A Practical Roadmap for Introducing Agility to Certified Public Accounting Firms

Gabriel Dickey, DBA, CPA, and William E. Wilcox, PhD, CPA, and Ryan Cahalan, JD, LLM

In BriefFueled by competition, technological changes, and the impact of COVID-19, the landscape for certified public accounting firms is more competitive and dynamic than ever. Organizational agility has become an important feature in empowering firms to turn these potential challenges into opportunities to thrive. This article provides guidance about how an accounting firm can use firm-centric teams to introduce agility into the organization. Based on one firm's case study and academic theory, the authors highlight four distinct phases that firms can follow, from the initial phase of team formation until the final phase of self-governance.