Podcast Guest: How to Stop Bottlenecks at Your Accounting Firm!

 Jen Hamilton was a featured guest on the Building the Premier Accounting Firm podcast, hosted by Roger Knecht, president of Universal Accounting Center.

They discussed how fractional executives can be a powerful win for both firm growth and partner well-being.

You didn’t start your firm to spend your weekends buried in inboxes, fixing the same team issues over and over. But somehow, that’s where you’ve landed—doing everything, leading everyone, and barely keeping up. If you’re the bottleneck in a business built around you, you’re not alone.

In this powerful conversation on the Building the Premier Accounting Firm podcast, Jen Hamilton explains how a fractional COO can help firm owners step out of survival mode and into strategic leadership. It’s not about adding more to your plate—it’s about building the systems and team that finally let you lead.

Key Strategies or Insights

1. Fractional Executives Aren’t a Band-Aid — They’re a Bridge

A fractional COO isn't a temp or a patch job. They're a strategic partner who helps build real operational leadership until your team can carry it themselves.

"We don't want to stay forever. Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job by developing your internal team to lead well." — Jen Hamilton

When hiring a consultant, ask: "How will you make us stronger without you?" If they can’t answer that, keep looking.

2. Founder Bottlenecks Are a Leadership Design Flaw

If you’re still approving everything, solving every problem, and checking every invoice, it’s not because your team is broken. It’s because the structure still revolves around you.

"They think they have a people problem when really they have a process or structure problem."

Audit your day. How many decisions or tasks come to you by default? That’s where you need systems or trained leaders.

3. Your COO Might Already Be on the Team

Many firm owners think they need to hire someone new to solve operational issues. But often, there’s someone already on the team who just needs mentorship and training.

"We can often identify a future COO from your current team. They just haven’t been given the structure and expectations to grow into it."

Look for the team member who takes initiative, asks strategic questions, and wants more ownership. That’s your future COO.

4. Clarity Doesn’t Come from a Whiteboard

Most partners have done the planning sessions. They’ve mapped out big goals. But they’re still stuck in execution because there’s no follow-through.

"Execution breaks down when there’s no system of accountability. Strategy is only useful when it’s implemented week by week."

Don’t just make a plan—build a cadence. Weekly leadership meetings, quarterly planning, and real metrics drive results.

5. You Can Scale Without Losing Control

Delegating doesn’t mean losing your vision or lowering your standards. It means building a business that can execute your vision at scale.

"We don’t take control away from founders. We help them step fully into their role as visionary."

Define what decisions you must own and which ones you can empower others to lead. Then start handing them off, with coaching.

Let’s Make This Personal

Where are you the bottleneck in your firm?

• Are you still approving PTO requests, reviewing every client file, or leading every meeting?
• What would it look like to spend your time on vision, relationships, and growth instead?
• Who on your team could grow into leadership if they had the support?

You don’t have to figure it out alone. And you don’t have to hire a full-time COO to make real change.

Next Steps or Act Now Tips

Here are 5 things you can do this week:

1. List the top 5 decisions only you can make. Start protecting that lane.
2. Identify recurring tasks or approvals. Ask: Can this be delegated with structure?
3. Start a weekly leadership sync. Use it to drive accountability and clarity.
4. Review your org chart. Where are the gaps in true operational leadership?
5. Book a free Quick-Solve Session. One session with a Fractional COO can clarify the first domino to tip.