Managing a tax practice is as much about people as it is about numbers. Yet too many firm owners struggle with high turnover, overworked staff, or teams that just don’t seem aligned. As Peter Drucker once said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” If you want a sustainable and profitable tax practice, you need more than talent—you need a healthy, focused team.
The IRS offers guidance on practice operations, which outlines rules around representation and ethics. But creating a people-first firm culture is largely up to you.
Here’s how to do it:
Clarify Your Firm’s Mission and Values
Staff want to know they’re part of something meaningful. Define why your firm exists—whether it’s to defend taxpayers from IRS abuse, help small businesses thrive, or something else—and talk about it often.
Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill
You can teach someone the technicalities of tax return prep, installment agreements and Offer in Compromise processes. What’s harder to teach is empathy, communication, and a client-focused mindset. Focus on soft skills during interviews.
Create Clear Roles and Workflows
Confusion leads to burnout. Everyone on your team should know what they’re responsible for and how their work contributes to the client experience. Use tools like Loom, Asana, or SnagIt to document processes and keep tasks visible.
Offer Flexibility and Autonomy
According to Gallup, employees who feel they have control over their work are more productive and less likely to quit. If possible, allow for remote work, flexible hours, or project-based timelines.
Invest in Development
Even entry-level staff appreciate a path forward. Offer CPE opportunities, pay for professional development, or assign junior staff to assist on more complex cases. This builds loyalty and increases your firm’s overall competence.
Hold Weekly Team Meetings
A 30-minute check-in once a week can go a long way. Celebrate wins, discuss roadblocks, and keep everyone aligned. Keep it structured: updates, priorities, and shout-outs. Stick to the agenda and time.
Use Tools to Reduce Repetitive Work
Automate data entry, document collection, and invoicing. The less time your team spends on tedious tasks, the more they can focus on high-value client work.
Protect Your Team’s Time
Don’t overload them with too many clients or unrealistic deadlines. Build buffer time into your workflows. Burnout is expensive.
Create a Culture of Feedback
Ask for input. What’s working? What’s not? An open-door policy—or regular anonymous surveys—can help you spot and fix issues before they become big problems.
A happy team isn’t a luxury. It’s a competitive advantage.
As Richard Branson famously said, “Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of your business.” At Tax Resolution Academy®, we help tax pros build not just better businesses, but better workplaces.
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Here’s to working smarter, not harder!
And a brighter future for your tax practice!
If you want to know more consider joining the Tax Resolution Academy® by clicking this link
I hope this helps.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us.
I would love to hear your thoughts, challenges, and successes in writing your very own book.
Have a GREAT day,
Cordially,
Dan
Dan Henn, CPA, CTR™
Co-Founder, Tax Resolution Academy®
Managing Member
Tax Pro Academy, LLC
P.S. Want to learn more about the Tax Resolution Academy®, go to https://community.taxresolutionacademy.com.
P.P.S. Check out our CPE classes here! Click the link to Follow our page and you will be notified when we release new classes.
