Path to Partner: Tips for Tax and Accounting Professionals

What does it take to make partner? For tax and accounting professionals, making partner is often a number one career goal. However, the path to becoming partner can be a long and arduous journey.

To provide insight and tips on how to achieve this goal, we spoke with Kristina Ensslen and Scott Borenstein, two of CyberCoders’ top tax and accounting recruiters, who shared tips on finding the right job to help you align your path to partnership.

1. What does the journey to partner look like for tax and accounting professionals?

“Working for a mid-sized firm usually offers candidates a chance to make partner more quickly than working for one of the “Big Four” or very large national level firms. This is because a lot of the bigger firms are saturated with high-level management.

“The candidate should understand the performance requirements necessary to make partner (billable hours, revenue generation, etc.) as each firm has different criteria. Once the candidate is a part of the firm, working toward those numbers, generating more business with clients, and proving to be a solid leader for each engagement will help the person make partner.” - Kristina Ensslen, Lead Recruiter, CyberCoders

2. If a candidate wants to become a partner, what are a few pieces of advice you as a recruiter can offer?

“Never settle, ALWAYS say yes, and don’t be afraid of business development.” -Scott Borenstein, Executive Recruiter, CyberCoders.

Kristina Ensslen shares these tips:

1. During the interview, ensure that the candidates states that a goal of his or hers is to make partner at the firm and ask what the requirements are, and if anyone is leaving.
2. Ensure that the candidate discusses his or her passion for working closely with clients and for generating new business.
3. Ensure the candidate comes prepared with the revenue generation numbers he or she has done to date
4. Develop an executive summary stating how the candidate plans to grow the business. This has helped four of my top-level candidates get the director title with a fast track to partner.
5. If the candidate has it, I request that they bring a list of clients they’d be able to bring over (their book of business).

3. What do hiring managers and executives look for in a candidate who wants to become a partner?

“Ambition, fearlessness, and tenure. Depending on the firm, they also need someone from a highly respected public accounting firm. No mom and pop folks. They don’t have to be from the Big Four, but I would say at least a highly respected regional firm.”-Scott Borenstein

“Hiring managers often look for someone with a ‘go getter’ personality who can handle the business development side in addition to the technical side. They also look for proven successful leadership experience (tax/audit engagements, mentorship), and high billable hours.” -Kristina Ensslen

Do you have what it takes to become a partner? Find out.