CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Leave the stone age behind. Join the new paradigm.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrWhen Caleb Jenkins was eight, he started selling cookies to his dad’s firm during tax season. His dad told him, “For me to pay you, I need you to create an invoice for me.” So Jenkins set up his own QuickBooks file and has been playing with QuickBooks ever since, and eventually joined his dad’s firm.Like most small firms, RLJ Financial focuses on the fundamentals of tax, bookkeeping, and payroll, but, as Jenkins says, “in the eyes of the beholder, there's really not a whole lot of value there.” However, shifting into advisory – a big talking point in recent years for the profession – is where accountants can bring “incredible value …beyond the baseline of traditional compliance services,” Jenkins says. Shifting into advisory also means “there's way more work that happens all year round.” 10 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Caleb Jenkins Disruptor Notes  MORE: Disruptors  MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Ira Rosenbloom: Don't Merge for the Money | Adam Lean: Get Out of the Accountant's Trap | Geraldine Carter: Charging More is Better for Your Clients | Vimal Bava: When Working Smarter, Not Harder, Is the Only Option | Dawn Brolin Says Grow Your Firm by Shrinking It | Jason Blumer & Julie Shipp: Move Leaders Out of Client Service |  SEE THEM ALL here.

Stephen M. Yoss, Jr., is a visionary CPA, a contributor to CPA Trendlines, and the entrepreneurial mind behind CPE Today. Get more Steve Yoss at cpatrendlines.com here: https://cpa.click/steve-yoss Starting his tech journey at age 10, Stephen quickly progressed to establish his own IT company at 13 and began crafting software by 15. He holds a dual degree in Accountancy and International Business from Loyola Marymount, complemented by a Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology with a focus on Geographic Information Systems from Claremont Graduate University.Since 2017, Stephen has been at the helm of CPE Today's parent company, Devmatics LLC. He specializes in developing tailored software solutions, mobile apps, and sophisticated automation systems to solve complex, critical challenges for a variety of clients. His innovative approach to technology was first applied at his family’s firm, Yoss & Allen, where he revolutionized their technological infrastructure.As an authoritative speaker and prolific author, Stephen is a powerhouse in professional education, presenting at over 100 events annually and having authored more than 50 CPE courses. His sessions, packed with expertise and actionable insights, cover critical technology topics from cloud computing to preventing data breaches, artificial intelligence, automation, and empowering professionals across the globe.Stephen’s expertise in the realm of pyrotechnics is equally impressive. As a licensed pyrotechnician, he’s contributed to some of the nation’s most memorable fireworks displays, including the Macy’s July 4th Spectacular and the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th Anniversary celebrations, the annual Burning Man event, and many other shows around the country. His precision and creativity illuminate the sky, showcasing his dedication to this explosive art form.When he’s not developing software, enlightening professionals, or lighting up the sky with fireworks, Stephen indulges in his passions for music, community service, and the great outdoors. His commitment to community and adventure is evident, whether he’s at Burning Man or volunteering in his hometown of Big Bear Lake, CA.Dive deeper into Stephen’s blend of technological innovation, educational contribution, and pyrotechnic artistry at https://yoss.io.

ARC hosts discuss redefining efficiency in the accounting profession and when it pays to 'slack off.'  Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationHosts Liz Mason, CPA; Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP and CGMA discuss an unconventional yet powerful concept: the right kind of lazy. This idea, which involves strategically optimizing workflows to eliminate non-value-adding tasks, offers a fresh perspective on efficiency and productivity in accounting.EPISODE NOTES here

From "The Office" to "Parks and Recreation," listen in on how TV and movies shape our view of accountants.Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationAccountants are often depicted in popular culture in ways that range from humorous to downright exaggerated. In a recent episode of ARC, hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, delve into these portrayals, discussing their favorite fictional accountants and the stereotypes that come with them.EPISODE NOTES here

Prove the naysayers wrong.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrIn 2013, Jody’s firm, Summit Virtual CFO, became one of the first financial firms in the world to go fully remote. At the same time, they narrowed their focus to creative agencies. Those two changes, combined with a weekly subscription pricing model they’ve been using since 2007, resulted in a “hockey slope type ramp up.”  13 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Jody Grunden Disruptor Notes  MORE: Disruptors MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Jason Blumer & Julie Shipp: Move Leaders Out of Client Service | James Graham: Drop the Billable Hour and You'll Bill More | Karen Reyburn: Fix Your Marketing and Fix Your Business | Giles Pearson: Fix the Staffing Crisis by Swapping Experience for Education | Jina Etienne: Practice Fearless Inclusion | Bill Penczak: Stop Forcing Smart People to Do Stupid Work | Jason Deshayes: What We're Doing Isn't Working | Heather Satterley: You've Got To Meet People Where They Are | Bill Penczak: Stop Forcing Smart People to Do Stupid Work | Sandra Wiley: Staffing Problem? Check Your Culture |  Grunden, the partner and co-founder of Summit Virtual CFO, got his start as a thought leader and virtual CFO (as well as his signature wardrobe) when he was invited to speak at a conference in New Orleans. At the conference, he used an easel and pad of paper to walk a roomful of successful creative agency owners through the way they made money and how their decisions impacted the bottom line. Since then, they’ve been doubling in size every three years, reaching $10 million in revenue by 2022 while maintaining a profit margin of 10-25%. They also ditched the suits and ties back in 2004, and “decided to go against the norm…it really changed the way that people thought about accounting.” 

