Inside the German CPA Mindset: Tax, Succession & AI | Dan Pascone with Patrick Kempf | Podcast #14

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Dan Pascone

Answer Box: TL;DR

German mid-market business owners face the same big themes as U.S. owners – labor shortages, succession, taxes, and tech disruption – but inside a very structured, rules-heavy system. In this episode, Dan sits down with German CPA and tax adviser Patrick to unpack how his 60-person firm serves family-owned companies doing €1–50M in revenue, why demographics are about to reshape the accounting profession in Germany, and how AI and digitization are changing day-to-day work. Patrick shares how he thinks like an entrepreneur (as a majority equity partner) while advising other entrepreneurs on tax, accounting, financing, and succession – and why getting ahead of talent and technology is now just as important as tax optimization.

Key Takeaways

Patrick’s firm is built for owner-led, mid-sized businesses. Typical clients do roughly €1–50M in revenue, are often 100% owner- or family-controlled, and operate in services or manufacturing with solid balance sheets and steady growth.
They provide both compliance and strategic advice. The firm handles monthly accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, annual financial statements, business plans, forecasts, bank financing support, M&A due diligence, and the owners’ personal income tax planning.
“We think like entrepreneurs, because we are entrepreneurs.” Patrick is a majority equity partner in a 50-year-old, family-grown firm. Owning their office building, managing staff, and making long-term investments gives him real-world empathy with clients’ financial and strategic decisions.
Labor shortages are a major structural challenge. Germany is feeling the retirement wave of baby boomers; many clients struggle to find qualified staff. Patrick’s firm helps by digitizing and automating accounting so clients can redeploy scarce talent into operations.
AI and software are no longer optional. In bookkeeping and compliance, manual work is being steadily replaced by automation and AI. Firms that don’t adopt these tools will struggle to hire enough people – and will be less competitive on price and service.
Demographics will reshape the accounting industry. Many German tax advisers and CPAs are in their 60s, running small practices that haven’t fully digitized. Patrick expects consolidation as better-prepared firms and private equity acquire or outcompete those who fall behind.
Holistic client relationships are a moat. Most new business comes from referrals – current clients, banks, notaries, lawyers, and local private banks. Being “the partner who will still be here in 10–20 years” builds significant trust.
Succession is happening inside the firm and with clients. Patrick and a younger partner represent the next generation of leadership in the firm, mirroring the succession planning they help family-business clients manage.
Productivity and discipline matter as much as tax rules. Patrick’s personal habits – early starts, inbox clearing, delegation – reflect the structured, process-driven mindset that underpins good professional service and client outcomes.
His personal advice: invest early and let compounding work. As both a CPA and business owner, Patrick emphasizes starting to invest as early as possible, even with small amounts, and steadily increasing contributions over time.

