{"id":6339,"date":"2019-06-18T10:33:19","date_gmt":"2019-06-18T14:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=6339"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:15:31","slug":"does-your-firm-need-a-project-manager-yes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/does-your-firm-need-a-project-manager-yes\/","title":{"rendered":"Does your firm need a project manager? Yes!"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/accountants\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Accountants<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDoes your firm need a project manager? Yes!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2019-06-18T10:33:19-04:00\">June 18, 2019<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Does your firm need a project manager? Yes!\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/does-your-firm-need-a-project-manager-yes\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/sandrawiley\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/Sandra-Wiley_square-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/Sandra-Wiley_square-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/Sandra-Wiley_square-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/Sandra-Wiley_square-810x810.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/Sandra-Wiley_square.jpg 1253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Sandra Wiley<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The complexity and rate of change in the accounting profession today requires firms to juggle multiple projects throughout the year: evaluating technology decisions, handling recruiting, training and onboarding, process improvement initiatives, strategic planning, mentoring, and coaching, just to name a few. Often, responsibilities for all of these projects falls on the shoulders of partners who are already busy with marketing and business development, client service, and practice management. If that sounds familiar, it\u2019s time for your firm to hire a project manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How often have you attend a conference where you listened to speakers, participated in roundtables and networked with peers? You return to the office with a pile of ideas jotted down on paper, saved in your smartphone or tablet, or emailed to other partners in the firm. You leave the conference full of motivation to make changes in your firm, but those ideas are soon put on the back burner or buried under client engagements and other pressing responsibilities. A project manager could take that pile of ideas, turn them into actions and see them through to completion. Firms increasingly realize the value they can create by hiring a professional dedicated to this role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/innovation-hiring-people\/\">hiring a project manager<\/a> for your firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-identify-goals-and-responsibilities-for-the-position\">Identify goals and responsibilities for the position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What types of projects will your PM work on? A project manager can work in a number of areas, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Human resources<\/strong> &#8211; Assist with recruitment, selection of candidates, orientation, training, coaching and reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic planning<\/strong> &#8211; Contributing information and recommendations for strategic planning, assigning responsibilities for action items<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial<\/strong> &#8211; Forecasting requirements, preparing annual budgets, managing expense reports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Process improvements<\/strong> \u2013 Obtaining buy-in from other partners and staff, scheduling follow-ups and gathering feedback after implementation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology<\/strong> \u2013 Assisting your internal or external IT teams with selecting and implementing new solutions and training staff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, the PM\u2019s role is not handling all of the tasks involved themselves, but managing the project by overseeing the initiative and ensure it all comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-invest-in-the-necessary-online-tools\">Invest in the necessary online tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>CPAs may pride themselves on their organizational aptitude, but few have ever been exposed to a systematic method for tracking projects and understanding where in the process the staff is and whether the project is on track to be finished on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>True project management requires a tool for keeping track of multiple tasks and subtasks (each with a start date, duration and end date), assigning people to each task or subtask and tracking deliverables. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/project-management-and-accounting-system\/\">An Excel spreadsheet won\u2019t cut it<\/a>. Fortunately, there are several options on the market, from free base versions to premium options with all of the bells and whistles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you hire a project manager, consider the tools that your PM will use to gain insight and information on the projects. Evaluate, select and implement those tools and the processes needed for these projects before you hire, so you can look for an expert who is familiar with those tools. Otherwise, you\u2019ll either hire a PM that needs to spend time learning your system or hire someone who needs to implement their preferred tool and spend time training everyone else to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hire-the-best-candidate\">Hire the best candidate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The person you hire doesn\u2019t necessarily need experience working in a CPA firm. They just need to be proficient in managing projects. Knowledge of the accounting industry can follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look for candidates who are proactive, enthusiastic and motivated, have a positive attitude and can manage stress and multiple deadlines. Communication skills and cultural fit are also critical, as your PM will need to be respected by peers and know how to coach, lead and mentor team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may seem as though hiring a project manager is an unnecessary expense, but if you\u2019re missing deadlines on your internal projects, have teams that are not communicating well, and budgets that are going out the window, then it\u2019s time to hire a dedicated project manager. The right person will free up a lot of your time by taking on a chunk of your workload, and you can use this additional time for other important matters and creating more value for your firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">The Practice of Now 2020<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discover how accounting is on the brink of positive disruption and what accountants and bookkeepers can do to be successful.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-af179c0a-d833-41d2-8cd3-ed86dcd20fb1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get the report<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1214\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/10\/BusinessVoice-1214x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Man in home office\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/10\/BusinessVoice-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The complexity and rate of change in the accounting profession today requires firms to juggle multiple projects throughout the year: evaluating technology decisions, handling recruiting, training and onboarding, process improvement initiatives, strategic planning, mentoring, and coaching, just to name a few. Often, responsibilities for all of these projects falls on the shoulders of partners who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":642,"featured_media":6038,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[2,257,380],"business_type":[312],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[55],"persona":[150],"imagine_tag":[],"coauthors":[738],"class_list":["post-6339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accountants","tag-accountants","tag-boomer-consulting","tag-client-advisory-services","business_type-accountants","industry-professional-services"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Sandra Wiley","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/GettyImages-533719066.jpg","imagine_tags":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/642"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6339"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35208,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6339\/revisions\/35208"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/6038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=6339"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=6339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}