New Awards Result in New Expectations
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By David Roberts |
| Publication Date: Tax Planning 2010 | |
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Last year I wrote about some of our key strategic elements, including our recruitment and retention of outstanding people and our investment in the resources necessary to develop our firm to be strong, both technically and in its leadership. The cornerstone of our vision – to have a firm with the best trained staff providing the highest level of client service – is the foundation upon which our latest recognition is built. With great pride, I am excited to share that 2010 was a banner year for RBZ in terms of recognition from our peers – both locally and nationally.
Our firm has been honored to receive the following awards:
- One of the “Best Places to Work” in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Business Journal, in fact, we’re #3;
- One of the “Best Accounting Firms To Work For” in the U.S., Accounting Today; and
- One of the top 25 “Best of the Best” managed accounting firms (regardless of size) in the U.S. (as ranked by Inside Public Accounting).
These recognitions are not a result of luck. Rather, they are the realization that, with our strategic vision firmly in place, we are charting a steady and intentional course for the continued improvement and success of RBZ. They are milestones and measurements of our accomplishments, proving that our strategic initiatives have been on target and are yielding consistent, positive results. These distinctions validate that all members of the RBZ team have done an exceptional job of both embracing and implementing the RBZ vision.
The decision to develop a firm wide strategy is easy. The time, emotional and financial investment and dedication required to stick with your plan day after day, is not. It takes an enormous effort from everyone, not just a few people, to bring the strategic vision from words and diagrams into action and results. All of the incredibly positive, independent recognition we are experiencing is the exciting realization that our strategy is working.
Even in this tough economy, it is imperative that RBZ continue to invest in the development of our people, invest in a strong technical infrastructure, and invest in the continuance of a positive and rewarding work environment. Along with all of this, we will continue to provide the highest level of client support and service.
Together, we must continually strive to set the bar higher, capitalizing on our competitive advantage in the industry. RBZ has become the benchmark by which others are measuring themselves. Without driving continuous improvement, we will be in jeopardy of becoming just another average firm. The challenge is to continue the constant desire to improve – demonstrating that we are committed to excellence both internally to our own people (through our training and development programs) and externally to our clients by continuing to strive for the highest level of client service.
Technical excellence, timeliness, leadership, and stability are requisite RBZ client expectations. More so now than ever before, we have an obligation to our clients – and to each other – to maintain (and constantly strive to enhance) this level of superior service. We want the recognition we have received to solidify in the minds of our clients that they are serviced by a “marquee” firm – A firm they trust and builds their own reputation simultaneously. Word of mouth “advertising” is one of the strongest munitions in our arsenal: Our reputation and recognition becomes a source of pride for them, just as it does for us.
Awards are gratifying, but short lived – the reality is that they continue to raise the bar when it comes to the expectations of clients and our people. We must never lose sight that our latest recognitions are the result of years of planning, investment and hard work by many people. I never imagined RBZ would be named one of the best places to work or best managed firms in the US. It’s humbling that our people and our firm have been recognized as leaders in the industry. A tremendous “thank you” to all of our employees and management team for leading our firm to the forefront of our profession.