Key Moments

00:02 – Intro & sponsor. Tailored Wealth is introduced as helping business leaders live their version of a rich life; the show’s focus is cutting financial noise for business owners.
00:27 – Dan welcomes listeners to episode 14. He reiterates the mission: trusted voices helping high-level professionals turn complex strategy into action.
00:47 – Introducing Patrick and his German CPA firm. Patrick is managing partner at Kemp Meyer, a growing accounting and CPA firm in Germany; Dan notes he’s the podcast’s first international guest.
01:29 – Patrick’s background & firm overview. Patrick shares he’s 30, a German CPA and tax adviser with an MBA, started in Big Four, worked in the U.S. and Asia, and joined his medium-sized firm in 2018, becoming partner in 2019 and majority equity partner in 2024.
02:03 – Who they serve and what they do. The firm has ~60 employees and serves small and mid-sized companies (roughly €1–50M revenue), often family businesses; they emphasize a holistic approach across tax, future planning, succession, and the owners’ personal finances.
02:46 – Ideal client profile. Patrick describes the sweet spot: owner- or family-owned businesses in services or manufacturing, solid balance sheets and steady growth, often multi-generational.
03:21 – Scope of services. Monthly accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, financial statements, business plans, forecasts, bank financing support, transaction due diligence, and personal tax returns for owners in coordination with financial advisors.
04:07 – “We’re entrepreneurs too.” Patrick explains the firm’s 50-year history, family ownership, owning their own building, and why having “skin in the game” helps them truly understand clients’ decisions and challenges.
05:12 – Dan connects on serving execs and entrepreneurs. Dan shares Tailored Wealth’s focus on executives and entrepreneurs and how his past as an exec and now entrepreneur parallels Patrick’s experience.
06:12 – The biggest client challenge: labor shortages. Patrick highlights the impact of retiring baby boomers in Germany and the difficulty clients have finding qualified staff, alongside supply chain disruptions in recent years.
06:55 – How they help clients respond. Digitization and automation of accounting processes free up client capacity so management can focus on operations rather than paperwork.
07:45 – Expanding the talent search & tech adoption. Patrick mentions clients looking beyond the German labor market into Europe and beyond, and embracing software and AI to streamline organizations.
08:06 – State of the German accounting/tax industry. Patrick describes it as a stable, crisis-resistant industry with ongoing demand, but one where the way work is done is changing rapidly.
08:25 – AI and automation in compliance. He expects significantly less manual work in monthly accounting and compliance, with human focus shifting to consulting and higher-value advisory.
08:54 – Aging practitioners and looming consolidation. Many German tax advisers are in their early 60s, often running small, under-digitized practices; Patrick anticipates acquisitions and consolidation, especially driven by private equity.
09:57 – Need to “do your homework” on tech. Firms must build a solid client base and invest in digital tools to remain viable, especially as staff become harder to find.
10:54 – How new clients find Patrick’s firm. Most new business comes via word of mouth, recommendations from existing clients, Google search, and referrals from banks, notaries, investment banks, and lawyers.
12:12 – Vision for the next 3–5 years. Patrick outlines generational succession at partner level (mix of a 57-year-old partner and younger partners), a healthy age mix among employees, and a client base that includes younger, long-term clients.
12:31 – Staying the course on specialization & AI. The firm plans to deepen its expertise and continually integrate AI and digital solutions where they genuinely add value.
13:17 – Lightning round begins. Dan shifts into rapid-fire questions to get to know Patrick personally.
13:17 – Coffee or tea? Patrick says tea (usually green tea) and notes he doesn’t drink coffee at all, unusual for a CPA.
13:48 – Cats or dogs? Patrick chooses dogs.
14:06 – Favorite tech tool? Outside of computer and smartphone, he mentions tablets (iPads) and AirPods as everyday essentials.
14:44 – Favorite money quote. “Money is made by money” – pointing to the power of compounding interest as essential.
15:01 – Favorite book. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, a negotiation classic that both Patrick and Dan recommend.
15:26 – Productivity hack. Patrick arrives early to clear emails and review his schedule before client meetings start; he does another inbox sweep at day’s end and delegates wherever possible.
16:38 – Bucket list item achieved. Completing professional degrees and becoming partner at a relatively young age.
16:58 – Recent business milestone. Successfully executing the partnership transition to the next generation of partners and securing client and employee support.
17:23 – Advice to his younger self. Invest as early as possible, even with small amounts, and increase contributions as soon as feasible – let time and compounding do the work.
18:01 – How to contact Patrick. Best via LinkedIn, email, or the firm’s website contact form.
18:17 – Dan closes the episode. He thanks Patrick and reminds listeners to keep their strategy sharp, goals clear, and money working as hard as they do.

Episode Summary

In this international episode of Making Sense of Your Money, host Dan welcomes German CPA and tax adviser Patrick, managing partner of a 60-person accounting and advisory firm serving small and mid-sized businesses across Germany. Patrick’s firm works primarily with owner-led and family businesses doing roughly €1–50 million in revenue, especially in manufacturing and services. They provide the full stack of accounting services – monthly bookkeeping, payroll, annual financial statements – alongside business planning, bank financing support, M&A due diligence, and tax planning for both the business and its owners.

Patrick’s story is also one of entrepreneurial succession. After starting his career in the Big Four, with time spent in the U.S. and Asia, he joined his family-grown firm in 2018, became a partner in 2019, and is now the majority equity partner. He and Dan connect on the idea that being a business owner yourself fundamentally changes how you advise other business owners: you’re not just a consultant on the other end of the phone, you’re someone who also has payroll to make, investments to evaluate, and long-term strategic bets on people and technology.

