Episodes

Dec 8

Anthony Pugliese of the Institute of Internal Auditors discusses the new and perennial risks and challenges facing his members, and the new standards and resources the IIA is rolling out to help.

Nov 10

Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting explains why firms need to match up their pricing strategies and the client strategies, so they're charging the right amounts for the right work for the right people.

Oct 6

Technical skills will never go away, but there's a whole other set of leadership and 'soft' skills that firms can't afford to neglect, says consultant and coach Erin Daiber of Well-Balanced Accountants.

Sep 29

Angie Grissom of The Rainmaker Companies dives into why everyone in an accounting firm has a role to play in business development, and what those different roles are.

Sep 15

As more and more firms add a chief growth officer to their leadership teams, Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting dives into what they should be doing and how firms can get the most out of them.

Aug 4

CAS expert Kane Polakoff of Top 100 Firm CohnReznick digs deep into the current staff of client advisory services, and how this fast-growing service offering is rapidly evolving.

Jul 21

Clients are looking for truly holistic advisors, and accountants are perfectly positioned to be just that, says Rory Henry , a director at Arrowroot Family Office and author of "Holistic Guide to Wealth Management."

Jul 14

There has never been a time when carefully planning out the future of your firm has been so important, says Matt Rampe of Rosenberg Consulting, as he offers a roadmap for building the firm you want.

Jul 7

Long-time industry observer and author of the new book "Civil Warrior" Kristy Short shares best practices for keeping your staff -- and yourself -- from burning out.

Jul 7

Long-time industry observer and author of the new book "Civil Warrior" Kristy Short shares best practices for keeping your staff -- and yourself -- from burning out.

Jun 30

Technology is driving transformation in how audits are conducted at an ever-faster pace, says Paul Goodhew , global assurance innovation & emerging technology leader at Big Four firm Ernst & Young -- and artificial intelligence will only accelerate that.

Jun 23

The longtime leader of Top 10 Firm Marcum, Jeff Weiner , shares the secrets behind his remarkable career, and the equally remarkable firm he ran.

Jun 16

AICPA chair Lexy Kessler looks ahead at the challenges and opportunities —often one and the same — that are facing the profession, and what accountants need to do to be ready for them.

Jun 9

As the Senate takes up the Trump administration's tax bill, Neil Fishman , the president of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, dives into the details of the House bill and some of the possibilities in the Senate, as well as other issues from Washington that accountants should be keeping in mind.

Jun 2

To move beyond being a scrappy small firm, you have to change the way you think about a host of things, suggests Brannon Poe of Poe Group Advisors.

May 19

With accounting talent so hard to find, Paul Peterson shares how his firm has cultivated non-accountants and non-CPAs to fill the gap.

May 12

Consultant and technology thought leader Seth Fineberg offers a guide to finding, choosing, implementing and assessing the software your firm needs.

May 5

Bob Lewis and Doug Lewis of The Visionary Group dive into how everything about firm combinations -- from deal structure and their impact on staff, to how accounting and PE firms are identifying targets -- is changing, and will continue to change in the future.

Apr 29

Brannon Poe of Poe Group Advisors talks about how the current landscape of acquisition -- particularly the entrance of private equity into the field -- is impacting firms below $10 million.

Apr 21

AAM Hall of Famers August Aquila and Kristen Lewis examine the rise of marketing as a professional function in accounting firm -- and look ahead to where it's going.

Mar 24

All too often, what accountants are selling are services that clients have to endure, says Joe Woodard , a leading consultant to accountants and the impresario behind the Scaling New Heights Conference, and not the sort of thing that they really value. To succeed in the face of automation, AI and other changes in the profession, accountants need to find new ways to create value in the mind of the client.

Mar 10

Accounting firms all across the country are adopting alternative practice structures as private equity investment sweeps across the profession -- but who knows what an APS really looks like? William Kelly , chief counsel at PE-backed accounting firm platform Ascend dives into the details.

Mar 3

What will the firings at the IRS and other developments in Washington mean for tax season? Neil Fishman , returning president of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, dives into these and other major tax issues.

Feb 24

The new head of the AICPA, Mark Koziel , shares his thoughts about the profession, his plans for the organization, and more.

Feb 10

Kim Blascoe , senior director of CAS professional services at CPA.com, shares some of the highlights of their most recent CAS Benchmark Survey -- from the area's extraordinary growth rates to the key practices of a high-performing CAS practice.

Feb 3

Neil Fishman , returning president of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, shares the issues his members are paying attention to as they head into tax season -- and what they're keeping an eye on for the rest of the year, too.

Jan 13

Accounting Today editor-in-chief Dan Hood outlines the major trends and developments that accountants should be keeping an eye out for over the next 12 months.

