10 Days to a Better Firm: Work hard, play hard
The Accounting Today 2026 Best Firms to Work For have a litany of ways to keep morale high, during and after the busy tax season. They range from do-it-yourself events like Office Olympics and parking lot barbecues, to firm trips as elaborate as cruises and Disneyland. Fun in healthy doses increases morale, relieves stress and can double as team-building exercises.
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Holiday parties are a simple starting place already held by most workplaces. Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, a Western Regional Leader based in Santa Barbara, California, reported, “Our company hosts an annual holiday party — a festive evening dedicated to celebrating one another and the holiday season. BPW provides excellent food, fun games, exciting prizes and a chance to unwind outside of the work environment.”
But what’s to stop anyone from having fun outside of holiday season? Firms are finding creative ways to celebrate and mingle all year around. For example, Insero Advisors, a Mid-Atlantic Regional Leader based in Rochester, New York, has annual events for staff and their family members to attend, including snow tubing, attending minor league baseball games, an office summer party and a Halloween party.
Insero has a recreation room in its office with a dart board, ping pong table and shuffleboard available for daily entertainment. “Team members enjoy taking a break during the day to play some games; we even have office-wide tournaments during the year,” the firm reported.
Insero has sponsored its own 5K race for the past five years. The firm funds six winners with a lump sum they can donate to a nonprofit of their choice. Similarly, in Providence, Rhode Island, Sansiveri, Kimball & Co. has a firm-sponsored pickleball and golf league during the spring and summer.
The fun isn’t limited to the office, either, especially for those located in metropolitan areas. GishSeiden in Los Angeles took its employees to the Magic Castle for its annual training and team-building event. Other firms are having fun in their area by hosting outdoor crab feasts, attending professional sports games, axe throwing, go-karting, bowling, crafting cocktails and more. The more creative, the better.
Others look further. GEMRT CPA, a Gulf Coast Regional Leader based in Coral Gables, Florida, takes its employees on a firm cruise. Sarah Berry, CPA, in Texarkana, Texas takes its employees on an annual vacation-retreat. Last year, they went to Costa Rica.
This is Day Five of “10 Days to a Better Firm,” an article series diving into common strategies and unique tactics that leading firms are using to recruit and retain talent. Check in daily to complete your 10-day journey to a better firm.
