Submission Guidelines:

Scaling New Heights sessions are renowned for their deep, actionable training designed to provide immediate value to attendees. We seek proposals from experts capable of delivering intermediate and advanced-level training, ensuring participants leave equipped with practical skills and knowledge to implement in their practices right away. Please indicate the learning level of your session in your submission.

• Submissions must be original and not previously presented at another conference.

• Submissions should be designed to fit a 50 or 100-minute time slot, including time for questions and interaction with the audience. All workshops should be 100-minutes

• Submissions should be relevant to the theme and the chosen track.

• Instructors new to Scaling New Heights must submit a video of them presenting an educational topic.

Presentation Formats:

Presentations can take on one of the following formats:

Keynote: A high-level main-stage presentation designed to set the tone and provide a unified theme for the conference.

Breakout: A lecture format presentation on a specific topic.

Workshop: An interactive, hands-on session where participants learn by doing. 

Panel Discussion: A moderated discussion with a group of experts on a particular topic.

Session Durations:

Keynotes:

• 25-minute sessions

• 45-minute sessions

Breakouts, workshops, and panel discussions:

• 50-minute sessions

• 100-minute sessions (all workshops should be 100 minutes)

Conference Tracks:

Ideal Brand

• Vision, Mission, Purpose: Guide attendees on defining and articulating their firm’s core values and goals.
• Marketing: Provide insights into modern marketing strategies that effectively promote accounting services.

Ideal Technology

• Accounting Platforms and Applications: Discuss the latest advancements in accounting software platforms like QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, AccountingSuite, Zoho Books, NetSuite, Intacct, and more.
• AI and Machine Learning: Showcase practical applications and implementation strategies for AI and machine learning in accounting.
• Automation Tools: Educate on the benefits of automation in streamlining accounting workflows and increasing efficiency, explore the different types of automation tools available, and train to best practices and how to use them. 
• Reporting and Analytics Tools: Introduce cutting-edge tools for data reporting and analytics, and their application in client services.
• General Business Applications: Explore various business applications, such as Microsoft Solutions, Google Workspace, and industry or functional-specific applications that solve client needs and enhance practice management. 
• Vetting Strategies: Teach how to assess and select the right technology solutions for firms.
• Implementation Strategies: Offer practical advice on effectively implementing new technologies.

Ideal Client

• Defining Your Ideal Client: Provide techniques to identify and attract ideal clients.
• Specialization and Niche: Discuss developing specialized services for niche markets.

Ideal Services

These sessions should be technical in nature and teach application and best practices for each service category. 

• Pricing: Share strategies for pricing services to reflect value and ensure profitability.
• Controllership Skills: Controllership is a broad and nuanced term within the profession with many varying definitions. Woodard defines controllership as "services that reduce costs and expenses for the client like spend/purchasing policies, budget administration, fraud mitigation and internal controls. Woodard extends the reach of controllership to include regulatory compliance (e.g., sales tax and payroll tax compliance).
• Cash Flow: Explore best practices in managing cash flow.
• Expense Management and A/P: Teach techniques for effective expense management and accounts payable processes.
• Revenue and A/R: Explain the importance of revenue management and accounts receivable processes.
• Process Optimization: Discuss ways to optimize practice processes for efficiency.
• Financial Planning and Analysis: Provide insights into comprehensive financial planning and analysis services.
• Outsourced CFO Skills: Develop skills needed to offer outsourced CFO services.
• Technology Advisory: Advise on technology investments and implementations.
• Tax Representation: Discuss skills required to represent clients in tax matters.
  
• Tax Planning and Advisory: Offer strategies for proactive tax planning and advisory services.

Ideal Engagement

• Policy: Teach the importance of firm policies and how to develop them.
• Setting Boundaries: Discuss establishing clear boundaries in client engagements, including communication, change orders, and "guarding the front door."

Ideal Team

• Finding Talent: Share strategies for attracting and retaining top talent.
• Firm Culture: Discuss ways to cultivate a positive and productive firm culture.
• Outsourcing / Offshoring: Explore the benefits, best practices, and challenges of outsourcing and offshoring.
• Team Training/Upskilling: Provide insights into ongoing training and development for teams.
• Personal Development/Wellness: Explore strategies for supporting personal development and wellness.
• Management and Leadership: Enhance management and leadership skills, including change leadership.
• Work/Life Synergy: Teach techniques for achieving work-life synergy.
• Productivity and Prioritization: Share tools and methods to boost productivity and prioritize tasks.
• Soft Skills: Address soft skills that build strong client relationships, strengthen teams, and foster professional development.

Ideal Process

• Mapping Processes: Teach how to map and analyze firm processes for efficiency.
• Process Optimization: Discuss ways to optimize firm processes.
• Onboarding and Offboarding Strategies: Best practices when onboarding and offboarding clients from your firm. 

Succession and Exit

• Sessions in this track focus on succession and exit strategies that ensure a successful transition of your clients (or the whole of your practice) and that maximize practice valuation.

Instructor/Writer

• Presentation Skills: Enhance presentation skills for effective communication.
• Writing Skills: Teach techniques to improve professional writing.
• Content Development: Discuss developing engaging and informative content for various platforms.

1 night hotel covered for the night before each presented session.