Dec 16, 2024

As the profession grapples with lower numbers of people becoming accountants and CPAs, discussions about what it should take to become a CPA have proliferated; in this episode, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs CEO Jennifer Cryder dives into why and how new paths to getting licensed are opening up.

Dec 9, 2024

On the eve of his retirement, longtime AICPA chief Barry Melancon turns his eagle-eye to the future, talking about the challenges and opportunities facing the profession, and what it needs to do to get ready for both.

Dec 2, 2024

As he prepares to step down from his long tenure as president and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs, Barry Melancon looks back at how the institute – and the accounting profession – have changed over the past 30 years.

Nov 18, 2024

As firms grow, they need to move their sales pipeline from inside their head into a more formal process, says Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting, to gather the right data and hold everyone involved accountable for growth.

Nov 11, 2024

Private equity can solve many of a firm's problems –– but not necessarily all, according to Phil Whitman of Whitman Transition Advisors, and there are alternatives.

Nov 4, 2024

Private equity is a solution to many accounting firm problems -- but not for all accounting firms. Allan Koltin of Koltin Consulting Group dives into who might be a good fit for PE, and what they can expect if they do.

Oct 28, 2024

Private equity presents a lot of opportunities for accounting firms -- but comes with a great many questions, too. Bob Lewis of the Visionary Group offers answers and valuable advice for accountants looking at this major trend.

Oct 14, 2024

What keeps employees engaged is changing rapidly, and accounting firms can't afford to fall behind, according to Tina Wang , division vice president of HR at payroll and HR giant ADP, and Darren Root, a major thought leader in the profession and Co-founder of Better Every Day.

Oct 7, 2024

Too many accounting firms are relying on outdated or inappropriate data to measure their success, and Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting lays out a much more forward-looking set of data for them to work with.

Sep 30, 2024

Melanie Lauridsen, vice president of tax policy and advocacy at the AICPA, and Cynthia Rijo Sanchez, president of the Puerto Rico CPA Society, discuss the boom in demand for tax and accounting services, and what it takes to successfully serve this market.

Sep 23, 2024

Terrell Turner of the TLTurner Group explains his firm's unique process for upgrading employee reviews and keeping staff performing at the levels they need.

Sep 16, 2024

John Napolitano of Napier Financial takes a long look at the host of unusual investment opportunities available to your wealthier clients, and how to tell what will work from what won't.

Sep 9, 2024

Michael Bannon of ESOP investment banking advisors CSG Partners explains which accounting firms might want to look into employee stock ownership plans -- and why.

Aug 26, 2024

AICPA chair Carla McCall talks about the opportunities and challenges facing the profession, and how accounting firms need to work together so they can all thrive separately.

Aug 5, 2024

And that should be their firm, says David Wurtzbacher of PE-backed accounting firm platform Ascend, so they can spend the vast majority of their time working on the business, rather than in the business.

Jul 22, 2024

Service line and practice offering leaders stand at the point where a firm's overall strategy meets the delivery of its actual services, and they have a unique role and set of responsibilities, says Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting.

Jul 22, 2024

Service line and practice offering leaders stand at the point where a firm's overall strategy meets the delivery of its actual services, and they have a unique role and set of responsibilities, says Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting.

Jul 15, 2024

Client advisory services Kane Polakoff of CohnReznick looks into the future of this fast-growing service area, and outlines the steps firms need to take to succeed in CAS's next iteration.

Jun 24, 2024

Many retirement plans are geared toward the specific date a person retires -- but clients will hopefully live long beyond that, and there are a lot of issues they'll need to consider, says John Napolitano , founder of Napier Financial.

Jun 17, 2024

The National Pipeline Advisory Group's recommendations cover a wide range of ways to attract more people to the profession, and NPAG facilitator and ConvergenceCoaching co-founder Jennifer Wilson walks us through what everyone can do to bring in the next generation. If you're interested in helping, you can take the Pipeline Pledge here .

Jun 3, 2024

Laura Sprouse, the new CEO of Top 100 Firm Brown Edwards, shares her path to leadership, and where she's taking her firm in the future.

May 20, 2024

What it means to be an accountant is changing -- and that may be an important part of attracting more young people too the profession, says David Bergstein.

May 13, 2024

What clients value and what accountants think they value are rarely the same thing, and Joe Woodard makes the case that it's accountants who need to change their ideas around value, not clients.

Apr 22, 2024

Why work 80 hours a week when you can work 40? Why work 40 when you can work 25? Consultant Geraldine Carter explains why it's not the hours you work that matter, but what you and your clients get out of them, and shares strategies from her new book to help build accounting practices that take less of your time but deliver just as much value -- if not more.

Apr 8, 2024

The co-leaders of the Rosenberg Group, Marc Rosenberg and Kristen Rampe look back at three decades of change in the accounting profession — and what lies ahead.

