Understand and embrace concepts vital to your firm’s success and to your individual career. Our Career Development Series is designed to help accounting firms provide vital skill development training to firm members at multiple levels.
Each year we present several series geared toward specific firm levels: Operational Professional, pre-Manager and Manager.
Each series of eight one-hour webinars includes tools for generating discussion and encouraging immediate implementation of lessons learned, establishing a skill development process of listening to learn, learning to do and doing to become.
To ensure that as many people as possible receive value from your firm’s involvement in each series, there’s no limit to the number of individuals at that firm level who can participate in each webinar.
One week after the session, the firm also receives access to on-demand training to allow those unable to attend the live version the opportunity to catch up (and receive CPE). Participants will have one year to request CPE in this way.
To ensure that as many people as possible receive value from your firm’s participation in each series, there is no limit to the number of individuals at the firm level who may join us for each webinar.
$2,500 per firm ($2,100 for UAN members)
Prices will increase on January 1, 2026 to $3,600 per firm ($3,000 for UAN members)
Sessions held at 8am Pacific, 9am Mountain, 10am Central, 11am Eastern
As a professional in the changing field of public accounting, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the firm, your firm members and clients’ businesses. To make the most of your career you need to proactively and consistently improve your skills, confidence and ability. This series will introduce you to the skills you’ll need for career development and best practices for continuous improvement.
Some of the most valuable lessons in public accounting don’t come from textbooks; they come from experience (both yours and others’). We’ll discuss practical insights that shape great professionals and turn capable accountants into trusted advisors: how to manage client expectations, communicate effectively under pressure, build credibility early in your career, etc.
Sustainable success isn’t achieved by chance; it’s created through systems. So, how can you design and implement simple, repeatable processes to improve efficiency, reduce stress, and create long-term consistency? Learn how to replace chaos with clarity and develop habits that ensure quality, accountability, and growth over the long haul.
From automation to analytics, technology can transform how you deliver value to clients. Join us to explore how to apply the “Three E’s” of technology – efficiency, effectiveness, and enhanced experiences – and how to use them to improve client service, enhance your work, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing profession.
Waiting until you’re fully prepared can mean waiting too long. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Jonathan will share insights on identifying emerging opportunities, saying yes to challenges, and learning on the fly, turning uncertainty into strength. Learn how to build confidence, take smart risks, and stretch your capabilities in ways that accelerate your career.
Accounting engagements run smoother when managed like projects. Learn how to apply proven project management concepts (planning, communication, accountability, and follow-through) to deliver exceptional, seamless client experiences every time. We’ll equip you with the tools to anticipate challenges, manage timelines, and ensure quality outcomes that strengthen both client relationships and firm reputation.
AI won’t replace accountants, but accountants who leverage AI might replace those who don’t. Let’s explore how to adapt, upgrade skills, and use AI to make your career more strategic, innovative, and future-ready. Learn how to position yourself for long-term success by integrating AI tools into your workflow and developing uniquely human skills that complement technology.
Integrity forms the foundation of trust in public accounting, but ethical challenges are rarely black and white. To help you navigate the gray areas, let’s work through real-world accounting scenarios to sharpen your ability to make sound, principled decisions—even when the right choice isn’t obvious. You’ll gain practical strategies for resolving ethical dilemmas with professionalism and confidence.
Your mindset drives your success. Learn to recognize limiting attitudes, embrace feedback, and cultivate a growth-oriented abundance mindset that enhances performance, learning, and career satisfaction. We’ll look at how to reframe challenges, transform setbacks into learning opportunities, and cultivate the mental resilience that supports your long-term achievement.
Sessions held at 10am Pacific, 11am Mountain, 12noon Central, 1pm Eastern
One of the most pivotal (but challenging) points in an accounting career is the advancement to Manager. When you become a Manager, you accept greater responsibility for the success of both your team and the firm. Implied in this commitment is your best effort to proactively improve both your skills and your ability to contribute to firm success.
Accountability is a two-way street and great managers know how to inspire accountability without micromanaging. So how can you build a culture where both staff and partners take ownership of outcomes, creating stronger teams and more consistent performance across the firm? Let’s discuss how to set clear expectations, hold others (and yourself) responsible, and create an environment where follow-through is the norm.
Striking the right balance between guidance and independence can be tricky. Join us for this session as Jonathan shares insights on managing with the right level of oversight. Discover how to provide enough structure for success without stifling initiative, helping your team grow while keeping projects on track.
