The CA Thingy
Why the Best CAs Think Like Product Managers
May 17, 2025
Top-performing CA firms are no longer just service providers—they're product thinkers. By borrowing strategies from product management, they create scalable, client-centric experiences that drive loyalty and efficiency. Here's how adopting this mindset can transform your practice.
1. Treat Your Services Like Products
- Package your expertise: Bundle compliance with advisory into defined "products" (e.g., "Growth CFO Package")
- Standardize deliverables: Create templates for reports, timelines, and communications
- Example: One firm reduced onboarding time by 40% by productizing their tax planning process
2. Build Feedback Loops Into Every Service
- Client surveys: Automate short pulse checks after key deliverables
- Team retrospectives: Weekly 15-min reviews of what's working/not working
- Data-driven decisions: Track which services have the highest retention and margins
3. Iterate Like a Tech Startup
- Test small changes: Try new report formats with 5% of clients before rolling out
- Fail fast: If an advisory offering isn't working, pivot within a quarter
- Continuous improvement: Update service "products" annually like software versions
4. Map the Client Journey
- Identify touchpoints: From first contact to annual reviews
- Remove friction: Automate document collection where clients typically stall
- Create wow moments: Surprise clients with proactive insights at key decision points
5. How The CA Thingy Enables Product Thinking
- Service templates: Pre-built workflows for different "productized" offerings
- Feedback tools: Built-in client satisfaction surveys and NPS tracking
- Usage analytics: See which services clients engage with most
Final Thoughts
- Productizing your services doesn't make them impersonal—it makes them scalable
- The best CAs combine financial expertise with client experience design
- Start small: Choose one service to productize this quarter using The CA Thingy's templates