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In this episode, Rob talks with Joe Romano, founder of Romano & Associates, a tax planning and preparation firm with 19 full-time employees and more than 1,500 clients. Joe shares how his team stays sane during tax season, the deliberate choices he's made to reduce burnout, and why offshore talent has become essential to both client satisfaction and employee wellbeing. He also breaks down the ROI of administrative support, the importance of professional development in a rapidly changing tax landscape, and the culture practices that have allowed his firm to maintain less than 1% client attrition and almost zero accountant turnover in nine years.
About the Guest
Joe Romano is the founder of Romano & Associates, a fully remote tax planning and preparation firm he launched nine years ago. The firm now serves over 1,500 clients with a blended team of U.S.-based accountants and WorkBetterNow offshore administrative professionals. Joe is known for his intentional leadership, strong firm culture, and commitment to investing in both client experience and team wellbeing.
Episode Highlight
"The big ROI is making sure nobody cries. Keeping everybody happy and keeping everybody sane."
Actionable Insights
- Flexibility beats rigidity during high-pressure seasons: Joe doesn't enforce strict 9–5 schedules during tax season. Instead, he focuses on outcomes and client happiness, allowing people to choose the hours that help them stay productive and sane. [04:10]
- Administrative offshore talent boosts both capacity and morale: WorkBetterNow assistants help managers and tax preparers stay focused on high-value work. This has reduced turnaround times (from 7 days down to 1–2), improved client satisfaction, and kept the team under 60-hour workweeks, even at peak season. [05:20]
- Invest heavily in professional development, especially when regulations change: Every employee clocks ~40 hours of CPE annually, even if they're not CPAs. Joe believes education and upskilling are non-negotiable for quality, confidence, and protecting the firm from risk. [15:09]
Download This Episode's Workbook Ready to apply these insights to your own business? Download the free workbook to get started.
More About Joe Romano
Check out Romano & Associates Connect with Joe on LinkedIn.
More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow
Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel! Follow Rob Levin on Substack. Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.
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