Apr 1, 2024

Kelly Fisher , chief practice officer at Top 100 Firm Wipfli, offers a practical look at artificial intelligence, current use cases, and how accounting firms should be thinking about it.

Mar 25, 2024

The profession is seeing wholesale shifts in generational approaches across a range of areas, say Bob Lewis and Doug Lewis of the Visionary Group, as they dive into how best to navigate all those changes.

Mar 18, 2024

Accounting hought leader Seth Fineberg shares the three areas that public accounting needs to address: life-work balance, DEI and salaries.

Mar 11, 2024

The AICPA's Crystal Cooke talks about why the perception that companies are scaling back their diversity efforts is wrong, and how accounting can move forward in its pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Mar 4, 2024

What goes into the recipe for accounting firm success? Randy Crabtree of TriMerit Specialty Taxes goes over the ingredients, and how best to combine them.

Feb 26, 2024

Okorie Ramsey, the chair of the AICPA and vice president of SOX at Kaiser Permanente, dives into how accounting firms can make the most of this important recruiting and career development tool, and the benefits it offers for both mentee and mentor.

Feb 19, 2024

Nela Richardson, chief economist of ADP, shares her thoughts on what's in store economically for the year ahead, what accountants should be worried about, and why the new normal will be anything but normal.

Jan 29, 2024

The first step is defining 'success,' says Nerd Enterprises' Seth David , before diving into how modern accounting firms can thrive.

Jan 22, 2024

It's not just hiring staff that's difficult -- managing them can be a major roadblock for growing businesses. One solution for that is the professional employer organization, and Kristen Appleman, senior vice president and general manager of ADP TotalSource, explains how they work and when they might be a good fit.

Jan 8, 2024

Frank Sands, president of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, shares the major issues that tax pros should be paying attention to in the run up to April 15, as well as expectations around IRS responsiveness, and the latest small-business trends.

Dec 19, 2023

With a radically new version of the test launching in 2024, the American Institute of CPAs' vice president of CPA examination and pipeline, Mike Decker, details the major changes, and shares valuable insights for how candidates can approach it.

Dec 11, 2023

Technology thought leader Randy Johnston of K2 Enterprises shares how firms should be building and thinking about their arsenal of tech tools.

Nov 27, 2023

As the flow of young people into the profession slows, and more and more old accountants are leaking away, Sue Coffey, the CEO of public accounting at the AICPA, and Lexy Kessler , chair of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, share what's being done in the short term and the long term to address this major problem.

Nov 20, 2023

Customer and client relationship management systems have come a long way, says Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting – and it's time for firms to give them a second look.

Nov 13, 2023

Construction companies love their accountants – and well they should, given the help they need on a range of compliance issues. Kit Dickinson of ADP shares the latest issues in the construction industry, and what they need from their CPAs.

Nov 6, 2023

Lots of businesses have claimed the Employee Retention Credit who don't actually qualify for it — and in many cases it's going to be up to their accountants to set them right. Randy Crabtree of Tri-Merit Tax Specialty Tax Professionals and the Unique CPA podcast dives into how you can know if a client qualifies, as well as the intricacies of some other major tax credits.

Oct 30, 2023

AJ Johnson, Geoff Brown and Calvin Harris share their unique perspectives as African-Americans who lead three of the biggest state CPA societies (respectively, the New Jersey Society of CPAs, the Illinois CPA Society, and the New York State Society of CPAs) on the major challenges facing their members, the primacy of the pipeline problem as an issue, and the role diversity can play in alleviating it -- if the profession can find a way to diversify itself.

Oct 23, 2023

The entry of private equity into public accounting has raised a lot of hopes and expectations and concerns – not all of which can pan out. Bob Lewis of the Visionary Group examines the opportunities, what it will mean for your firm, and how it will play out in the future.

Oct 16, 2023

Stephen Vono and John Raspante of insurance provider McGowan Pro look at the new areas that are sparking claims against firms – and the tools they can use to protect themselves.

Oct 2, 2023

For accounting firms to scale, they need to build a stronger infrastructure of professional HR, marketing, IT and other support systems, says Rachel Anevski , the founder of Matters of Management.

Sep 25, 2023

Technology expert Randy Johnston , executive vice president at K2 Enterprises, shines a spotlight on what accounting tech can do for you now — and what it's going to do for you in the future.

Sep 18, 2023

It's not about answering their calls and doing what you promised you would: Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting explains why firms should elevate their clients experience.

Sep 11, 2023

Promoting a top performer doesn't always guarantee they'll stay -- in fact, it's often their ticket out. ADP chief economist Nela Richardson shares the surprising data, and how to navigate these transitions better.

