Unfortunately most of the talent leaves when they realize how poorly managed the organization is and the lack of pipeline coming up through the ranks. This is one of the most poorly managed organizations I have encountered in my career, either at a professional services firm or through the lens of my many clients over the years.
Constant personnel and leadership changes without clarity or notice. Die-hard optimism that overly rosy projections can be met without little understanding of shifting markets, changing professional services landscape, capacity and support. Over reliance on antiquated billing models that have team members miserable, chasing 1,800 billable hours per year….even though the CEO announced the end of charge hours. There is an authoritarian vibe that seems to pervade all offices. There is outright hostility and ruthlessness in carrying out the agenda of C Suite executives, who brag about flying to Europe to see Taylor Swift because the tickets were cheaper, then turning around and authorizing 0% salary increases and no profit sharing to employee retirement accounts, Vindictive brown nosing that feels scarily like a cult. Benefits and pay have been getting worse and worse every year. Leadership cannot seem to get it together, plan is constantly changing, abruptly about face with no explanation.
Unrealistic charge hour expectations on top of admin, BD, team oversight, etc. Constantly rotating senior leaders from one role to the next, without bringing in new/fresh perspectives that actually win in the market. Lack of integration across offices, services, industries. Long time clients leaving in mass, especially if previous firm merged into CLA. Leaders want all of the credit, no support for future leaders rising through the ranks.