On the client side, two macro challenges dominate: labor shortages and technological change. Germany is feeling the demographic squeeze as baby boomer employees retire, and many of Patrick’s clients struggle to recruit and retain qualified staff. At the same time, recent years have brought supply chain disruptions and a need to be more operationally flexible. Patrick explains how his firm helps by digitizing and automating as much of the accounting and compliance work as possible, allowing clients to use their constrained human resources where they matter most – in running and growing the business.

The conversation then zooms in on the accounting industry itself. Patrick sees it as a solid, resilient sector with enduring demand – but one that’s on the cusp of significant structural change. AI and software are steadily reducing manual work in monthly accounting and tax compliance, shifting practitioners’ time toward consulting and higher-value analysis. Meanwhile, the profession in Germany is aging: many tax advisers are in their 60s, running small practices that haven’t fully embraced digitization. Patrick expects a wave of consolidation driven both by competitive pressure and by private equity capital entering the space.

Throughout, Patrick emphasizes the importance of being ready for the future: cultivating a healthy mix of younger and older employees, building a diverse client base that includes next-generation entrepreneurs, and staying at the forefront of digital tools and AI where they make sense. His own firm has already executed a partner-level generational transition, mirroring the succession and continuity planning they help their clients navigate.

The episode closes on a more personal note as Dan runs Patrick through a lightning round. Listeners learn that Patrick is a tea drinker (unusual for a CPA), a dog person, a fan of AirPods and iPads, and an admirer of Chris Voss’s negotiation insights. His productivity system revolves around early starts, inbox discipline, and thoughtful delegation. And his core advice to his younger self – and to listeners – is to start investing as early as possible, even with small amounts, and let compounding quietly build wealth over time.

Full Transcript

Announcer: Brought to you by Tailored Wealth, helping business leaders live their version of a rich life.

Announcer: Welcome to another edition of the Making Sense of Your Money podcast, where we cut through the financial noise and help business leaders to make smart, confident money decisions.

Dan: Welcome to episode number 14 of the Making Sense of Your Money podcast. I’m your host, Dan. I am the founder and CEO of Tailored Wealth. And as always, each episode features a trusted voice in the financial world, someone who works directly with high-level professionals to simplify the complex and turn strategy into action.

Dan: And today I’m excited to introduce a special guest. I’ve got with me Patrick, who is a managing partner at Kemp Meyer. They run a growing accounting practice and CPA firm in Germany. I think Patrick is actually our first international guest.

Dan: So, thanks so much for joining me on the Making Sense of Your Money podcast. Good to have you today, Patrick.

Patrick: You’re welcome, Dan. Thanks a lot. And great honor to be your first international guest on your podcast.

Dan: Yeah, this is fun. We’re making it global now.

Dan: So, we’ve got a lot to cover, and I know our audience would love to get your expert take on some key topics. So let’s jump right in. If you don’t mind, first just give us like a 90-second or so overview of who you are, what your firm does, and maybe a little bit of the background on how you got into the business.

Patrick: Yeah, sure. As you said, my name is Patrick. I’m 30 years old. I’m a German CPA, German tax adviser. I’ve also got an MBA degree.

Patrick: I started my career within the Big Four, also spent some time in the U.S. and Asia, and joined our medium-sized tax and audit firm in 2018. I became partner in 2019 and, since the beginning of the year, I’m a majority equity partner here in our firm.

Patrick: We have roughly 60 employees and serve several small and medium-sized companies here in Germany. Our typical client size usually ranges somewhere from 1 to 50 million euros in revenue, many times also family businesses.

Patrick: We emphasize a holistic approach with regards to tax, future planning, succession planning of the companies in a tax-optimized manner, and we also advise the owners of the companies in their financial and tax aspects.

Dan: Very cool. Very cool. There’s a lot there that I definitely want to unpack, because it sounds like there are some similarities and commonalities in what we do.

Dan: So, let’s unpack a little bit more of your ideal client. Tell us a little bit about what that typical client looks like—what the business looks like, maybe what the business owner looks like—and then ultimately what you’re helping them to do.

Patrick: Yeah. Our typical or ideal client would be somewhere in the range of 1 to 50 million euros in revenue per year, ideally in the service or manufacturing industry, with a solid balance sheet and steady growth.

Patrick: Typically, they’re 100% owned by the owner-founder himself or herself, or they’re a family business across several generations. We typically support them with all aspects of monthly accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, financial statement preparation, and also preparing business plans and forecasts for the next year.

Patrick: We assist them with financing for new projects together with banks, and also, if they tend to acquire any companies, we assist them in the financial and tax due diligence work.

Patrick: On their private side, of course, we also take care of their income tax statements and work together with their financial advisors on optimal financial investments for them.

Dan: Yeah, good. Good. We work with a lot of CPA firms here in the States, so I love the partnership between the CPA and the financial advisor/planner. I think that’s super, super critical to make a holistic approach. So we’ll come back to that.

Dan: But tell us a little bit about what you think makes you unique and what you do to help your clients accomplish those outcomes that you mentioned earlier.

Patrick: Yeah. I mean, our firm has been around for 50 years, and has always been mostly family-owned. Now I’m the second generation here in the firm, so we also think like entrepreneurs.

Patrick: We own our office building here. We run the day-to-day operations together with a great team. We’re in for the long run—not just some hired managers or tax advisors that run our firm—but we have real skin in the game and sometimes face similar issues like our clients when it comes to financial decisions that we have to make.

Patrick: So we can often really put ourselves in their shoes and understand the challenges that clients might face.

Dan: That’s such a key point. I love that point around “we’re entrepreneurs too, helping entrepreneurs.” Being able to share in some of the experiences, the challenges, the opportunities that some of your clients face, not just as a consultant on the other end of the phone, but as someone who’s actually living and breathing some of the things that they’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis.

Patrick: Exactly, yes.

Dan: Yeah. So, I love that. I mean, I’ll tell you this, Patrick: I’ve built my entire business model around what you just mentioned.

Dan: We have two demographics that we serve at Tailored Wealth. We serve executive-level leaders at firms and entrepreneurs. And the reason that we serve those two is I used to be an executive-level leader and now I’m an entrepreneur. So being able to really relate to the clients, I think, is so, so critical. And I’m sure you find that that probably makes the work a lot more enjoyable as well.

Patrick: Exactly. It’s also easier to sell the services to your clients if they know you’re the one who makes the decisions at the end. You’re in the firm. You’re still going to be there in a couple of years. And clients appreciate that.

Dan: One hundred percent. I totally agree and can very much relate to that. So, well said.

Dan: All right. Let’s talk a little bit about the challenges that your clients face. I interact with many CPAs here in the United States, but I’m curious to hear maybe some of the challenges that your clients face in Germany and how you help them to overcome them.

Patrick: Yeah. A lot of challenges many companies here in Germany face involve a shortage of labor. Many baby boomers—generations from the late 50s, early 60s—are now retiring, and that’s a major challenge for our clients.

Patrick: It’s not necessarily tax-related—luckily, we’ve got that all under control for them and that works—but on a daily basis they’re confronted with these issues. We can, of course, to some extent help them by digitalizing and automating their accounting, taking that off their shoulders so that they can focus on their day-to-day operations.

Patrick: But that’s one of the key challenges that they face, as well as some disruptions in supply chains that they might have had in the last couple of years.

Patrick: But yeah, the labor shortage is something that we in Germany are now severely facing, and it has increased especially in the last three to four years.

Dan: Yeah, I can see that. I mean, obviously the baby boomer generation retiring hits the entire ecosystem, the entire economy across the globe. So I think that’s an important point.

Dan: What kind of things do you find your clients are doing to overcome that labor shortage?

Patrick: On one side, of course, they look towards software solutions and applications of AI. They don’t limit themselves only to the German market but also to the European or even outside-of-Europe labor markets to attract relevant talent for their companies.

Patrick: So basically those two things—plus streamlining their organizations internally and making use of their labor capacities as efficiently as possible.

Dan: Very good. Very good.

Dan: What would you say are some of the things that are happening in your industry? Let’s talk a little bit about the accounting and tax industry. What are some challenges, and where do you see the industry going in the next few years? You mentioned AI and software—let’s talk a little bit about that. I want to hear about maybe challenges and where you see opportunities within your field.

