The 2021 Best Firms to Work For: RSM

Client Industries Served: Expertise includes: Consumer Products; Energy; Financial Services; Government; Health Care; Life Sciences; Manufacturing; Nonprofit; Private Equity; Real Estate and Construction; Technology; Business and Professional Services; Education; Gaming; Government Contracting; Native American; Private Club.

Consulting Service Lines: Management Consulting, Data and Digital Services, Managed Technology Services, Business Applications, Risk Consulting, Financial Consulting, and Transaction Advisory Services.

CMAG: How would you say you've managed to stay among the industry's Best Firms to Work For amid these unprecedented times?

We knew we had a great culture at RSM but we didn't know what effect the move to a 100% remote workforce would have. What we learned is that a strong culture survives and perseveres because it's a function of the people and personalities that comprise it—not a function of a physical office or location. I think RSM went the extra mile to communicate and check-in with our employees to be sure they not only had the resources they needed to do their job, but also to cope with the personal challenges that came with the new reality. If anything, the bonds we feel for our coworkers grew stronger over the last year as we recognized how much we missed the teamwork and camaraderie we all feel when we are together in the same room.

CMAG: Were there any specific programs or initiatives (internal or external) that contributed to you being a Best Firm to Work For?

RSM's strong commitment to the development of our people includes programs like our Industry Eminence Program and Pursue Your Passion, programs intended to help our people achieve their personal and professional goals. Along with those extensive professional development and growth opportunities comes a commitment to community outreach programs, including our firm-wide Volunteer Day, our Birdies Fore Love program and our extensive Culture, Diversity and Inclusion efforts. We want to help our team members develop as professionals but also as strong contributors to our firm's culture and to the communities in which we live. It's a vital part of what makes RSM a great place to work and something our team members say they appreciate.

CMAG:  What is unique about your firm? What sets it apart?

The personal and professional growth you can achieve at RSM is something I don't think other firms can match. Given the opportunities our team members have now, with the growth in demand for our services, they can map their own course for their career—one that matches their skills, interests and goals. And, as inclusion on this "Best Firms to Work For" list confirms, we have a great culture at RSM. So many people who join our firm from elsewhere comment about the family feel of RSM. While we have the capabilities of a large firm, the RSM culture is that of a much smaller company.

A key to our culture is what we call our 5 Cs: We are caring, curious, collaborative, courageous, critical thinkers. We believe these five key characteristics are core to our culture and essential to successfully delivering the power of being understood. These characteristics differentiate RSM and the experience that clients have when they work with us. Not only are they core to our brand promise, we cultivate the 5 Cs throughout an individual's entire career to help them not only as a client server and leader but as a person.

CMAG: What's the top priority over the next 6 to 12 months?

Demand for our services continues to grow. And with that comes the need to continue to attract new professionals to RSM to help meet that demand. So we're looking for new and better ways to communicate the great story we have to tell to both existing professionals and those who are just entering the workforce. It's an exciting challenge and I feel good about our ability to offer a terrific value proposition to prospective employees.

CMAG: When you look at the remainder of this year and 2022, what excites you? What opportunities do you see in your markets?

I get excited about the opportunity for our people to experience extraordinary personal and professional growth. Middle market business conditions point to continued robust economic growth and a willingness by our clients to make strong capital investments to solidify their foundation and facilitate growth. This will provide unprecedented opportunities for our people and those that join RSM. With that said, clients are still challenged by rising talent and supply chain costs, and identifying intelligent automation options will be critical to their future growth and profitability. And with ransomware hacks now a daily occurrence—and not just among large businesses—cybersecurity continues to be a source of significant investment for businesses of all sizes. These challenges provide us an opportunity to serve our clients in the toughest of times and help them overcome the extraordinary challenges these conditions have created.

CMAG: What impact do you think being a Best Firm to Work For has on the firm? Employees? Clients?

We take great pride in being named a Best Firm to Work For by Consulting Magazine! We believe it provides our people with a sense of pride and accomplishment. We don't take the great culture we have at RSM for granted. We know how important it is and how much that drives our success. And it's rewarding when our employees and a respected industry observer like Consulting magazine confirms and continues to underscore it. Because of our significant growth, being named a Best Firm to Work For is immensely helpful when it comes to our recruiting and retention efforts. It's a source of pride for our employees–one that they talk about when approaching friends and colleagues about a possible career at RSM. And we know our clients want to work with service providers who are happy in their work and feel valued by their employer.