A Message From Our President
I’m excited to have the opportunity to write this letter—because it means our incredible team has just wrapped another successful tax season. I’m very grateful for the hard work that Team Rudler has put in over the past several months. I also appreciate the strong partnerships we’ve built with our clients, which help ensure the process is as smooth as possible.
While this busy season was highly productive, it also brought valuable insights. As we move into summer, our team is recharging and preparing to address what we’ve learned.
TAX SEASON: REFLECTION & OPPORTUNITY
Teams across departments exceeded expectations throughout tax season, even under pressure near the filing deadline. They came together and pushed through to ensure we met our goals as a firm.
Due to recent shifts in our business model, we processed more complex returns this year — an excellent learning opportunity, but also a test for our staff. This experience emphasized the importance of refining our training approach.
Beyond continuing to leverage outside tools and services for technical and soft skills training, we’re exploring more hands-on learning methods. Incorporating case studies and interactive exercises will better prepare our team for the future.
Improving communication with clients continues to be a major focus for us. During this year’s tax season, we did a great job of proactively setting expectations with clients. However, in our efforts to streamline processes by leveraging a new digital tax organizer, we felt the technology inadvertently added some increased pressures on clients during the intake phase.
A client survey was recently distributed to gather feedback and gain insight into whether the challenges we encountered internally were also felt on the client side—or if there are additional areas we can enhance. Our overarching goal is to create a more consistent, high-quality experience across the board. Each year presents an opportunity to improve both for our clients and our team.
LOOKING AHEAD: STAFF EVALUATION & CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION
Each busy season reveals rising stars—team members who take on more responsibility and help others navigate challenges. As Rudler continues to grow, our shareholders remain focused on succession planning to ensure the firm’s long-term success.
Following our recent round of employee reviews, we’re identifying future leaders and nurturing their potential. Now is the ideal time to support those pursuing credentials like CPA, CVA, and CFE. We’re working closely with staff to align their talents with professional development goals, while clearly outlining the path to advancement at Rudler.
We’re also refining cross-departmental collaboration. Given the cyclical nature of our work, teams often overlap. Over the past several months, departments did an excellent job supporting one another to enhance client service. For example, we implemented new quality control standards in our Client Advisory Services Department, which streamlined transitions into tax and audit work with our Accounting and Auditing Department. These efforts are fostering stronger integration across service lines to deliver a smoother client experience.
EXPANSION: SPACE & STRATEGY
As many of you know, our Fort Wright office has been under construction. We’ve added 3,500 square feet to better support both our team and our clients, and to create more space for professional development.
We’ve introduced “hoteling” desks and lockers for remote employees visiting the office, providing a comfortable and functional place to work. I’m especially excited about our new meeting space, which was designed for versatility.
In fact, our Women’s Committee will host a lunch and learn, “Stories & Strategies: A Success Panel,” in the new space on June 17. The panel will feature: Kathleen Carnes, Associate Teaching Professor of Business & Employment Law, ADR Center Director at Northern Kentucky University; Angie Taylor, President of Taylor Career Strategies, LLC; and Leanne Beck, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, 5th Judicial Circuit.
Events like this will bring additional value and learning opportunities to both our staff and clients. The new space also enables us to bring the entire team together for meetings and events that reinforce our shared purpose.
LOOKING FORWARD
There’s plenty to be excited about in 2025. Personally, I’m looking forward to an upcoming golf trip to Ireland with my dad and brother. Once I return, we’ll dive right into strategic planning for the firm—one of my favorite times of the year.
This process involves team members at all levels, allowing everyone to contribute to shaping our future. Some of our best ideas have come from new professionals offering fresh perspectives. I know our team will be “driving” toward our goals and “putting” in the work (I couldn’t resist). Thank you all once again for a successful tax season. I look forward to sharing more updates about what we have in store for the reminder of the year soon.