Terrell Turner: Every CPA Should Think Like an Entrepreneur | Accounting Influencers

The profession’s future belongs to those who step out of the back room and into the boardroom

Accounting Influencers

with Rob Brown

Terrell Turner, CPA, co-founder of TLTurner Group, says the accounting profession is at a tipping point.

In this episode of Accounting Influencers, Turner calls on accountants, bookkeepers, and CFOs to evolve from number-crunchers to strategic decision-makers. "We can no longer sit in the back room," he says. "We’ve got to come to the front line and get involved in every aspect of the business."

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With a career that spans public accounting, Fortune 500 finance, and entrepreneurial success, Turner brings credibility and urgency to his message. Named a 40 Under 40 Black CPA and recognized by the New York Times, Turner is known for helping law firms transform their finances—but his real passion is transforming how accounting professionals see themselves.

Turner warns that professionals who fail to engage with business strategy risk being replaced by technology. “If we aren't filling that need, businesses will go find it somewhere else,” he says. “Accountants are in the best position to add value—but only if we step up.”