Patrick: Yeah. For our industry, it’s a very solid, very steady industry. There has always been a need for accountants and tax advisers, and that hasn’t changed. There hasn’t really been any crisis as long as I’ve been in the industry.

Patrick: I see it continuing the same in the future. Of course, how we work will change—less manual work, more application of AI, especially in the monthly accounting and compliance work—so that we can focus more on the consulting business.

Patrick: If you look at the demographics for tax advisers and CPAs in Germany, there are not too many young ones. Of course, there are young ones, but if you look at the percentage, there are many tax advisers in their early 60s who are about to retire, or will retire in the next few years.

Patrick: Many small practices that have like five or ten employees probably have not done their homework with regards to digitalization and use of AI in their firms. They might be overtaken by other firms that have done their homework, or be acquired and become part of a larger group.

Patrick: So I assume we will see some consolidation in the market. There are already several private equity investors that are getting ready to change the game here in Germany for the tax and accounting business.

Patrick: That’s certainly something that you have to be aware of and make sure that you have a solid client base on the one hand, but also really be at the forefront of digitalization and automation, simply because you will not find adequate staff in a couple of years to do all this work—especially if you do it all manually like 30 years ago.

Dan: Sure, sure. Yep, absolutely. I mean, that’s hitting every industry, but I can definitely see in your business—with some of the manual work that needs to be done with tax returns and stuff like that—how AI can really change the game if you’re using it the right way and training models, etc.

Patrick: Yeah.

Dan: All right. Very cool.

Dan: Let’s talk a little bit about how new clients get connected with you. Tell me a little bit about how people find you and maybe what’s been your strategy in growing your business over the years.

Patrick: I would say most of our new clients come via recommendation—recommendations from our existing clients. Word of mouth is our new client business development machine number one.

Patrick: Then, of course, also Google search in our area. We are really well listed on Google. We also do some outreach on LinkedIn, and to a lesser extent on social media so far, because there we don’t really target our clients as effectively.

Patrick: It’s mostly from existing clients and sometimes referrals from banks or notaries and lawyers. That’s usually how we get new clients.

Dan: Yeah, great. Let’s unpack that a little bit—those referral partnerships. You mentioned to me earlier—which is obviously near and dear to my heart—you work closely with financial advisers and planners, attorneys, insurance professionals, etc.

Dan: Tell us a little bit about the types of referral partnerships that typically work best for you.

Patrick: Yeah. It’s usually banks here in the area, or private banks that serve high-net-worth individuals. If we already have existing clients with them or know them from other business transactions, then they’re happy to refer to us.

Patrick: Same sometimes for investment banks, where you say, “Okay, we have clients in your industry. We’ve seen on your website that you have certain expertise in this industry,” and then they would typically reach out to us.

Dan: Very cool. Very cool. Well said.

Dan: All right. Tell us a little bit about your vision for the firm and where you see your firm going in the next three to five years.

Patrick: Yeah. We’ve already implemented the next generation, so to say, at our partner level. One of my partners is currently 57 years old. One of my new partners, who is going to join as equity partner later this year, is in his early 30s.

Patrick: The same applies on our employee level: a very healthy mix in our employee age structure. So from that point of view, we’re all set.

Patrick: Also from our client base, we have to make sure that we don’t only have older clients. We have also very young clients where I know they will be with us easily for the next decade or maybe two.

Patrick: And we’ll probably continue the path that we’ve started—continue with our expertise, our specialization, and also continuously apply AI and the solutions that make sense in our industry.

Dan: Makes sense. Makes sense. Well said.

Dan: All right. Now we’re going to shift gears a little bit, Patrick. We’re going to let the audience get to know you a little bit better.

Dan: This is a fun section that I call the lightning round. I never tell our guests about it ahead of time because we want it to be super organic and fun. All we ask is that you give us the first response that comes to your mind. It could be a one-word response; it could require some explanation. We just want to get to know you better. You ready?

Patrick: Yes, I’m ready.

Dan: All right, let’s do it.

Dan: Coffee or tea?

Patrick: Tea.

