Maximize the Benefits of Your Accounting Conference Attendance with this Post-Event Checklist

Now that we’re in the thick of conference season, you may already have a couple of events under your belt and, if you’re like me, you are looking forward to more! While the events themselves are exceptional opportunities to learn, connect with others, and get away from the daily routine, it’s also critical to maximize their benefit for your firm after you return back to business.

This is why I recommend having a post-event action plan, similar to what you might do after tax season or a big client project. It’s all about reviewing what you learned, who you should loop into your professional circle, and what your next steps should be based on the resources you gained by attending the conference.

Here’s a simple checklist that I use to debrief and decide my next steps after the accounting conferences I attend.

• Ensure you receive your CPE credits for any eligible sessions you attended.
• Make a list of the key takeaways and practical applications you are going to implement in your practice.
• Set S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals to achieve the action items above #2.
• Review all of the business cards, personal connections, and texts, etc. of the people that you met at the conference. Connect with those contacts on LinkedIn and, where appropriate, add them to your CRM. Be sure to send messages of thanks or take action on the necessary follow-up. For example, schedule demos with solution providers and create a plan for connecting with new colleagues for potential referral sources.
• Review post-conference resources provided by the event venue and organizers if there are any.
• Share any knowledge you acquired that is fundamental to your business with your team.
• Determine if the event is worth attending again. If so, make a note in your calendar to check for the next occurrence so you can take advantage of any early registration discounts and plan ahead for the budget expense and time away from your firm.
• Be sure to capture all of your expenses for the current trip, too!

There you have it. The perfect points to cover to make sure you maximize your time spent attending professional accounting conferences.

If you are heading to more conferences soon, such as Engage or Scaling New Heights, I would recommend putting a visit with Veem on your list of must-dos. They are truly a stellar bill payment solution. Of course, you don’t have to wait until the next conference to speak with them. Book time with Veem’s specialists today then when you see them at the next event you attend you’ll be able to add them to your technology stack more easily.

About the Author:

Dawn W. Brolin, CPA, CFE is the founder of Team Brolin and author of The Designated Motivator, a practical guide for individuals who have the passion for engaging, encouraging and empowering others to reach their full potential in business and their  personal lives. 

She is CEO of  Connecticut-based CPA firm, Powerful Accounting Inc., and the owner of Fight Against Fraud, a training organization dedicated to helping accounting professionals and small businesses optimize their operations and reduce their fraud risks. 

Dawn’s extensive accounting expertise and personal entrepreneurial experiences fuel her passion for helping other business owners succeed through the application of smart technology solutions, effective financial management, and comprehensive business continuity and fraud mitigation strategies. 

Dawn’s contributions to the accounting profession are continually recognized with many top awards. Most recently, she was named “2020 Top Niche Practice ProAdvisor: Forensics” as well as one of the “2018, 2019 & 2020 Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” ~ by Accounting Today.

Dawn has appeared on the MSNBC show Your Business and has spoken at national conferences including CPA Academy, Cleveland Ohio Society of CPAs, Intuit QuickBooks Connect Conference, Live Your Legacy, Scaling New Heights, AbacusMaximus, Spark & Hustle, TD Bank, and many others.

Dawn’s in-depth knowledge and down-to-earth, entertaining approach make her an in-demand trainer, speaker, and thought leader on the topics of technology, motivation and strategies for building better professional practices and business organizations.