Every CPA practice has its own rhythm but all practices should be sure that their financial engine is tuned to optimize key performance achievements. As you take steps to calibrate your engine, the following should be part of your settings:

Winning performances in sports and theater come from having the right talent, and possessing a passion to perform. The same holds true for a CPA practice. Since selecting the best and the brightest employees plays such a critical role in a firm's success, having a smart recruiting strategy in place is a must – and the first step is to improve the scouting and screening process.

Many CPAs in public practice are well acquainted with professional handbooks, such as the GAAP Guide or the Master Tax Guide. When it comes to client continuity, however, there is no stock, published guidebook for a topic that is so essential for CPA firms. Much like any of the favorite professional manuals, a guide to client continuity has to be used and not just produced and studied. It should contain core provisions for maintaining and building quality relationships, but should also have personal and individual inserts that reflect the personality and culture of the firm.