CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Join Angie Grissom, a growth strategist for accounting firms, James Hickey, UK-based operations consultant, Todd Robinson, who enhances efficiency at Woodard, and Itamar Jobani, CEO of Payem, as they explore the future of the accounting profession. They tackle the crucial need for firms to adapt to rapid technological changes and embrace AI, shifting from compliance to advisory roles. They also discuss the importance of cultural shifts and strong client relationships, underscoring the need for strategic mindsets in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Wade Clark, an Associate Director of Sales Programs at Moss Adams and author with over three decades in sales for professional services, shares invaluable insights. He emphasizes the significance of consistent outreach in account development to spark growth. Clark introduces the idea of 'catalysts' that shift clients toward new solutions, while also discussing the impact of niche marketing in strengthening client relationships. He champions the importance of trust and genuine engagement, unlike immediate gains, as key drivers for long-term success.

The future is watching.Accounting ARCWith Arpan GrewalCenter for Accounting TransformationIn the latest Student Led Conversations episode of Accounting ARC, high school student Arpan Grewal hosts a dynamic dialogue with ESG Advisory senior manager Tiffany Huey from BPM, showing how accounting is becoming a surprising tool for tackling global challenges like climate change and social equity.MORE Accounting ARC: Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service | Ron Baker: Surviving Tariff Turmoil | Are We Ready for the Hidden Risks of AI in Accounting? | The Research Imperative: Why Data Drives Accounting Success | How Coaching Can Unlock Professional Success | Demystifying Accounting Governance | Top 10 Red Flags to Watch for in Accounting Offices | Jeremy Dubow: Private Equity as a Catalyst for Growth | Break the Burnout Cycle in Accounting | Accounting in Transition: 2024 Reflections & the Road Ahead | Ron Baker: Visions for the Accounting Profession |Huey, who transitioned from nonprofit work into ESG consulting, now leads BPM’s ESG advisory practice. “I wanted to understand how systems work,” she says. “How do businesses make decisions, and how can we make those decisions more values-aligned?”The conversation illuminates how ESG—environmental, social, and governance frameworks—requires more than balance sheets. “You can’t fix what you don’t track,” Huey says, stressing the power of data in holding companies accountable. “ESG makes companies show their receipts.”

Start with proactive planning instead of reactive reporting.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayAs tax season winds down and the dust settles, many CPAs are eager for a breather. But in the latest Quick Tax Tip with Art Werner podcast, the seasoned tax educator offers a powerful—and timely—reminder: now is not the time to coast. Instead, it's the perfect opportunity to pivot from tax historian to tax strategist.Click here for more Art WernerDrawing on decades of experience and his trademark candor, Werner explains how the very tax returns just filed can be the launchpad for a more impactful advisory relationship with clients. "What I would look at," he begins, "is the tax return you just prepared—and use that as a script."

Debbie Kilsheimer, co-owner of Behind the Scenes Financial Services and co-host of Bookkeepers on Fire, disrupts traditional accounting norms. She advocates for flat-rate pricing over hourly billing, emphasizing service quality over time sheets. Drawing from her journey, Debbie highlights the importance of innovation and client relationships in accounting. She shares personal stories about accountability in business and the need for a broader perspective on success, encouraging accountants to embrace technology and redefine their value propositions.

Optimizing the client experience is the real key to growth and profitability.The Concierge CPAWith Jackie MeyerFor CPA TrendlinesOn a recent episode of The Concierge CPA, Liscio founder and CEO Chris Farrell joins host Jackie Meyer to challenge the conventional wisdom about workflow systems in accounting. His core message? Firms don’t just need better systems—they need a client-first approach to technology."Most of the problems firms are facing stem from one thing," said Farrell, a CPA and veteran software innovator. "You're always waiting on the client."More Jackie MeyerFarrell knows both sides of the equation: as a former Arthur Andersen accountant and CFO, and as a serial entrepreneur who’s spent 15 years building tools specifically for accountants. With Liscio, a client experience platform, he’s tackling a key pain point: fragmented communication. “When clients don’t know where to send documents or how to respond, the firm grinds to a halt.”Farrell argues that accounting technology has historically focused on optimizing firm-side operations—tax software, practice management tools, document handling—but has neglected the user experience for clients. That, he says, is the real productivity roadblock.

