Hub · Hire and lead

Hire and lead

The first hire is the hardest decision most firm owners make, and the one with the least written about it. After that come the questions every growing team runs into: who does what, how people learn, and what changes when AI drafts the first version of the work.

This is where The Firm keeps its reading on hiring, training and leading a team, with the playbooks first.

Updated 10 November 2026 · 13 pieces

Playbooks

All of Education

Playbook How to hire your first employee at an accounting firm For sole practitioners and small partnerships deciding on a first hire. You finish with a decision, a role written around outcomes, and a plan for the first 90 days. 5 steps4 min read4 to 8 weeks to put in placeTemplate
Playbook How to hire your first employee Can you carry the cost, hire or outsource, a role built on outcomes, pay and where to advertise, the employment basics by country, and the first 90 days. Written playbookTemplate
Playbook Train your team on AI in 30 days A week-by-week rollout: safe use and the policy first, then three shared tasks, champions and measuring real use. Written playbookTemplate
Playbook Train juniors when AI does the grunt work A 12-month pathway: hand-work on purpose, reviewing the AI as training, and a sign-off ladder. Written playbookTemplate

Start with these

Hiring

Hiring your first employee: the revenue benchmarks, red flags, and growth tips for year 1

Navigating the first year of running an accounting firm can be daunting, especially when considering hiring your first employee. This article outlines essential revenue benchmarks and red flags to watch for, ensuring you’re financially prepared and strategically sound before expanding your team.

The Firm newsroom · 29 Nov 2025 · 6 min read

Operations

How to use the “Right People, Right Seats” strategy to build thriving teams

The “Right People, Right Seats” strategy is essential for accounting firms aiming to scale sustainably by aligning team members with roles that fit their strengths and values. By employing accountability charts and the GWC framework, leaders can make informed decisions about team dynamics.

Chad Davis · 29 Nov 2025 · 5 min read

Accounting outsourcing: the firm owner’s honest guide

A practical guide to accounting outsourcing for firm owners: onshore, offshore and hybrid models, what actually delegates well, realistic cost ranges as at mid 2026, and the security and client-communication questions most providers gloss over. It also covers the question nobody selling seats wants to answer: whether AI should change how many you buy.

Trent McLaren · 22 July 2026 · 9 min read

Everything else

Guides and tools

From the AI in Practice Summit

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