Foreword

Great leadership is an essential ingredient to the success of any CPA firm. The best leaders know that embracing change and taking calculated risks are what move a firm forward. Moreover, although the course for the firm is set at the top, it takes a talented staff to take the firm on that path. I truly believe that these are the essential ingredients for progress. Throughout my tenure as president and CEO of the AICPA, the AICPA has focused on building leaders in our profession. We launched several programs that develop young CPAs, current AICPA committee members and seasoned professionals, and our staff. No thriving business just lets change happen to it; you have to shape your future, and you need strong leaders to do that.

This book is part of our ongoing effort to support your leadership development. It is intended to provide you with an intelligent framework for developing your own leadership style, as well as the leadership skills of those around you. After all, many clients look to you— their most trusted business adviser—for direction and expertise.

Author Troy Waugh has made the secret to strong leadership understandable and achievable. Using the model of the pyramid to illustrate his concept, he builds a case for ongoing leadership development, guiding you through the essential ideas and practices that are at the core of great leadership and great firms—each idea building upon the next. Using this powerful framework, you can improve your personal leadership and build solid leaders around you.

I encourage you to explore Troy’s own leadership experiences acquired throughout an impressive career as a CPA in public practice and at several companies. You’ll learn about his specific development, as well as other approaches to leadership discovered by some of the profession’s top leaders in public accounting. Not surprisingly, most well-led firms share the same crucial leadership tenants.

For readers who are starting their accounting careers, my advice is for you to apply the elements of this book throughout your professional life. Readers who are advancing in the ranks of a public accounting firm will find that this book will guide you beyond the mastery of technical skills to become a leader in your firm and community.

Our profession has been on the leading edge of American business for 125 years. Today and the decades that follow will challenge all organizations and professions. The quality of America’s CPAs, their professional commitment, their ethics, their passion, and their dedication to leadership at all levels will ensure our profession’s success for decades to come.

Sincerely—

Barry C. Melancon, CPA
President and CEO
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants