60 - How to Scale an Accounting Firm with Divakar Vijayasarathy of DVS Advisory Group

In this episode of The Concierge CPA Podcast, Dr. Jackie Meyer interviews Divakar Vijayasarathy, CEO and founder of DVS Advisory Group. Divakar shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to leading a global firm, offering insights into overcoming challenges in accounting, building scalable practices, and fostering innovation. Learn how to approach partnerships, embrace cultural alignment, and redefine success in the accounting industry. Perfect for accountants, entrepreneurs, and professionals seeking actionable advice to scale their businesses and achieve growth!

00:03:32 Tell us a little bit about your background and where you are today.

00:06:41 How did you turn your life around after starting in challenging circumstances?

00:10:03 How much personal responsibility does one take versus relying on fate in life?

00:14:51 Who do you service with your company? Do you work only with high-net-worth clients or smaller firms as well?

00:16:28 What are the chronic challenges accounting firms face that impact scalability?

00:19:47 What makes DVS unique in its business approach compared to traditional accounting firms?

00:24:20 What red flags do you watch out for when partnering with firms?

00:26:12 What are the most important factors you consider in a partner's mindset?

🔗 Connect with Divakar Vijayasarathy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/divakar-dvs/

https://www.onedvs.com/

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jackie Meyer

Jackie's LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiemeyercpa

Jackie on Instagram @jackiemeyerCPA

Jackie’s work at https://www.jackiemeyercpa.com

This episode is brought to you by TaxPlanIQ:

https://www.taxplaniq.com

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In this episode of The Concierge CPA, Dr. Jackie Meyer sits down with Divakar Vijayasarathy, founder and CEO of DVS Advisory Group, to discuss scaling accounting firms, addressing industry challenges, and achieving sustainable growth. With offices in the U.S., Dubai, Singapore, and India, Divakar brings a global perspective to accounting firm growth and shares how his company has achieved over $200 million in annual revenue by aligning entrepreneurial vision with effective execution strategies.

Divakar highlights the need for accountants to transition from compliance-based services to value-driven advisory work, emphasizing that accounting firm growth depends on innovation, collaboration, and strategic alignment with government incentives. By integrating business services with tax advisory, DVS Advisory Group has created a model that transforms firms into value-creation engines, empowering accountants to offer comprehensive solutions beyond traditional services.

A key theme of the discussion is the role of mindset in an accounting firm growth strategy. Divakar stresses the importance of collaborative leadership and removing operational bottlenecks to unlock entrepreneurial potential. His approach to acquiring CPA firms focuses on empowering partners to scale by providing capital, leadership, and operational support. He encourages accountants to envision their firms as institutions, rather than practices, to foster long-term success and adaptability.

Jackie and Divakar also explore the intersection of technology and accounting growth. They discuss how AI and automation can alleviate compliance burdens, enabling accountants to focus on strategic advisory roles. Divakar explains why ownership models, talent acquisition, and execution control are critical factors for scaling firms and outlines how his team has leveraged these principles to achieve global success.

Looking ahead, Divakar predicts a transformation in the accounting profession, driven by a shift from transactional engagements to outcomes-based...