AAFCPAs Launches Flexible Work Arrangements Policy for Staff

AAFCPAs recently launched a Work from Anywhere model, which allows our 300+ member team the flexibility to customize how, when, and where they work, as long as the individual’s plan accounts for excellence in client service!

“Covid has certainly offered life-changing experiences for us all,” said Carla McCall, the firm’s Managing Partner.  “At AAFCPAs, we have worked closely with our team members and clients to determine the best balance of in-person and remote work moving forward. We surveyed our entire company and have now launched a Work from Anywhere model with guidelines to help shift our mindset.”

What Do We Mean by Shifting our Mindset?

• Not all employees want or need to come to a physical office or client site to effectively perform their work responsibilities. This has greatly expanded the firm’s ability to recruit strong talent, including those outside our typical geography.
• Not all employees need to work the traditional M-F, 9-5 to effectively perform their work responsibilities. For example, one new team member blocks his calendar M-F from 3-5pm to get his kids settled after school. He finds time outside of “regular business hours” for business productivity.
• Some employees prefer the resources and structure that the office provides. Our team will continue to have on-demand access to our collaborative, technology-rich, and inspiring workspaces in Boston, Westborough, and Waltham, MA.
• Most employees prefer a Hybrid work arrangement, with flexibility to choose which days they come to an office. This offers the opportunity to get out of the home office, get energy from a new environment, and collaborate in person.

With the shift, AAFCPAs is providing training for our team on managing remote teams and building in more intentional relationship building events and time to ensure we don’t lose the comradery that is so engrained in our culture.

“Leaders must maintain a focus on exceptional client service and accountability for quality of work produced, not where and when someone achieves these expectations,” adds McCall. “We respect that everyone is different. We expect teams to have candid conversations and to be flexible about how they need to work and what they expect out of others. It’s a balance that requires strong communication protocols.”

AAFCPAs’ ongoing investments in processes, systems, and training—and our collective performance in a mostly remote environment over the past two years—have proven we are effectively remote-enabled.

We are well-equipped to offer bespoke work-life balance, and at AAFCPAs, we are embracing and driving the transformation!