Patrick: I don’t drink coffee at all. It’s hard to believe, but for a CPA, they usually consume a lot of coffee. I never do. Tea. And if tea, usually green tea.

Dan: Okay. All right. I’ve got some green tea going right now myself. I’ll dabble in coffee, but I’m more of a tea guy myself. So I like it.

Dan: Cats or dogs?

Patrick: Dogs.

Dan: Dogs. Okay.

Dan: We talked a little bit about technology. I want you to share with us one tool or piece of technology—it could be hardware or software—other than your computer or your smartphone, that you can’t live without.

Patrick: That’s a difficult one because usually it is the computer and the smartphone. But we also have iPads here in the office, tablet solutions. Then maybe, usually from the iPhone, the AirPods.

Dan: AirPods, yeah. It’s funny, my last guest said AirPods as well. I’ve got my iPad and my AirPods here somewhere right now. So I’m with you on that one.

Dan: All right. Sounds good.

Dan: Do you have a favorite quote about money or success—a quote or phrase?

Patrick: Yeah. Maybe sometimes it’s true: “Money is made by money.” I mean, compound interest—that’s essential.

Dan: What did Albert Einstein say is the eighth wonder of the world? Compounding.

Patrick: Exactly.

Dan: There you go. All right. I like it.

Dan: Do you have a favorite book about finance, business, or success?

Patrick: I don’t remember exactly the title, but it’s business negotiation-related.

Dan: Never Split the Difference?

Patrick: Never Split the Difference.

Dan: Never Split the Difference. That’s a great one, by the way. Love that. Chris Voss.

Patrick: Yeah, exactly. Chris Voss.

Dan: That’s a really, really good one. For anybody that hasn’t read Never Split the Difference, I highly recommend it. Great for negotiating, but a highly entertaining read as well. He’s done very, very well on the speaking circuit too.

Dan: Do you have a personal either finance or productivity hack—a personal hack that you could share with our audience?

Patrick: Oh, productivity hack. Usually I’m in the office early, go through my schedule, clear out some emails before the first client meetings. That’s usually something that helps me so I’m ahead of my game before the real business starts, the phone starts ringing, clients come in.

Patrick: That usually helps me. And same again in the evening before I leave—make sure the inbox is cleared and everything is ready for the next day. That has helped me.

Dan: Are you an inbox-zero kind of guy, like you get down to zero emails—or you’re not that fanatical?

Patrick: Pretty much. Pretty much.

Dan: Pretty much. All right. That’s pretty impressive. And it’s nice, especially for repeatable tasks like email, to have time-blocking involved in that. I completely agree.

Patrick: Yeah. Many things that don’t have to be done by myself personally are at least forwarded so that’s off my desk and somebody else can start working on it.

Dan: Delegation. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Dan: All right. What’s one bucket list item that you’ve already accomplished—something that you’ve checked off your bucket list?

Patrick: Well, completing professional degrees and becoming partner at a relatively young age—that was one of my goals, definitely.

Dan: Awesome. Well, congratulations on that. That’s incredible.

Dan: What’s one financial milestone, whether it be personal or business, that you’re working towards?

Patrick: A financial milestone business-wise was definitely the partnership transition that we accomplished earlier this year—making sure that the new generation is fully on board, we get all our clients transitioned, as well as the support of all of our employees. That was very essential for us.

Dan: Good for you. Congratulations on that.

Dan: Lastly, if you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Patrick: Invest as early as possible, even if you start with small amounts, and start increasing them as soon as possible, as soon as feasible, and let the money work.

Dan: Well, you’re preaching to the choir on that one. I couldn’t have teed that one up any better because obviously I very much agree and relate to that. Investing early on in your career and in your life—and we go back to the concept of compound interest—it can have a real, real major effect. So that’s a really good one and thanks for sharing.

Dan: And then lastly, Patrick, if our listeners want to connect with you, collaborate with you, potentially work with you, what’s the best way for them to reach out or get connected with you?

Patrick: Either via LinkedIn, if you search for me, Patrick, or via email at p.kempf@kempfkbk.de. And that’s probably easiest. Or go to our website—there’s also a contact form. Reach out to us, and I’d be happy to help.

