The Golden A.G.E. of Business Framework (A Proven System for Hiring and Developing Top Talent in Accounting Firms)

TLTurner Group
Sep 5
5 min read

*Explore "The Golden Age Framework" with Terrell A. Turner, CPA, offering a proven system for hiring and developing top talent in accounting firms.*

If you’ve ever led an accounting firm, you know the constant tug-of-war between hiring the right people, setting clear expectations, and making sure your team grows with the business.

Here’s what we’ve seen too often: firms either burn out their high performers by expecting them to carry the weight of the firm, or they grow frustrated with team members who “just aren’t cutting it” even though no one ever told them what “cutting it” actually looks like.

That’s why we created the Golden A.G.E. Framework, a simple system that helps firms define performance expectations, onboard new hires, train existing staff, and prepare teams to adapt to emerging skills like AI.

And here’s the truth: once you have a clear framework, you unlock the ability to combine people, processes, and technology in ways that actually move your firm forward.

What Is the Golden A.G.E. Framework?

Elevate your business journey with Golden AGE of Business: Guiding you from Average to Good to Excellent. Follow us on social media for insights.

The Golden A.G.E. model breaks performance into three clear tiers:

Average: The baseline of what’s expected to keep the role functional.
Good: Performance that goes above baseline, showing added value.
Excellent: High-level execution that delivers standout results.

For example, let’s say you’re hiring a bookkeeper:

Average: Can prepare books for 15 clients per month at 75% accuracy, delivered on time.
Good: Manages 20 clients per month, 80% accuracy, with some work submitted early.
Excellent: Delivers 25+ clients per month, 90%+ accuracy, consistently early with proactive process improvements.

What we love about this approach is that it removes the mystery. “Average” isn’t a dirty word, it's a clear baseline. From there, you can recognize, reward, and develop growth toward Good and Excellent.

In this Canopy webinar, Terrell Turner, CPA, developer of the Golden AGE of Business framework and co-founder of TL Turner Group, shares his effective plan for navigating the twists and turns of owning a high-growth firm using this framework. Terrell shows how firms can apply the Golden A.G.E. of Business framework to real-world talent management.

Defining Performance Expectations Clearly

Most firms struggle with performance because expectations live in someone’s head instead of on paper. The Golden A.G.E. framework forces you to define:

Volume (How much work should be done?)
Quality (How accurate should it be?)
Timeliness (When should it be delivered?)

When you put numbers around those three areas, performance stops being subjective. Your team knows exactly what “Average,” “Good,” and “Excellent” mean in your firm.

Golden A.G.E. Role Expectations Example

Self-assessment chart for podcasters, evaluating performance across preparation, storytelling, and publishing consistency, with ratings from average to excellent.

Resource Highlight

One of the biggest wins with the Golden A.G.E. of Business Framework is turning vague performance standards into clear, measurable benchmarks.

We’ve created a sample role expectations template that shows what “Average, Good, and Excellent” look like across volume, quality, and timeliness.

Want to see this in action? Download our Golden A.G.E. Role Expectations Example and use it as a starting point for your own team.

How to Use A.G.E. for On-boarding, Training, and Growth Conversations

Here’s how firms we work with apply A.G.E.:

On-boarding – From day one, new hires see what “Average, Good, and Excellent” mean in their role. No guessing games.
Training – Managers can quickly spot where someone is stuck and coach to that.
Growth Conversations – Instead of vague “you need to step up,” reviews become data-driven: “Right now, you’re consistently Good in accuracy, but still Average in volume. Let’s focus training here.”

Want to see how firms are applying this in real life? Check out our Canopy Q&A Playlist, where we answered questions on hiring, training, and managing accounting teams that came up during our live session.

Canopy Q&A Playlist,

Adapting to Emerging Skills (Like AI)

Here’s where it gets exciting: accounting is changing fast. AI tools, automation platforms, and client-facing tech are reshaping how firms operate.

The Golden A.G.E. of Business framework helps you identify who on your team has the Growth mindset to adapt. You don’t need everyone to be an AI expert, but you do need people who are willing to learn, experiment, and integrate new tools into their work.

This growth-driven approach pairs seamlessly with Canopy’s future-focused accounting software. By aligning mindset with the right cloud-based tools, firms can future-proof their teams, streamlining workflows, securing client data, and delivering the modern experiences today’s clients demand.

Combining People, Process, and Technology

The real magic happens when you align all three:

People: Hired, trained, and developed with clear A.G.E. expectations.
Process: Defined workflows that make “Good” and “Excellent” achievable.
Technology: Tools (like automation or AI) that support execution and scalability.

Instead of tech replacing people, the Golden A.G.E. framework ensures that tech enhances people, and people elevate processes.

Golden A.G.E. Quick Checklist for Firm Owners

Here’s a simple tool you can use today:

Have I defined Average, Good, and Excellent performance for each role?
Do my on-boarding materials show new hires what A.G.E. looks like in action?
Am I using A.G.E. in performance reviews and growth conversations?
Do I have a plan to help my team build emerging skills (like AI, analytics, or new software)?
Are my processes and technology aligned with the A.G.E. framework to make higher performance levels achievable?

Final Thought

The Golden A.G.E. of Business framework doesn’t just simplify hiring and development. It changes how your entire firm thinks about growth.

When you define expectations, you create clarity.

When you apply it to on-boarding and training, you build confidence.

When you connect it to tech and future skills, you create a culture of resilience.

That’s how you go from guessing about talent to actually building a firm where people thrive, processes flow, and technology fuels growth.

Curious how the Golden A.G.E. of Business Framework can transform your firm? Watch the on-demand webinar, Step Into the Golden Age and learn how to align people, processes, and performance for long-term growth.