flexible tax practice

Editor: If you have been leading a tax practice for have formed and refined a point of view
Brandon Lagarde, CPA, J.D., LL.M. any length of time, you know the pace over the course of several years that ad-
of change is relentless, with constant and dresses remote work specifically but is
Authors: often last-minute developments in regula- also suited to accommodate the many
Matthew K. Becker, CPA tions and the Code, rapid-fire technologi- evolutionary shifts leaders are grappling
Catherine Moy, CPA cal advancements, and ever-accelerating with in this new world of work.
market and client demands. It all starts with a mindset that
Today, you are also likely to be manag- expects and embraces change. To be a
ing a shift to a remote, or at least hybrid, leader today, you must accept the fact
work environment. That is, you are navi- that everything will continue to shift
gating the future of work right now. and advance. Your approach, and the
As a leader, you must be several tools you use, must also constantly evolve
things you might not have envisioned — not only to keep up but to stay in
when you were just starting your career the forefront.
— a change agent, an innovator, and an To get this evolution right, organi-
Executives have adept people manager. Of course, you zations should focus on two comple-
an opportunity to must do all this without compromising mentary business drivers: culture and

transform their the quality of the service you provide. innovation. Thoughtfully cultivating
both drivers is especially important to
Most tax leaders understand the for-
organizations. The midable issues they are facing. BDO’s unlock and fully benefit from a remote
key is to focus 2022 Tax Outlook Survey, which polled or flexible workplace strategy. It helps
tax executives develop a more productive,
150 senior tax executives of middle-
on culture and market companies, asked leaders to engaged, and creative workforce. This, in
innovation. name their top five personal challenges. turn, can help the organization to realize
Not surprisingly, staying abreast of the tax savings, advance transparency, and
latest regulatory developments was at model what the future may hold for the
the top of the list, but it tied for the business. It also elevates the department
No. 1 spot with managing a workforce itself, allowing it to serve as a strategic
that is at least partially remote. The re- adviser to the C-suite.
maining top challenges were people- and
technology-related. Using new technolo- Culture comes first
gies, tools, and techniques was followed Culture comes first in this discussion
by finding and retaining talented people. because it is the foundation — a constant PHOTO BY LEEYIUTUNG/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK
Rounding out the list was the increas- touchstone with a fixed set of values in
ing volume of work and continually an ever-changing environment. Culture
higher expectations. is the key to building a sustainable busi-
There are no simple solutions to ness that always understands its purpose
these challenges. However, at BDO we — its “why” — even as the organization

50 December 2022 The Tax Adviser