People in Practice Roundtable
A California peer exchange for operational leaders at accounting firms.
Candid, practical conversations about the people, workforce, and operational challenges involved in running an accounting firm.
What Is People in Practice?
People in Practice Roundtable brings together operational leaders from accounting firms across California to discuss the shared people, workforce, and operational challenges involved in running their organizations.
Facilitated by Duffy Kruspodin’s Alli Smith, and Allan Fisher, President of Premier Financial Search, People in Practice creates space for candid discussion among peers who understand both the accounting profession and the realities of operating in California.
A Place for Practical Peer Discussion
Conferences, associations, and benchmarking resources provide valuable information, but they do not always provide the opportunity to talk candidly with peers about what is happening inside their firms.
People in Practice creates room for those conversations. Participants can discuss real challenges, hear how other firms are responding, and exchange practical perspectives in a collaborative setting grounded in the realities of operating an accounting firm in California.
Leaders Responsible for People, Operations, and Firm Management
People in Practice is designed for professionals working within California accounting firms who have responsibility for people, operations, administration, finance, or broader firm-management decisions.
Participants may include COOs, firm administrators, operations and administration leaders, managing partners, CFOs, controllers, HR leaders, and other professionals whose responsibilities influence how the firm operates and supports its people.
NEXT ROUNDTABLE: October 22, 2026
12PM-1:30PM PST
People in Practice gives operational leaders at California accounting firms a place to compare approaches, share practical experience, and learn from peers facing similar people, workforce, and operational challenges.
Conversations Shaped by the Issues Accounting Firms Are Facing
People in Practice is designed to respond to the priorities of participating firms rather than follow a fixed curriculum.
Built for Practical Peer Exchange
- Quarterly, 90-minute virtual meetings, with approximately 30 participants.
- Participant-informed conversations shaped by the challenges and topics members share during registration.
- Candid, confidential peer exchange among accounting firm peers.
- Clear non-solicitation boundaries, so the focus stays on education, collaboration and shared experience .
FAQs
People in Practice is for operational leaders inside California accounting firms who have responsibility for people, operations, administration, finance, or firm management.
Participants can share their current challenges and topic interests during registration. That input helps shape future discussions and meeting agendas.
Yes. Confidential information discussed within the group is expected to remain within the group. Participants should share only information they are comfortable discussing and respect firm-specific information shared by others.
Occasionally. Subject matter experts or other industry professionals may be invited when their experience is relevant to the agenda and can contribute useful perspective.
Meet the Roundtable Facilitators
ALLISON SMITH, PHR
Director of People Operations
Allison leads Duffy Kruspodin’s HR Services practice, helping clients strengthen compliance, streamline people operations, and navigate sensitive workforce matters. She works closely with small and mid-sized teams to build reliable HR systems that support growth and reduce risk.
ALLAN FISHER
President, Premier Financial Search
A trusted connector in the public accounting community, Allan has spent his career placing operational and financial leaders at top CPA firms across the country.
Join Next Discussion
Connect
with operational leaders from California accounting firms for practical peer
discussion
around the people, workforce, and operational issues affecting their
firms.