Effective managers know how (and what) to communicate both up and down. Let’s discuss strategies for conveying insights, concerns, and recommendations to firm leaders in ways that build credibility and influence decision-making. We’ll focus on how to share the right information clearly, proactively, and persuasively with firm leadership.
Strategic alliances can open doors to new ideas, clients, and resources. Join Sarah as she discusses how to identify potential collaborators, cultivate relationships, and leverage external alliances for mutual gain. Learn how to network intentionally, form alliances that bring value, and create win-win partnerships that support growth.
Retention is a manager’s responsibility, and retention starts with understanding why people leave. Join us as Jeremy explores the root causes of turnover and provides practical strategies for creating an environment where your best people want to stay. Learn to recognize early warning signs, strengthen engagement, and foster loyalty through meaningful development and communication.
Today’s firms include multiple generations with different expectations, communication styles, work habits, and motivations. Each generation brings unique strengths. So, how can you reduce friction and harness generational diversity to boost your team’s effectiveness and enhance team and firm culture? Let’s create a cohesive, collaborative, high-performing team where everyone feels valued and understood.
AI isn’t just for automating tasks – it’s a powerful leadership tool. AI can boost your management effectiveness through better decision-making, streamlined processes, and deeper insights into team performance. Let’s explore practical ways to incorporate AI into planning, communication, and performance management while maintaining the human connection that drives team success.
Growth doesn’t happen by chance. How you respond to adversity, advocate for others, and embrace accountability can drive personal and team development. The Upstream Growth Triangle helps leaders create team momentum, turn challenges into learning, support others’ growth, and maintain accountability that fuels lasting success.
Sessions held at 12noon Pacific, 1pm Mountain, 2pm Central, 3pm Eastern
Our profession is unique and making a positive impact on the firm and your firm members means understanding what makes accounting firms tick and your role in the firm’s success. During this series, we’ll focus on how you as an operational professional (HR, L&D, COO, Firm Administrator, etc.) can make the most of your career by proactively and consistently improving your skills, confidence and ability.
Operational professionals make things happen, but turning ideas into action requires influence and tact. Let’s look at how to communicate, collaborate, and follow through in ways that drive progress without causing unnecessary conflict or bottlenecks. Learn how to achieve results through others, manage competing priorities, and maintain positive relationships while ensuring things get done.
A learning mindset is essential for everyone in the firm, but too often CPE compliance becomes the focus rather than training to encourage growth, curiosity, and continuous improvement Let’s explore how you can help embed continuous, quality learning into the firm’s DNA to create a culture of lifelong learning that drives firm success.
Not every career path in the firm leads to partner. So how can you identify growth opportunities for non-CPAs and create a framework for building rewarding careers in advisory, operations, and support roles? Let’s discuss leveraging unique skills, training to fill gaps, setting meaningful goals, and developing a challenging and motivating professional path.
Not all rewards motivate. Well-designed retention programs go beyond just pay – they create a sense of purpose. So, how do you develop reward programs that inspire high performers, reinforce firm values, and strengthen team loyalty? Learn how to build reward systems that celebrate excellence, increase engagement, and retain top talent. Discover which reward programs work, and which common practices fall flat.
Finding the right people in a competitive market requires creativity and focus. So how can you attract strong candidates who will strengthen your firm’s culture and demonstrate a great fit from day one? Hiring isn’t about filling a seat. Learn practical techniques for identifying, interviewing, and onboarding talent that adds long-term value to your firm. reputation.
Motivated employees are the key to a firm’s success. So, how can you link personal purpose to professional duties? Heath will share strategies for aligning everyday work with individual priorities and passions to boost performance, focus, and fulfillment. Learn how understanding what drives you (and others) can enhance engagement, satisfaction, and results.
AI is transforming how firms manage operations. From scheduling to reporting, AI can streamline complex back-office tasks, automate repetitive work, enhance data analysis, save time, reduce errors, and allow focus on the work that matters most. Discover how to implement technology that boosts efficiency and supports better decision-making across the firm.
Metrics drive performance – but only if you’re tracking the right ones. Let’s explore how to identify meaningful measures, interpret data, and use insights to make smarter operational decisions. Learn how to distinguish between vanity numbers and true performance indicators, communicate those metrics effectively to leadership, and use data to improve accountability, efficiency, and results.
As with everything Upstream Academy does, your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you are not completely satisfied with the value you receive, we will either refund your money or accept a portion of those fees that reflects your level of satisfaction.
