Accounting firms are changing how they staff, price and structure their partnerships. But are those changes working together?

In the second episode of Running the Modern Firm, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown use IPA’s 2026 Practice Management data to examine the operating model behind firm performance.

They explore how leverage changes as firms scale, why adding capacity without adjusting pricing can become a treadmill, how offshoring is reshaping traditional productivity measures and why larger firms are building more layered partnership structures. They also look at why firms are concentrating compensation increases on professionals with three to eight years of experience.

The larger question: Are firms redesigning their operating models intentionally or adjusting individual pieces as pressure builds?

IPA will host a live Q&A on Sept. 24. Chelsea and Rob will answer questions about the 2026 data and the leadership issues explored throughout the series. Set a reminder by clicking “Notify me,” then leave your question in the comments.

Purchase the 2026 IPA Practice Management Report here.

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