“Accounting isn’t a ‘fake it till you make it’ job."MOVE Like ThisWith Bonnie Buol RuszczykFor CPA TrendlinesIn a recent episode of Move Like This, Ashley Kostos, sales manager at Accountests, joined host Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk to explore how data-driven assessments are helping accounting firms hire smarter, retain top talent, and create clearer career paths. With ongoing staffing shortages and high turnover across the industry, testing may be the tool firms didn’t know they needed.More MOVEAccountests, founded by a former PwC partner and a psychometric testing expert, offers skills, ability, and personality assessments specifically designed for the accounting profession. These tools help employers move past resume claims and polished interviews to evaluate real-world competencies, including things like understanding financial statements, tax knowledge, and software fluency. “Accounting isn’t a ‘fake it till you make it’ job,” Kostos emphasizes. “You need to know how to do the work.”

Diving into the evolution of client service, the conversation emphasizes the balance between technology and personal interaction in accounting. Experts highlight that strong communication can boost client satisfaction and retention. The shift to digital client portals is dissected, pointing out both advantages and challenges. A nostalgic look at the Y2K panic adds a light-hearted touch, while generational expectations are examined, revealing the necessity of maintaining human connections amidst modernization.

Without the right strategy, even the best intentions can go to waste. Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayCharitable giving can be a powerful tool for clients seeking tax advantages and for ensuring their donations are used wisely. Yet, many clients—and even some professionals—remain unaware of one of the most accessible vehicles for achieving these goals: donor-advised funds.Click here for more Art Werner“The average client has no idea that a donor-advised fund exists,” Werner says. “And if I, as a professional, am not aware of a technique, I probably won’t use it — not because I’m afraid of it, but because I’m ignorant of the ability to utilize it.”A donor-advised fund is a simple yet powerful charitable planning tool. It allows an individual to make a significant charitable contribution upfront, claim an immediate tax deduction, and then distribute the funds to charities over time. This approach provides flexibility and greater oversight of how donations are ultimately used.

Expand capabilities, boost client satisfaction, and build thriving businesses—without sacrificing independence.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrDave Kersting, founder and CEO of Capovario, is disrupting the status quo firm structure by introducing co-firming. While he and Tanya Schulte, owner of The Profit Constructors, started on the co-firming path in a contractor-subcontractor relationship, they quickly realized they wanted more. “...we want to win together, and we want to lose together,” Kersting recalls. MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Ashley Francis: AI's a Partner, Not a Replacement | Richard Roppa-Roberts: Collaboration Over Competition | Ira Rosenbloom: M&A Numbers Are Easy - Culture Fit Is Hard | Roman Villard: Ditch the Suit & Shine | Monique Swansen: Align Firm Values with Services | Tina McGill: How to Create Lasting Client Impact | Stefan van Duyvendijk: Develop Operational Mindset | Steve Evans: Why Traditional Hiring Methods Fail | Roger Knecht: Can You Be an Accountrepreneur? | Beth Whitworth: Focus on Outcomes Not Hours |Mike Sylvester: Learn to Say No | Salim Omar: Identify Your Client's $100,000 Problem | Jackie Meyer: Earn More with Fewer Clients | Jack Fleherty: Don't Be a 'Yes' Person Co-firming brings multiple specialized firms together to serve clients collaboratively rather than competitively. As Kersting explains, “What the client gets out of that is experts in the field, all working on the same client to make that client's journey better. Again, it's winning together, losing together.”This model isn't about subcontracting work but creating a unified team of specialists. With 11 firms now working together, “We kind of do look at ourselves as like this big super firm, a super firm, that we’re all team. We're all one big, ginormous team,” says Kersting.