Make life at work better for yourself, your team, and your clients.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrDawn Brolin, CPA, CFE, intentionally shrank her firm, Powerful Accounting, from 11 to three team members, the opposite of the way most firms grow. She also drastically cut her client list, while nearly tripling her fees from a select group of just 19 clients.“I decided I wanted to change my life," Brolin says. "I want to change my staff's life. And I want to change the way my clients work with me where they weren't worried about getting a bill because they called me and asked me a question.”   13 MORE TAKEAWAYS: Dawn Brolin show notes here MORE: Disruptors MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Jason Blumer & Julie Shipp: Move Leaders Out of Client Service | James Graham: Drop the Billable Hour and You'll Bill More | Karen Reyburn: Fix Your Marketing and Fix Your Business | Giles Pearson: Fix the Staffing Crisis by Swapping Experience for Education | Jina Etienne: Practice Fearless Inclusion | Bill Penczak: Stop Forcing Smart People to Do Stupid Work | Jason Deshayes: What We're Doing Isn't Working | Heather Satterley: You've Got To Meet People Where They Are | Bill Penczak: Stop Forcing Smart People to Do Stupid Work | Sandra Wiley: Staffing Problem? Check Your Culture |  Part of that change in Dawn’s life was her passion for coaching college softball, where she serves as the team’s Designated Motivator. Because softball season overlaps with tax season, she leaves the office at 2 PM, five days a week. No one in her firm works more than 35 hours a week.  

Build a firm for your tribe.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrChris Hervochon is building his firm, Better Way CPA, “in a very specific way, for our tribes.” He explains, “Not everyone needs to be our customer, not everybody’s our tribe, not everybody needs to be our employee.” Leading with their core values, the process for bringing on new customers and new employees “weeds out the bad or the potentially poor fit customers,” which, in turn, helps with managing their time, the most valuable thing they have.   His tribe includes marketing agencies, which he started working with by accident.  Then, one day, he had the revelation that “I like working with these people. They need help. Their model fits into what I'm doing. They're professional services. They work roughly the same way that I do.” So he leaned into his niche. 10 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Chris Hervochon Disruptor Notes  MORE: Disruptors  MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Ira Rosenbloom: Don't Merge for the Money | Adam Lean: Get Out of the Accountant's Trap | Geraldine Carter: Charging More is Better for Your Clients | Vimal Bava: When Working Smarter, Not Harder, Is the Only Option | Dawn Brolin Says Grow Your Firm by Shrinking It | Jason Blumer & Julie Shipp: Move Leaders Out of Client Service |  SEE THEM ALL here.

Stringent ethical oversight and proactive regulation are needed as AI becomes more integrated into daily life.Accounting ARCWith Donny Shimamoto and Liz MasonCenter for Accounting TransformationHosts Liz Mason, CPA, and Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the accounting profession, focusing on both its transformative potential and the ethical challenges it presents.EPISODE NOTES here

Innovation InsightsCenter for Accounting TransformationWith Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationManaging change effectively is crucial for organizational success in a rapidly evolving business landscape. In the latest episode of Innovation Insights, Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, hosts Diane Brown, Managing Principal, and David Graham, Principal, from Archos Advisors, to explore the importance of change management in driving performance and innovation. MORE Donny Shimamoto EPISODE NOTES here "Organizations don't change; the people within them change," says Brown. This statement encapsulates the essence of change management. Brown defines it as applying a structured approach to transition an organization from its current state to a desired future state to achieve specific outcomes.

Merge to make a better business.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrIra Rosenbloom has worked in the M&A area with accounting firms for years, but things are changing today. The community of buyers is shrinking, so firms are being more selective about with whom they partner. Rosenbloom is also seeing more creativity in transactions, and acquiring firms are looking closer at the clients they may be adding.   9 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Ira Rosenbloom Disruptor Notes  MORE: Disruptors  MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Geraldine Carter: Charging More is Better for Your Clients | Vimal Bava: When Working Smarter, Not Harder, Is the Only Option | Dawn Brolin Says Grow Your Firm by Shrinking It | Jason Blumer & Julie Shipp: Move Leaders Out of Client Service |  SEE THEM ALL here.