CPA Trendlines Podcasts

How nontraditional professionals leverage their skills to bring innovation and growth to the accounting profession. Accounting ARCWith Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationThe accounting profession is experiencing a wave of disruption, and nontraditional professionals are leading the charge. In a recent episode of Accounting ARC, host Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, sits down with Rachel Bashore, the director of operations at Herbein, to discuss her journey from attorney to accounting professional and the valuable perspective she brings to her firm. SHOW NOTES here | MORE Accounting ARC: Leadership for the Future: Stakeholders, Sustainability, and Strategic Vision | In-Person Conferences Still Essential | Non-Accountants in Accounting: A Game-Changer for the Profession | Rubik Yeriazarian: Smaller Firms Offer Big Opportunities for Rapid Skill Development in Forensic Accounting | Accounting ARC | AI Will Steal Your Job. And That’s a Good Thing | Accounting ARC | The Right Kind of Lazy: Innovative Approaches to Streamlining Workflows | Accounting ARC "Accounting is ripe for change, and that’s what excites me," Bashore says, reflecting on how her varied career—from IT consulting to trial law—helped prepare her for the challenges of modern accounting. Bashore has a unique path into the industry. After years working with IBM, she transitioned into law, specializing in litigation before moving into banking and fintech. Bashore’s background exemplifies adaptability. She explains how her role at IBM involved solving technical conflicts, which led her to study law and become a trial lawyer. Eventually, she shifted into operations, helping companies grow and manage risk. Her entry into accounting came through Herbein, where she saw opportunities to bring fresh perspectives to an industry on the verge of transformation. "Accounting is becoming more about advisory services and helping clients succeed beyond just tax returns and audits," she remarks. "I’ve done that with software, law, and banking. Now, I get to help a firm expand into new areas." 

Diversify your revenue streams with video and build a virtual accounting career.Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownKate Josephine Johnson owns Heritage Business Services, LLC, a virtual bookkeeping firm serving small businesses across the United States. She is also the Chief Hustler at Bookkeeping Side Hustle, where she helps other accounting professionals build virtual accounting careers they love.Full Show Notes Here | More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown hereJohnson shares her insights on how accounting professionals can diversify their revenue streams. She discusses various strategies, including eBooks, monthly membership for DIY clients, vendor referral links, YouTube, and sponsorships of newsletter and video content. She emphasizes the importance of using video in your business. Johnson shares statistics about the rise of video and explains that you need two skills to make videos: creating and communicating. She also provides different ways to use video, such as internal operations, clients and hot prospects, and external “Know/Like/Trust” marketing.

"Just having a title or a position doesn’t make you a leader. You have to earn the trust and respect of the team that you're leading."Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA Trendlines In the latest episode of Gear Up for Growth, Carla McCall, managing partner of AAF CPAs and chair of the AICPA, shares valuable insights into leadership transitions within CPA firms. As the industry faces a generational shift—with 75% of current CPAs expected to retire in the next 15 years—McCall's experience highlights the importance of planning for the next wave of firm leadership. Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth every Friday here.| More Capstone Conversations with Jean Caragher every Monday | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here During the conversation, McCall recounts her journey, beginning when she joined AAF in 1995, then becoming a partner at AAF in 2003, and eventually becoming a co-managing partner in 2011. She emphasizes the importance of having a firm-wide succession mindset, where every leader is responsible for mentoring and developing their potential successor. One key factor in AAF’s smooth transition was a structured Managing Partner in Training (MPIT) program designed to prepare future leaders for the complexities of running a CPA firm.McCall reflects on her challenges in building trust and influence as a new leader. She stresses that leadership goes beyond simply holding a title—it requires earning respect through authenticity, feedback, and focusing on helping others succeed. Her journey to sole managing partner in 2020 demonstrated the power of aligning leadership around vision and strategy while empowering operational leaders to make day-to-day decisions. McCall's advice to CPA firm leaders? Start succession planning early, foster a culture of candid feedback, and align your team around a shared vision. With the right mindset and preparation, transitioning leadership can lead to a stronger, more resilient firm.

“The difficulty isn’t identifying the ethical decision; it’s making the right choice with difficult implications."Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationAccounting ethics training needs a major reboot, according to the latest episode of Accounting ARC. While traditional ethics training often feels like a check-the-box activity, hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, argue that the profession must move toward a more engaging and comprehensive approach. SHOW NOTES here | MORE Accounting ARC: Leadership for the Future: Stakeholders, Sustainability, and Strategic Vision | In-Person Conferences Still Essential | Non-Accountants in Accounting: A Game-Changer for the Profession | Rubik Yeriazarian: Smaller Firms Offer Big Opportunities for Rapid Skill Development in Forensic Accounting | Accounting ARC | AI Will Steal Your Job. And That’s a Good Thing | Accounting ARC | The Right Kind of Lazy: Innovative Approaches to Streamlining Workflows | Accounting ARC “Ethics education in accounting has become stale,” says Patrick, CEO and founder of VERIFYiQ and vice president of Client Success at The B3 Method Institute, reflecting on his 80+ hours of ethics training over his 22-year career. “The right decisions are usually obvious, but it’s the process of making them that’s difficult. Unfortunately, none of my training has equipped me to handle that challenge.” One of the key issues raised in the episode is the formulaic nature of traditional ethics education. Mason, founder and CEO of High Rock Accounting, highlights that many presentations simply focus on independence and professional standards without delving into the philosophical underpinnings of ethics. “We’re not addressing the ‘why’ behind ethical decisions,” Mason emphasizes. “We need to be talking about ethical frameworks, values, and the cultural contexts that shape them.” The hosts also discuss how ethics training often overlooks the complexities of real-world situations. “Most ethical dilemmas aren’t about identifying what’s right or wrong—they’re about the difficulty of making the right choice,” says Byron. “The implications of those choices are what make them hard.” 