Aug 21, 2023

Dominique Molina and Tom Gorczynski of the "Tax Crime Junkies" podcast share some of their favorite tax crimes and how they created their podcast.

Aug 14, 2023

There is going to be a big gap between accountants who use artificial intelligence and those who don't, says Randy Johnston , executive vice president at K2 Enterprises, who shares ideas for leveraging this transformative technology.

Aug 7, 2023

Marna Ricker , global vice chair of tax at EY, discusses the latest developments on the global minimum tax and digital service taxes at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and how they will affect the U.S.

Jul 31, 2023

Many firms find they're hitting a major hurdle when it comes to taking advisory services to the next level; Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting shares why, and what to do about it.

Jul 24, 2023

With so much disruption being thrust upon them, you'd think the last thing accounting firms would want to do is to disrupt themselves — yet that may be exactly what they need to do, says Bob Lewis of The Visionary Group.

Jul 17, 2023

Small Business Administration loan expert Shannon Hay talks about the changes to the SBA's new SOP around lending, and what they mean for accounting firms and their clients.

Jul 10, 2023

Jen Cryder , CEO of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, shares the innovative ways the profession in her state is dealing with the pipeline problem.

Jun 26, 2023

Angela Appleby , a partner and lead auditor from Plante Moran who also sits on the AICPA Assurance Services Executive Committee, dives into the world of SOC reporting, and particularly the risks companies are facing there and the opportunities for accountants.

Jun 19, 2023

There's plenty of room for accountants to innovate in ways that don't involve IT, says metaconsultant Ed Kless , senior director of partner development and strategy at Sage, the host of the Sage Advice podcast, and co-host of "The Soul of Enterprise" radio show.

Jun 12, 2023

The accounting profession is going to have to move beyond the financial statement and the P&L to become holistic advisors, says Joe Woodard , a consultant and coach to accountants, founder of the Woodard Group, and the impresario behind Scaling New Heights.

Jun 5, 2023

Jean Marie Caragher, the president of Capstone Marketing, talks about why getting rid of bad clients can make a difference when it comes to keeping good staff, and much more.

May 22, 2023

Accountants need to create space for innovation in their firms, and then build up the change management processes they need to implement the innovations they come up with, explains Heather Satterley , the director of education and media at Woodard and cohost of The Appy Hour webinar series.

May 15, 2023

Leading consultant Allan Koltin of the Koltin Consulting Group discusses the key planks of a strong platform for firm growth.

May 8, 2023

Accountants don't realize that they have more power in their dealings with software providers than they may think; accounting technology thought leader and journalist Seth Fineberg wants to see accountants taking a more proactive approach to the relationship -- to the benefit of both sides.

May 1, 2023

Kristen Keats of Breakaway Bookkeeping and Sherwood Tax & Accounting shares the best practices she's learned from using outsourcing in her own practice.

Apr 24, 2023

Accounting thought leader Amy Vetter talks about the need to understand your own story -- so that you can then rewrite it. Drawing on her new book, "Disconnect to Connect," she dives into how self-knowledge, vulnerability and authenticity can make you a better leader, and a better person.

Apr 17, 2023

The war for talent goes on, but there are creative solutions available for bold firms, according to Jeff Phillips , CEO of Padgett Business Services and co-founder of remote job platform Accountingfly.

Apr 10, 2023

Accounting podcasters Randy Crabtree (of The Unique CPA podcast), and David Bergstein and Jasen Stine (of the Accountrends podcast) share the most interesting things they've learned from guests, as well as the big ideas they think accountants should be focusing on.

Mar 27, 2023

The shortage of people entering the accounting profession and pursuing CPA licensure has reached the proportions of a crisis, and Sue Coffey , CEO for public accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants dives into why -- and what accountants and firms can do about it.

Mar 20, 2023

Anthony Pugliese of the Institute of Internal Auditors discusses how changes in the business landscape are changing the risks that internal auditors need to pay attention to, and how the IIA is revamping its practice framework.

Mar 13, 2023

Randy Crabtree , CPA, the co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals and host of "The Unique CPA" podcast spotlights the mental health issues facing the accounting profession.

Mar 6, 2023

Daren Campbell , EY Americas tax tax technology and transformation leader, discusses the use of big data, robotic process automation, AI and other technology, in corporate tax strategy and compliance.

Feb 27, 2023

A desire for growth is often taken for granted at accounting firms -- but should it be? Consultant and accounting journalist Seth Fineberg examines what growth both can and should look like at different firms, and why it may be time to revisit your growth mindset.

Feb 20, 2023

Former IRS special agent Robert Nordlander dives into the difference between a Criminal Investigations investigation and a civil tax audit.

Feb 13, 2023

The leader of The Rainmaker Companies, Angie Grissom , shares lessons she's learned from working with accounting firms on their strategic plans.