CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Full commitment is critical in niche accounting.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesIn the world of accounting, niche specialization is often a deliberate strategy. For Tim Allen, CPA, however, his journey into winery finance was more serendipitous than strategic. With over 30 years of experience—including time at a Big 4 firm, leadership roles at multiple wineries, and now managing a successful boutique firm exclusively dedicated to the wine industry—Allen has carved out a unique space for himself and his team.Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient 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 hereAllen's accounting came unexpectedly during his tenure at Deloitte’s San Francisco office. While his colleagues gravitated toward high-profile clients, Tim found himself drawn to wineries—clients that others overlooked. The opportunity allowed him to work closer to his family in Santa Rosa while developing a deep understanding of the industry’s financial intricacies.

Arpan Grewal, a high school junior and state officer for Indiana Business Professionals of America, takes the reins in this engaging conversation with seasoned professionals Donny Shimamoto, Liz Mason, and Byron Patrick. They reflect on their unique career paths in accounting, emphasizing the importance of ethics and continuous learning. The discussion challenges the stereotype of accounting as dull, highlighting its creativity and excitement. Mentorship and diversity in the accounting field also take center stage as they share insights for aspiring future accountants.

Reduce audit time by 20% without reducing quality.By Alan Anderson, CPATransforming Audit for the FutureFor most audit firms, the concept of “just in time” means that the audit was completed and the financials were delivered “just in time” to meet the deadline. But in this webinar, Alan Anderson explains how concepts from just-in-time manufacturing can be applied to make audits more efficient, reducing time by at least 15-20% while also improving quality and customer service. MORE ALAN ANDERSON: Are You Using the Right Business Model? | Give Advice While Remaining Independent | The New Formula for an Accounting Business | Don’t Risk Losing Good Employees for Bad Clients | Four Questions to Make Your Firm More Successful as a Business | Say Adios to Audit Fee Pressure | Deliver More Audit Value by Getting Out of the Conference Room | Six Essential Elements in Audit Planning | Before the Audit: More Than Just Planning | Five Crucial Attributes for Successful Audit Leadership | Put the Ethics Code to Work for Your Clients and Your Firm | Is Audit in Crisis Because of Definitions?Just-in-time manufacturing was devised to reduce inventory costs, downtime, and waste by following four sequential steps for every manufacturing process: design, build, inspect, and delivery. By analogy, the four steps of JIT manufacturing correspond to the four audit phases of planning, fieldwork, review, and delivery. The raw materials of an audit consist of the trial balance and schedules supplied by the client, and the final deliverable is the audit report.  

Stefan van Duyvendijk, Accounting Operations Evangelist at FloQast and co-author of 'Shift Happens,' encourages accountants to adopt an operational mindset. He discusses how automation is transforming accounting, allowing professionals to focus on strategic engagement. The conversation also highlights the evolving role of accountants as strategic assets, stressing the importance of effective communication and collaboration. Van Duyvendijk emphasizes the need for ongoing assessment of processes and networking in the accounting community to adapt to client expectations.

Revolutionize how businesses visualize and interpret data.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayBusinesses today are moving beyond traditional reporting methods to embrace the transformative potential of business intelligence tools. Industry leaders emphasize the importance of platforms like Tableau, Qlik, and Power BI, which allow companies to turn raw data into dynamic, interactive dashboards. These tools empower decision-makers to access real-time insights tailored to their specific needs, enabling them to make informed choices that drive success.MORE STEVE YOSSMORE TECHExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today. Business intelligence tools go far beyond static financial reports like balance sheets and income statements. By integrating sales, marketing, inventory, e-commerce, and even email newsletter data, companies can create a comprehensive “heads-up display” of their operations. Imagine transforming sales data into visual charts, mapping customer trends geographically, and combining diverse datasets into a single interactive platform. These tools enable businesses to manage proactively, focusing on forward-looking strategies rather than relying solely on retrospective analysis.

Removing clients isn’t just about profitability—it’s a firm-wide morale booster.Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownWith over 35 years of industry experience, Jean Caragher has witnessed the profession's transformation, noting that marketing roles in accounting firms are now more strategic and influential than ever.More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown hereCaragher describes her work at Capstone Marketing, where she serves as a fractional chief marketing officer for firms specializing in branding, content marketing, pricing, and client satisfaction strategies. "The foundation of marketing remains the same," she explains, "but today, we have a wealth of digital tools and data to enhance how firms promote themselves."

Michelle Golden-River, CEO of 4 LLC and a pioneer in CPA firm growth strategies, joins David Yeghiaian, Chief Strategy Officer for KerberRose, to challenge traditional billing practices. They argue that relying on billable hours limits profitability and suggest embracing value-based pricing instead. Golden-River highlights the need for a broader business model change to ease fears around pricing. The duo also discusses the transformative impact of clear project scopes and the importance of celebrating innovative strategies within firms to enhance client relationships.

“Coaching isn’t about fixing people—it’s about helping them unlock their full potential.” Accounting ARCWith Donny Shimamoto.Center for Accounting TransformationFor many accountants, career progression follows a predictable path—graduate, gain experience, and work toward a leadership role. However, as the industry transforms, many CPAs find themselves seeking something beyond technical expertise: personal growth, leadership skills, and work-life integration. That's where Doug Slaybaugh, CPA (a.k.a., the CPA Coach), comes in. MORE Accounting ARC: 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 | Angie Grissom: Next Gen Inspo for Accountants | Does Accounting Belong in STEM? | Rose Wang: Where Numbers Meet Strategy and Creativity | TikTok Fraud Exposes Gaps in Financial Literacy | How Accounting Pros Own the Stage in Public Speaking | Greg Kyte: Being a CPA Is Like Being the Marie Kondo of Numbers | Rachel Bashore: A Lawyer's Case for Reinventing Accounting | Beyond the Basics in Ethics Eduction | Bailey Lenart: From Ledger Sheets to Transformational Change A former Big Four auditor and regional firm partner, Slaybaugh now dedicates his career to helping accountants thrive through professional coaching. Slaybaugh’s journey into coaching wasn’t a straight line. After spending years in public accounting, rising through the ranks at Arthur Andersen and later Price Waterhouse, he realized his passion wasn’t just in financial statements—it was in people. 

Steve Evans, co-founder of Accountests and an expert in psychometric testing, sheds light on the pitfalls of traditional hiring methods in the accounting field. He reveals how current assessment tools fail to evaluate candidates' technical skills effectively. The conversation dives into the importance of emotional intelligence and strategic thinking for accountants in today’s workplace. Evans discusses the need for tailored assessments that bridge personality traits and skills to cultivate leadership, emphasizing the transformative potential of innovative hiring practices.

Unlock insights quickly, from QuickBooks to custom systems.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayMicrosoft’s Power BI revolutionizes how professionals and businesses interact with their data. This cutting-edge tool, designed for business intelligence and dashboarding, is user-friendly, highly versatile, and incredibly powerful. Whether you’re working with sales, marketing, accounting, inventory, payroll, or other datasets, Power BI seamlessly connects to nearly 100 native cloud resources—including QuickBooks Online—bringing your data to life through interactive dashboards, charts, maps, and graphs.MORE STEVE YOSSMORE TECHExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.One of Power BI’s standout features is its ease of use. By simply entering your username and password, you can connect directly to QuickBooks Online without the need for third-party integrations or extra fees. Moreover, its support for ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) makes it possible to integrate virtually any system, from inventory management to payroll and HR, or even external web data requiring login credentials.