In the recent Accounting Today “Building Capacity: Alternatives to Hiring” webinar, Erin McAuley, our Chief People Officer, joined peers from AICPA and Woodard to explore how firms can think beyond traditional hiring models to solve the ongoing capacity crunch.

Erin emphasized that culture—not headcount—is the true multiplier. Springline’s national talent acquisition model and values-based hiring approach have helped us grow intentionally, not just quickly. She encouraged firms to shift focus from “more CPAs” to the “right” people: those who add cultural lift and stay aligned with total rewards.

Erin also shared how we’re embracing AI, automation, and adjacent talent as levers for growth. By codifying repeatable processes and integrating technology across people, finance, and operations, we’re empowering teams to work smarter, not harder.

From flexible models to fresh mindsets, one thing is clear: the future of capacity isn’t just about who you hire. It’s about how you design work that works—for people and for the business. That’s how we Scale with Soul.