TTPP116: Growing and Scaling a Tax Team: Advice, Stories and Tips with David Francis, Partner at Grant Thornton

This episode is focussed on growing or scaling a tax team in a professional services firm – something which is not natural for us as tax professionals. Our guest, David Francis, Partner and Head of Tax Dispute Resolution at Grant Thornton, shares his experiences and advice for how to grow a tax team, so that you can do the same. 

Show notes: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/TTPP116

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You’ll Learn

• A bit about Dave and his tax career
• (11:00) When Dave started getting involved in growing a tax team
• (20:30) The GT tax dispute resolution team when Dave stated there and the business plan to grow
• (25:15) Was team culture covered in the business plan?
• (30:00) The culture Dave wants in his growing tax team
• (35:15) The Service Line Agreement that Dave’s team had created – what is it?
• (45:00) Wrapping thoughts up: David’s advice to scale a tax team
• (48:30) The work-winning side of scaling a tax team. How to ensure you have enough
• (54:00) Dave’s leadership philosophy 
• (1:00:00) Dave’s plan to grow the team further

Resources

Masterclasses designed for tax professionals to help you master vital career skills:

• Tax Research Masterclass – teaching you how to find the answer to even the most complex tax queries, with the least pain possible.
• Tax Advice Masterclass – teaching you how to provide high-quality tax advice that your clients appreciate and value.

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Chapters

• 0:00 David F Ep
• 11:19 Going back in time: when David started getting involved in growing a tax team
• 18:31 The GT tax investigations team when Dave started there & business plan to grow
• 20:49 Dave's business plan for growth
• 25:20 Was team culture covered in the business plan?
• 30:05 The culture that Dave wants in his growing tax team
• 35:29 The "Service Line Agreement" that Dave's team has created
• 45:05 Wrapping up thoughts on growing a tax team. David's advice to scale a tax team
• 48:41 The work-winning side of scaling a tax team: how to ensure you have enough
• 54:22 Dave's tax-leadership philosophies
• 57:05 Leadership approach where underperforming
• 1:00:19 Dave's plan to grow the team further
• 1:03:53 Key Points from conversation with Dave re growing a tax team