Staffing frustration

It is getting so frustrating finding staff. We’re small, 10 total, lots of high net worth and complicated returns, with basics sprinkled in. Got a recruiter and got someone from a large 700 person firm. Not a CpA yet, but 6 years in public. Was working out great. Stepped in and immediately was what we were looking for. They resigned after a week saying they wanted to work strictly remote.

A partner at that same 700 person firm, who worked in a different location, is a friend of mine. They are all back in the office. Our comp is on par with them. Our work schedule is better than theirs (no required overtime, and we pay if you work overtime). We give bonuses (they don’t).

I can’t for the life of me figure out why we can’t get someone, but it seems like every firm in our area is the same. Even my friend at that firm is saying they’re short. Yet we can’t stop growing. Mid sized firms are getting bought out left and right, and clients are leaving those firms after 2 years. A top 20 firm just bought out a large local firm a couple of years ago, and within the last week I’ve got 4 clients that left them, all accounts over $5k. Another top 20 firm was bought out a year ago, and I’ve gotten 10 new clients, two that were both $10k accounts. Attorneys who we have worked with for years can’t stop sending us business because their clients are leaving these firms.

Is coming into the office really that bad? Half my staff, including myself, are under 40 and have no problem. They work from home when they need to, but no one is remote or even hybrid. We all work closely, constantly bouncing ideas off each other. Remote is not an option for us.

4 years now and I can find someone. Two people I hired sucked, one from a big firm (but job, fired after 3 weeks) and one coming back into public from private (sucked, fired after 1 year). But other than that, all my professional staff has been there for 8+ years. Thankfully I got an intern, and we made it clear this role doesn’t end so they can work this into a full time position, but if I could get someone experienced I could comfortably bring in a ton of work and just review returns, yet I’m stuck preparing still. It is becoming very frustrating.

Sorry, just needed to vent I guess.