In the accounting profession, leadership isn’t just about guiding clients through financial challenges, it’s also about empowering teams to thrive. I’ve spent my career working alongside firms of all sizes, and one thing I’ve seen consistently is this: when leaders invest in their people and give them a voice in shaping operations, transformation follows.
That’s why I’m inspired by stories like Papin CPA. Their journey to selecting Canopy as their practice management workflow solution wasn’t just about finding software. It was about honoring their team’s input, streamlining work, and building a culture rooted in collaboration.
You can watch my full interview with Papin CPCA here:
Leadership That Listens
Whitney Kisner, Director of Operations at Papin CPA, describes her leadership style as team-based. Instead of making top-down decisions, she gathers input from her colleagues, tests ideas, and circles back for feedback before making final choices.
This is the essence of participative leadership: inclusive, transparent, and rooted in collaboration. At Papin CPA, that means every decision, including technology adoption, is made with the team in mind.
“I like to bring people together and figure out what’s working, what’s not working. Then I present options, gather feedback, and make decisions that reflect both team and client needs,” – Whitney Kisner
This collaborative style created the perfect foundation for rethinking their firm’s practice management solution.
The Challenge: Too Many Tools, Too Little Flow
Papin CPA’s growing team faced the same challenge many firms do: too many disconnected tools. Each tax return or client engagement required bouncing between platforms — billing, communications, workflows, document sharing — none of which were integrated.
This caused frustration, inefficiency, and unnecessary admin time. Billing alone consumed nearly six hours each month. And during busy tax season, client inquiries piled up because communication wasn’t streamlined.
Whitney knew the firm needed a solution that would:
Centralize workflows in one system
Reduce administrative burden
Keep clients informed without extra work from staff
Support the team’s collaborative approach
Why the Team Chose Canopy
The search for a solution wasn’t rushed. Whitney spent a year researching platforms and bringing options back to the team for input. That process of inclusion reinforced trust and made the ultimate choice stronger.
When Papin CPA adopted Canopy, the impact was immediate:
Efficiency Gains: By setting up automated recurring billing, Whitney reclaimed six hours of admin time every month. What once required multiple steps now runs on autopilot.
Client Experience: Automated updates at key points in the tax process (“prep started,” “review complete,” “return ready in 72 hours”) cut down on emails and phone calls. Clients stayed informed, and the team stayed focused.
Team Workflow: Automations now handle project status changes and client alerts. Instead of chasing details, accountants can concentrate on client work — the kind of work that truly drives value.
Whitney summed it up in two words: “Maximizing efficiency.”
Technology as a Reflection of Culture
What makes Papin CPA’s story stand out isn’t just the efficiencies gained, it’s that their choice of Canopy reflected their leadership values.
A participative culture requires tools that are simple, intuitive, and empower the team. By centralizing workflows and removing friction, Canopy gave Papin CPA the space to practice what they preach: inclusivity, collaboration, and client-first service.
The impact stretched beyond time savings. Team frustration decreased. Client communication improved. And the firm strengthened its culture of working together toward shared goals.
Final Thoughts
Technology adoption in accounting is never just about features. It’s about alignment: aligning tools with leadership philosophy, aligning workflows with client needs, and aligning firm operations with team values.
Papin CPA’s journey to Canopy illustrates the power of team-driven decision-making. Their participative leadership style ensured the solution wasn’t just efficient, it was embraced, trusted, and transformative.
For other firms considering their next step in practice management, the lesson is clear: involve your team, listen deeply, and choose tools that strengthen both your workflows and your culture.
That’s how you build a practice that lasts.
Read more about Papin CPA
