About this episode
What happens when the traditional path from college to accounting career gets disrupted by AI and automation? This week, Blake and David explore who's most likely to quit accounting firms (hint: it's the middle managers), why wages are rising while jobs disappear, and how one college is revolutionizing accounting education. You'll discover which employees are happiest and most miserable in accounting, learn why ChatGPT conversations could be used against you in court, and hear from Nicole Wetter about Green River College's innovative applied accounting program that puts students in real internships while teaching them AI tools alongside traditional skills. Sponsors Keeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeper TeamUp - http://accountingpodcast.promo/teamup Human at Scale - http://accountingpodcast.promo/human Missive - http://accountingpodcast.promo/missive Chapters (00:48) - AI in Accounting: Opportunities and Limitations (02:11) - Impact of AI on Accounting Jobs (04:07) - Interview with Nicole Wetter: Applied Science in Accounting (04:57) - ChatGPT and Legal Concerns (05:29) - Accounting Industry Updates and Opinions (06:55) - Employee Satisfaction in Accounting Firms (12:12) - Mergers and Acquisitions in Accounting (13:38) - Sponsor Messages and Livestream Welcome (17:40) - Conflicting Survey Data on Tech Adoption (25:16) - ChatGPT Study Mode: A New Way to Learn (31:13) - Second Sponsor Message: Team Up (32:10) - Free Resources for Listeners (32:29) - Billy Long's IRS Leadership (36:02) - Jeffrey Epstein's Tax Planning Scandal (38:03) - Rant on Tariffs and Economic Policies (47:04) - Interview with Nicole Wetter on Applied Accounting Education (01:10:04) - Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events Show Notes Who's most likely to leave your accounting firm? https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/whos-most-likely-to-leave-your-accounting-firm Sam Altman warns there's no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT as a therapist https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/25/sam-altman-warns-theres-no-legal-confidentiality-when-using-chatgpt-as-a-therapist/ OpenAI to appeal New York Times copyright case over user data preservation https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/openai-appeal-copyright-ruling-ny-times-case-altman-calls-ai-privilege How we're responding to The New York Times' data demands in order to protect user privacy https://openai.com/index/response-to-nyt-data-demands/ 'I don't care about Direct File': IRS chief says agency plans to end free filing program https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/30/irs-chief-says-agency-plans-to-end-free-direct-file-program.html IRS Chief Says Direct File Is 'Gone,' Other Audit Tech Is Coming https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/irs-chief-says-direct-file-is-gone-other-audit-tech-is-coming New commissioner confident IRS can implement OBBBA's tax provisions https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/jul/new-commissioner-confident-irs-can-implement-obbbas-tax-provisions/ Continuing Epstein Investigation, Wyden Probes IRS's Failure to Investigate Sex Trafficker's Highly Lucrative Tax Planning Work https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/continuing-epstein-investigation-wyden-probes-irss-failure-to-investigate-sex-traffickers-highly-lucrative-tax-planning-work Wyden probes IRS failure to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's tax planning https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/wyden-probes-irs-failure-to-investigate-jeffrey-epsteins-tax-planning As Trump Sits on Key Epstein Files, Wyden Lays Out "Follow the Money" Investigation for DOJ https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/as-trump-sits-on-key-epstein-files-wyden-lays-out-follow-the-money-investigation-for-doj Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary . Find us on Facebook and Instagram . If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser . Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus . Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcasts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcast Spotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/Spotify Podchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaser Stitcher: http://clouda...