Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE

Phong Ngo and Charley Howe from MakersHub discuss their accounts payable automation software that helps businesses capture detailed invoice data. They emphasize solving the accounts payable pain point, the power of their proprietary technology, and the limitations of existing solutions. They share their journey from engineering and banking to startups, the evolution of MakersHub, and the value it creates for accounting firms. They also highlight the benefits of partnerships and efficiency in accounting. Sign up to earn free CPE credits for listening!

Former chief accounting officer at GrubHub and current CAO at Ethos Life, Brandt Kucharski, shares his journey from public accounting to leading startups through IPOs. Topics include scaling accounting teams, nonprofit work, thoughts on increasing accounting talent, challenges of merging and going public, and the convenience and innovation of Ethos.

Explore the potential of AI in automating accounting tasks, including document analysis and tax research. Learn about leading AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and BARD. Discover how AI can improve communication in accounting and draft policies and procedures. Understand the benefits of using AI for client questions and voicemail transcripts. Get insights into the Haslam family's lawsuit and pushdown accounting. Find out how AI can be used as a research tool and for drafting replies. Learn about creating a traveling expense policy and the use of AI transcription tools for continuing education.

Hitendra R. Patil joins Blake for an insightful conversation about the staffing shortage in the accounting profession, identifying overwork and lack of work-life balance as key issues causing high burnout rates. They explore potential solutions like dropping the billable hour model, measuring impact rather than hours worked, outsourcing certain tasks, and focusing on specific value-added services. Patil also describes how his company helps accounting firms efficiently leverage offshore talent.SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefileChapters(00:47) - Hitendra Patil joins the show (03:24) - Let's talk about CAS (04:43) - What do you see firms call their communication with clients? (12:19) - National Association of Tax Professionals 2023 study (13:27) - CAS is vague and firms need to figure out what they want to offer from it (14:17) - What is causing the accounting shortage? (20:35) - How big of problems are the overwork and pay? (25:01) - More and more firms are offshoring work (29:34) - How long is offshoring a viable option? (32:52) - What are the accounting student numbers in India? (35:03) - Korn Ferry study on future shortages of working professionals (40:13) - What is the real underlying cause of the talent shortage (41:52) - Hourly timesheets and billing (44:01) - How can accountants measure impact on clients? (51:13) - Datamatics Business Solutions Inc. (58:07) - Thanks for listening and remember to earn your free CPE on Earmark Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Hitendra R. PatilLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hitendrapatil/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HitendraRPatilFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HitendraRPatil/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accountaneur/Learn more about Datamatics Business Solutions, Inc. (DBSI) Website: https://datamaticscpa.com/accounting-bookkeeping-outsourcing-for-usa-cpas/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Blake is joined by two "Young" CPAs, Hannah Hood, and Joey Kinney, both virtual CFOs with Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. Among the topics of discussion are challenges for young accountants including low starting salaries, lack of flexibility and career path at traditional firms, the value of remote work, and the need for more women leaders and work-life balance in the accounting industry. Hannah and Joey also promote changing the accounting profession to be more adaptable and inclusive.SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefileChapters(00:49) - Welcome Hannah and Joey to the show (04:47) - Where are Hannah and Joey located? (07:12) - Hannah, what is it like being a virtual CFO? (09:16) - What kind of clients do you work with? (10:04) - Joey what is different about your job and clients? (13:30) - How did you learn to do forecasting (16:05) - Are accountants leaving the profession because of boredom? (19:49) - Joey can you tell us about how you set your own schedule with hours (22:14) - How is your pay determined? (29:46) - Summit allows you to work fully remote (33:43) - What do you think holds back most firms from making these types of shifts? (41:15) - How do we get higher starting salaries in accounting? (42:16) - How Hannah and Joey each got their 30 extra semester hours for CPA licensure (49:10) - Is the old promise of the accounting dream gone? (55:54) - What's one thing you would change about the accounting profession if you could change anything? (01:01:28) - Wrap up and how to listen to The Young CPA Success Show Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our GuestsHannah HoodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-hood-7a4740b2Joey KinneyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-kinney-cpa-60658188/Learn more about Summit Virtual CFO by AndersWebsite: https://www.summitcpa.netConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Rising CPA star Logan Graf joins Blake to discuss his success in growing a profitable firm in just three years. Logan shares his unique transparent approach, how he rapidly increases his pricing year over year, and how he structures productized service packages to maximize profits. Blake and Logan talk about automating the client onboarding process, and key strategies around requiring upfront payments. This eye-opening episode is full of actionable advice to help CPAs accelerate firm growth and build their dream practice.SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefileChapters(07:40) - How Logan spends his time making content (10:41) - What type of services do you offer at your firm? (17:12) - How do you reevaluate pricing and implement higher pricing? (26:25) - Do you have any tips to raise prices without making clients angry? (29:48) - Getting clients to pay you upfront (35:55) - Have you started sending out proposals for next year yet? (49:03) - Tell me about your package offerings on your website (55:29) - How do you track projects and thoughts on practice management software? (01:03:14) - Blake demonstrates the ChatGPT CapCut integration (01:08:30) - Thanks for listening and remember to subscribe Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Logan GrafLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logangraf/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoganGrafTaxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2X_OgakltGGp-r5AJNsPQLearn more about The Graf Tax Co. PLLChttps://www.graftaxco.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Jody Grunden, founder of Summit CPA Group and virtual CFO services pioneer, reveals his $10 million secret: weekly client meetings. Learn about his transition from traditional monthly engagements, the power of driver-based modeling in forecasting, the benefits of remote work, and the considerations of selling the practice. Discover the importance of content creation and podcasting for building a public presence in the accounting world.

Examining how digital marketing and AI are disrupting accounting firm marketing. Successful firms utilizing marketing automation, CRMs, and content marketing. The shift from old models to new ones. Utilizing tools like HubSpot and Introhive for data scraping. Setting up marketing teams for success. The impact of AI on accounting marketing. Benefits of using generative AI for content creation. Exploring podcasting, live streaming, and email collection.

Mike Manalac, guest went from public accounting to a dream role at Google. He shares advice on personal branding and job interviews. Topics include AI in accounting, Excel at Google, transitioning from public accounting, tips for interviews, and his book 'No Flux Given'.

Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO USA, discusses the firm's transition to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), attracting talent, financial incentives, becoming a partner, talent shortage, and the future of the accounting profession. They also give advice for firms considering an ESOP.