Maggie, People & Culture Manager:
I learned about ConnectCPA in 2018 at a time when remote work was rare and cloud systems were only just starting to become more popular. ConnectCPA’s culture and love for technology was exciting to me, and in 2021, I joined the team as employee number 52 and now three and half years later we are a team of over 120 incredible individuals. Working with such an incredible and diverse team has helped me grow and learn new skills both professionally and personally.
Over the last several years our team has grown, and as a result, change has been inevitable. Our department has had to adapt our approach and create more standard processes, working alongside our leaders to keep things fair and consistent. Keeping our core values, mission, and culture at the centre of every decision wasn’t just possible, it was necessary.
Marge, People & Culture Senior Specialist:
I met Marge a year into her ConnectCPA journey when she was supporting the bookkeeping team. Her compassion and enthusiasm for her teammates made her a perfect fit for the People & Culture team. She jumped in head-first, assisting with our hiring process, splitting semi-annual check-ins with me, and taking the lead on a major benefits project. The energy she brings to any discussion is contagious, her knowledge is invaluable to our team and I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we appreciate her!
“Joining ConnectCPA was one of the best decisions I’ve made - the company truly cares for its people, fosters an incredible culture, and is made up of talented, kind-hearted individuals.” - Marge
There is a lot that goes into building, maintaining, and supporting a successful team. It breaks down into two categories. Hiring the right people and how you keep them.
Hiring:
We Value The Person Behind The Professional
Reshaping an industry that is set in its way isn’t easy, but building a team with individuals of excellent character and who are personable will get you there. I start every interview by asking “Tell us about yourself outside of work. What are your hobbies, passions, and things you do for fun?” We want to know the person behind the professional. We look for candidates who are passionate, humble, solution-focused, reliable, dedicated, and curious. Seeking candidates with these qualities creates a team of high performers who are adaptable, creative, understanding, and supportive of one another.
We Put Our Best Foot Forward
More than ever, interviews have become a two-way street, and the candidate's decision is as important as the recruiter’s. The last thing you want is to meet the perfect candidate, only to lose them before the offer because they aren’t excited about the role. At ConnectCPA, we talk about our mission, share what we are passionate about, and what value we hope to add to the candidate’s career throughout the hiring process. From our job postings on LinkedIn and BambooHR to interviews, and then the offer stage - step by step, we share it all.
We Use Tools To Find The Right People
We started using Vervoe in the Spring of 2023 to better understand the skills our candidates bring to the table. Vervoe allows us to create an assessment that is unique to each role. This tool allows us to test the candidates’ abilities to get the job done and gives them a sneak peek of the work they will encounter if they join the team. With our resume volume surpassing 13,000 resumes a year, the data Vervoe provides is invaluable to help us narrow down our decision.
At ConnectCPA, we are breaking the molds of a traditional accounting firm, and we want to hire people who are ready for the challenge. Since adding Vervoe to our hiring process, we’ve reduced our skill-related turnover, hired candidates who are excited about the work we do, and tailored our training to candidate’s unique needs.
Supporting Our Team:
We Celebrate Our Wins
With over 25 staff promotions last year alone, it’s no secret that our team is committed to greatness -and we’re very proud of that. From their first performance check-in at the three-month mark, our managers work with their team members to create goals aligned with their career aspirations, while intertwining company objectives. Action plans are created to help the team achieve success. No win is too small, which is evident by our ‘Kudos’ Slack channel being full of achievements that we celebrate together. I say it all the time, what makes our team great is that if we are going to win, we will win together.
We’re Intentional About Connecting
Our team is a lot of fun and they love to connect. We have a ton of casual and fun Slack channels where we can share pictures of our pets, what music we are listening to, and what shows have us hooked. Each month, we host a company-wide hangout to play games, celebrate exciting life updates, and connect in breakout rooms for personal conversations. We also have a weekly coffee chat called ‘Sip & Share’ - we originally thought we’d need planned topics, but our team always sparks the best organic discussions. Marge and I keep our calendars open for anyone who wants to chat, and we also schedule semi-annual check-ins to ensure we connect with everyone. And of course, we love a little friendly competition! From our ‘Jump 4 June’ fitness challenge, where we see who can log the most KMs walked, run, or biked, to our ‘due-date’ guessing games and holiday ‘mini-games’, there’s always something fun happening
We’re Team First
Our team is ready to support one another at a moment's notice because we know that you can’t be at 100% every day, and that’s okay. Life happens and it’s unrealistic to expect that personal stresses, illness, or mental health matters won’t affect work. Knowing you can lean on your teammates when the going gets tough creates trust and authentic connection. We owe our department's success to the people we work with. They make maintaining a healthy work culture simpler with their genuine care and support of one another.
As I reflect on my four years with the company, I can’t help but feel incredibly grateful. I’ve learned so much, and grown both professionally and personally. Mondays no longer feel like something to dread, because I know I’m part of a strong, supportive team that tackles challenges together. I’m thankful for the experiences, the growth, and most importantly, the amazing people I get to work with every day.