Dan: That sounds good. We’ll put all that information in the show notes for anybody that wants to reach out to Patrick.

Dan: Great stuff, Patrick. Thanks so much for joining us today. Appreciate your insights.

Patrick: You’re welcome, Dan. Thanks a lot.

Dan: You bet.

Dan: That has been it—another episode of the Making Sense of Your Money podcast. As always, keep your strategy sharp, your goals clear, and your money working as hard as you do. Cheers, everyone.

Resources & Citations

Overview of the German “Mittelstand”. Background on Germany’s small and mid-sized, often family-owned businesses and their economic role.
Demographics & labor shortage in Germany. Economic research on the impact of baby boomer retirements on skilled labor markets.
Digitization and AI in accounting. Articles and studies on how automation is changing bookkeeping, tax compliance, and advisory work globally.
Succession planning for family businesses. Guides on ownership transition, governance, and continuity planning in multi-generational firms.
Private equity in professional services. Analysis of consolidation trends in accounting, tax, and advisory firms driven by external capital.

FAQs

What types of businesses does Patrick’s firm typically work with?

They focus on small and mid-sized companies in Germany, generally with €1–50 million in annual revenue. Many are owner-led or family-owned businesses in the services or manufacturing sectors, with solid balance sheets and steady growth. The firm supports both the company’s financial operations and the owners’ personal tax and planning needs.

How is the German accounting landscape changing?

While demand for tax and accounting services remains strong, the profession is facing a demographic cliff as many practitioners approach retirement. At the same time, AI and digitization are reshaping how work gets done – especially in routine bookkeeping and compliance – which is likely to accelerate consolidation among firms that haven’t modernized.

What are the biggest challenges Patrick’s clients are dealing with right now?

The two most consistent themes are skilled labor shortages and the need to adapt to a more volatile environment (including supply chain issues). Clients struggle to find and retain qualified staff as baby boomers retire, so they increasingly rely on technology, process improvements, and advisors like Patrick to free up internal capacity and make better strategic decisions.

How does a firm like Patrick’s use AI and technology in practice?

AI and software tools are primarily used to automate repetitive tasks—like data entry, invoice processing, and some aspects of monthly accounting and tax compliance. This allows human professionals to focus on higher-value work: interpreting numbers, planning for tax and succession, supporting bank financing, and advising on acquisitions or structural changes.

Why are referrals from banks, lawyers, and advisors so important?

For mid-market and family businesses, trust is critical. When a bank, lawyer, or financial advisor vouches for an accounting firm, it shortens the trust-building process dramatically. Because these professionals already understand the client’s situation, their recommendations tend to be well-aligned, leading to longer, more holistic relationships.

What can business owners learn from Patrick’s career path?

Patrick’s trajectory—from Big Four experience to joining and then leading a 50-year-old firm—highlights the value of mixing institutional training with entrepreneurial responsibility. His story underscores how aligning ownership, leadership, and client service can create long-term stability and a deeper understanding of what business owners actually face day-to-day.

What’s the key investing lesson Patrick would share with young professionals?

Start early, even with small amounts, and increase your contributions as your income grows. The combination of time and compounding can make a profound difference over decades, especially when paired with disciplined saving and sensible risk management.

Disclaimer

This episode and page are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. The discussion of German tax and accounting practices is general in nature and may not apply to your specific jurisdiction or circumstances. Regulations and market conditions can change, and cross-border situations often involve additional complexity. Before making decisions regarding your business structure, tax strategy, or investments, consult with qualified professionals in your country, including a licensed tax adviser, CPA, and financial planner who understand your personal and business context.

Next Steps

If you’re a business owner or executive—whether in Germany, the U.S., or elsewhere—now is a good time to ask three questions: (1) Do I have the right advisory team (CPA, tax adviser, financial planner, attorney) talking to each other? (2) Am I prepared for succession in both my business and my advisory relationships? (3) Are we taking advantage of digitization and AI to free up people for higher-value work?

When you’re ready to explore how coordinated tax, financial planning, and technology can support your version of a rich life, dive into more episodes and resources at Making Sense of Your Money, or learn how Tailored Wealth partners with business leaders and entrepreneurs at yourtailoredwealth.com.