If no one’s complaining that your fees are too high, your fees are too low.The Disruptors.  With Liz Farr. Mike Maksymiw, the leader of Aprio Firm Alliance, hates charge hours as a primary performance metric. He even left a firm where he was a partner because of a dispute over charge hours. Although he exceeded his revenue goals by a healthy margin, he was penalized because he got the work done in fewer hours.21 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Mike Maksymiw Disruptor Notes | MORE: Disruptors | MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS:   Terrell Turner: Build a Solid Business Showing Up as Yourself | Kelly Mann: Be the Bull in the China Shop | Alicia Katz Pollock: Create a Human-Centric Business | Nancy McClelland: Be the One Your Clients Ask First | Alan Whitman: Stop Accepting the Status Quo | SEE THEM ALL here.“The main thing I was supposed to do, I was doing,” he tells Liz Farr in this episode of The Disruptors. And if he hadn’t been meeting his revenue goals, that deficit in hours would have been something to remedy.  “So I don't want people to think there's no place for these metrics. We must put them in the right order to run a business.”

As private equity gains momentum in the accounting industry, firms face a decision: embrace external investment or double down on independence.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesIn a recent episode of the Gear Up for Growth podcast, Alex Drost, managing principal of Connection Builders, discusses the growing interest of private equity (PE) in the accounting sector. Hosted by Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, the conversation delves into the driving forces behind PE investments, the challenges faced by both investors and accounting firms, and how firms can prepare for the evolving landscape.Full show notes here | Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effective growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth every Friday here.|  More Capstone Conversations with Jean Caragher every Monday | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More The CPA Trendlines broadcast channel The accounting profession is no stranger to change, but according to Drost, recent shifts are reshaping the industry more dramatically than ever before. “We’re seeing changes not just in technology but in the makeup of the profession itself,” he says. “The aging partner base and different generational approaches to firm ownership are creating gaps that private equity sees as opportunities.” 

Donny Shimamoto, founder of IntrapriseTechknowlogies LLC, discusses the pivotal changes in the accounting profession. He highlights the significance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and the skepticism surrounding its authenticity. Donny emphasizes the evolving role of accountants as trusted advisors, particularly in ensuring transparency and ethical practices amid rising client demands. He also addresses the critical intersection of cybersecurity and ESG principles, offering essential tips for safeguarding data while navigating contemporary business challenges.

Accountants must adapt to new value measures to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. Accounting ARCWith Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationJoin host Donny Shimamoto as he chats with Bailey Lenart, founder of World Changing Business and Collective Flow. Bailey shares her journey from traditional accountant to ESG advocate, tackling non-financial metrics like emissions and biodiversity. SHOW NOTES here | MORE Accounting ARC hereDiscover how her passion for sustainability and joy in work has shaped her innovative career.  Tune in to hear about:  Nontraditional paths for accountants   Creating value beyond profit   How accountants can save the planet! 

Your clients may need a lot of empathy and not just tactical advice. Plus 13 key takeaways.  The DisruptorsWith Liz Farr Terrell Turner started his “journey of doing things differently” on April 1, 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. While “2020 was the reset button for everyone,” that reset offered Turner a tremendous opportunity to create a new kind of firm. “We don't have any history in doing this,” Turner recalls thinking. “So how would we do this in this new environment that we're in?” His path to founding a firm was unusual – from public accounting to industry and back to public accounting. He credits his time in industry with providing a “really solid foundation” in connecting processes with the impact on the financial statements. “I think being able to connect those dots is something I would have never been able to do had I not worked in industry for some time,” Turner says. THE TAKEAWAYS: Terrell Turner Disruptor Notes | MORE: Disruptors | MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS:  Kelly Mann: Be the Bull in the China Shop | Alicia Katz Pollock: Create a Human-Centric Business | Nancy McClelland: Be the One Your Clients Ask First | SEE THEM ALL here.

In this conversation, Kristen Lewis, Director of Marketing at EisnerAmper and a Hall of Fame member in accounting marketing, shares insights from over 20 years in the field. She discusses the biggest challenges in marketing for accounting firms, emphasizing the push for bold ideas in a traditionally conservative industry. Kristen also reflects on how the pandemic reshaped their strategies, the rise in content marketing, and the importance of adapting to new online networking formats to foster client relationships and enhance brand differentiation.