Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE

We’re talking to Chase Birky, CEO and co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs, a non-traditional CPA firm. Learn the advantages and challenges of being a CPA firm, the importance of creating a positive work environment for staff, and the need for the accounting profession to attract and retain more young talent. Tune in to hear insights into alternative paths for CPAs and how the industry can work towards creating a more sustainable and fulfilling workplace culture.Many thanks to our sponsor, LiveFlow!To learn more about LiveFlow, visit https://earmarkcpe.promo/liveflowChapters(00:00) - EAP 42 (01:10) - Welcome Chase to the podcast (02:47) - Unpacking the "Anti-CPA Firm" concept (07:13) - What is different about Dark Horse versus the traditional partnership model? (10:27) - Office Space should be mandatory viewing and work/life balance (19:39) - Are there any issues running a CPA firm the way you do? (25:14) - Does you firm do audits? (26:03) - Why did you decide to make your firm a CPA firm? (28:19) - What things have you had to go through as a CPA firm? Peer review? (33:42) - CPA firms can't give equity to non CPAs (40:01) - If you were the president of the AICPA what would you be saying to firms? (44:08) - Blakes reads posts on r/accounting about the industry (53:39) - Wrap up and how to reach Chase and earn free CPE Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Chase BirkyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasebirky/Learn more about Dark Horse CPAsWebsite: http://darkhorse.cpaConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Tim Petrey shares his journey from starting as a receptionist to becoming a partner in his CPA firm and founder of a payroll service. He discusses how his firm, HD Davis CPAs, evolved from a tax business to a full-service advisory firm and how they acquired small practices to grow. Tim also emphasizes the importance of adopting technology to streamline processes. Tune in to hear more about Tim's journey and the lessons he learned along the way.Many thanks to our sponsor, LiveFlow!To learn more about LiveFlow, visit https://earmarkcpe.promo/liveflowChapters (00:00) - Preview: We want to be the Chick-fil-A of payroll providers (01:07) - Welcome and Tim's introduction (06:26) - What was your job when the 2008 financial crisis hit? (11:18) - What did things look like from a tech perspective when you started and what did you do to change it? (19:22) - Tim's thoughts on time sheets (30:57) - How do you price CFO or advisory services? (45:51) - Some of Tim's accolades (46:40) - How to create a better workplace (51:44) - How to connect with Tim 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, Tim Petrey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petreycpa/Learn more about HD Davis CPAsWebsite: http://hddaviscpas.proConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Blake Oliver is joined by Ben Sutton, the founder of Mazuma. Mazuma offers core monthly bookkeeping services, reconciliations, basic financials, and tax returns for a flat fee of $180 per month. Ben believes small businesses need services traditional accounting firms don't provide, and he wanted to give them the support they need. He found it possible to offer bookkeeping services at a low cost, as long as the scope of services and what clients can and cannot do is carefully limited.Many thanks to our sponsor, LiveFlow!To learn more about LiveFlow, visit https://earmarkcpe.promo/liveflowSign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app(00:00) - Episode 40 (01:30) - Background on Ben Sutton (11:26) - What deliverables do you send your clients each month or quarter? (16:34) - Do you have a niche that you specialize in? (22:14) - Where are your employees located? (27:14) - What is your typical technology stack for clients? (40:21) - What tax software do you use? (49:50) - How many clients do you have per bookkeeper? (52:45) - How are continuing to grow your business? (55:24) - BONUS: Opinions on CPE (58:43) - How to connect with Ben Show NotesListen to the Earmark Podcast interview with Argel Sabillo referenced in this episode: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com/episodes/building-an-offshore-team-in-the-philippines-from-0-to-15-staff-in-4-yearsConnect with Our Guest, Ben SuttonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benleesutton/Learn more about MazumaWebsite: http://mazumausa.comConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Half of accountants believe that diversity is important. Half do not. Meanwhile, efforts to increase diversity in accounting firms have had disappointing results. Todd Shapiro and Kari Natale of the Illinois CPA Society join to discuss why and what the profession should do about it.Many thanks to our sponsor, LiveFlow!To learn more about LiveFlow, visit https://earmarkcpe.promo/liveflowSign 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.app(00:00) - Preview: Coninue to talk about the diversity issues (00:51) - How to earn FREE CPE (01:13) - Overview of the diversity problem in the CPA profession (04:31) - Tell us about your internship program (09:59) - Why are accountants leaving the profession? (14:14) - Things firms can do to help these employees be better preprared (24:25) - Launching 2.0 version to ensure success once they are at a job (27:59) - 36% of accounting profession doesn't think DEI is important (31:55) - Organizations make better decisions when employees are diverse (40:58) - What can universities and schools do to prepare accounting majors better? (42:31) - What is it that alumni felt like they were unprepared to do? (44:55) - Should schools be teaching more soft skills (51:04) - Wrap up and where to reach Todd and Kari Show NotesAccountants and DEI: By the numbers | Accounting Todayhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/list/accountants-and-dei-by-the-numbersRead "A CPA Diversity Report: Uncovering the Barriers to Success"https://www.icpas.org/information/professional-issues/cpa-diversityConnect with Our GuestsTodd ShapiroLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-shapiro-536b6b1/Kari NataleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinatale/Learn more about the Illinois CPA Societyhttp://icpas.orgConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

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 Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelly/Learn more about Reconciled: https://reconciled.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Thanks to our sponsor, Accountests for making this episode possible!To learn more about Accountests, visit: https://earmarkcpe.promo/accountestsSign 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, Sandra YorkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-york-551baa84/Follow Sandi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitmoneycoach/Learn more about Fit Money CoachWebsite: http://fitmoneycoach.comConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Many thanks to our sponsor, LiveFlow!To learn more about LiveFlow, visit https://earmarkcpe.promo/liveflowSign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Michael AllimanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelalliman/Learn more about Michael's firm: https://www.allimanbusinessgroup.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Thank you to our sponsor, ApprovalMax! To learn more about ApprovalMax, visit: https://earmarkcpe.promo/approvalmaxSign 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 Felix:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/f%C3%A9lix-latour-781291a4/Learn about Le Controleur:https://www.controleur.ca/Apps Felix highlighted in the episode:ApprovalMax: https://www.approvalmax.com/Front: https://front.com/Fathom: https://www.fathomhq.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Many thanks to our sponsor, LiveFlow!To learn more about LiveFlow, visit https://earmarkcpe.promo/liveflowSign 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, Argel Sabillo, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/argelsabillocpa/Learn more about DTLA CPAWebsite: http://dtlacpa.comVisit heyApril: https://heyapril.io/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Thanks to our sponsor, Avise!https://earmarkcpe.promo/aviseSign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Graham StantonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamstanton/Learn more about Avise: https://avise.comConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/