After adding several significant new members in 2021, 2022 has been a productive and exciting year for AG Africa. It’s been great to visit with all our member firms and attend association events that inspired everyone to think differently about the future of our firms and the region. I look forward to seeing how AG Africa will put these ideas into practice in 2023.
Roshan Morar
I would like to start this post by paying tribute to Roshan Morar, who passed away this year. Roshan was the managing partner at Allinial Global member firm Morar Incorporated, as well as chairperson of the Allinial Global Africa Steering Committee and a member of the Allinial Global EMEIA Regional Board. His contributions were invaluable, and although I miss him professionally, I miss him even more as a friend and mentor. Rest in peace, Roshan.
AG Africa Update
AG Africa saw strong growth in 2021 with the addition of Ijewere & Co. in Nigeria and Ronalds LLP in East Africa. As the largest indigenous firms in their regions with significant expansion strategies, they both contribute tremendously to AG Africa.This momentum has continued through 2022, with membership applications coming from Angola and Libya. Additionally, I have just returned from Zimbabwe to onboard Daniels and Richards, our newest member firm.By early 2023, Allinial Global will be represented in 15 African countries, with more to come.
Travel Bug
As soon as COVID restrictions were lifted this year, Ozgur Demirdoven and I visited every Allinial Global Africa member firm in person. This gave us a unique opportunity to listen and truly understand what AG African members need. Using that feedback, the African Steering Committee met in Durban, South Africa, to develop a strategy specific to the Africa region. Proudly, that’s what sets us apart from our competition.
Travel continued with the EMEIA Regional Conference in Madrid, followed by the Summit & Global Forum in Las Vegas, attracting 178 and 500 delegates, respectively. Clearly, the chance to network, see old friends, and make many new ones was a priority on everyone’s calendar.
Firm of the Future
Variations of this theme were prevalent at the recent Summit & Global Forum in Las Vegas. Sessions on technology, staffing, pricing, payment methods, work-from-home hybrid policies, and how to plan strategically for your firm’s future were top of the list.
It seems that as we move into the future, all of us know What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (a session presented by Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching). However, we are all uncertain exactly how to deal with that statement. A lot of great insights and even better member collaboration came out of the exploration of this topic at our recent association events.
Through these many sessions, one thing is evident to me: Your future firm ultimately won’t include you.
When we strategize as senior partners on how our future firm will look, it’s almost always in reference to what senior partners want the firm to be. The issue is that we develop a future strategy based on present mind set. But, like it or not, senior partners are not the future firm.
So, why are we not including our youngest level of employees in strategic planning? They are the ones who will take the helm eventually. Are they not the Firm of the Future? How they see a future firm is the firm you need to start building now.
Are senior partners then not relevant in strategic planning? They absolutely are!
As one of our keynote speakers, Pascal Finette, explained, the Job to Be Done (JTBD) doesn’t change, but the method of doing it will. The methods or final destination will be defined by the youth of the firm. But to get to that final destination, senior partners play an integral part in guiding the firm on its journey.
In other words, help the next generation build their ideal Firm of the Future, not yours. Ask these up-and-coming stars to define their ideal client, including type, size, sector, tech level, etc. This is the first step to building a future firm. If your firm is comprised of the next generation’s ideal client, your succession is practically guaranteed, and your firm will be poised to remain relevant for decades to come.
ACOA 2023
AG Africa will be attending and exhibiting at the 7th African Congress of Accountants (ACOA 2023), a major event of the Pan-African Federation of Accountants (PAFA). Held in Cote d’Ivoire between 15–18 May 2023, the event is hosted by the Order of Chartered Accountants of Cote d’Ivoire, addressing the theme of Structural Transformation of Our Economies.
This conference takes place every two years, and practically every chartered accountant and auditor in Africa will have received an invitation. If past PAFA conferences are anything to go by, ACOA 2023 will be a must-attend. I am excited to take part and showcase our AG Africa member firms in Cote d’ Ivoire.
I’m looking forward to great things for AG Africa in 2023. If you’d like to learn more about Allinial Global membership and how it can benefit your firm, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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