IT’S a well-worn truth that small business owners wear every hat in the office. The same applies to the small firm accountant. Unlike their counterparts in big accounting firms or the corporate finance departments of large enterprises, accountants in small practices rarely have the luxury of compartmentalization. They are the auditor, tax consultant, client counselor, HR officer, payroll officer, and sometimes even IT support — all before lunch. Taking on all these roles has a cost, and most small-firm CPAs are paying it quietly with their well-being.
The small firm CPA’s case for getting outside
