At TBC, relationships and growth are key
Accounting firm focuses on helping employees reach the next level
Albany-based Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte CPAs & Advisors was founded more than 50 years ago in 1971, and with many of its founding leaders now in retirement, “the firm has, in some sense, turned over,” says Robert L. Kind, managing shareholder and partner. He started at TBC in 1998 and is an example of the group’s promoting from within.
Born on April 15 — Tax Day — he was also destined to be an accountant.
He and Alison Anechiarico, TBC’s director of marketing, are part of the firm’s employee engagement team, responsible for staff motivation, morale and, ultimately, success.
“Rob is kind of the gatekeeper of all,”
Anechiarico says, “and it’s one of his drives and one of the most important things to him, and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful at it.”
Kind is quick to credit his employees. “Being a professional service firm, our people are our business,” he says. “We’re not selling any kind of a product, or we don’t have machinery. It’s kind of like our people are really everything we do.”
“I think it’s all about giving people a path to move forward,” says Kind. The firm has seen up to 10 promotions a year.
Management will meet individually with every member of the firm’s more than 100-person staff, including a mid-year “stay interview” where they address the employee’s concerns, review their performance and explain what the next level would look like. And then provide the training to get there. Anechiarico says Kind “takes the time to individually meet with every employee.”
“That hits home with them,” Kind says, “that ‘my leadership cares about my future, not just today.’”
Kind and his team also provide rewards for work well done. Anechiarico points out their “Excellence in Action” awards, which could involve items and apparel with the TBC logo, monetary benefits or more. There are also group outings and activities.
In addition, flexibility and remote work were already in play before the pandemic and have only increased. Maternity leave has been extended. And Tax Day involves a party each year — and a day off the next day.
“I think from a culture standpoint it seems like it’s not all about money anymore,” says Kind. “I think it’s more timeoff, flexibility. We want people to have time off with their families, we don’t want it to be just all you do is work, work, work.”
Both Kind — who coaches his sons’ sports teams — and working mother Anechiarico benefit from that as well.
“We’re doing things all the time to try and keep the culture up, and people’s good spirits going,” says Kind, “but I think at the end of the day it still comes down to the relationships you have.”