CPA Trendlines Podcasts

"It’s a five-year degree for accounting versus four years for finance, and finance graduates often earn more."Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownAs technology reshapes the accounting landscape, professional qualifications must evolve to keep pace. In a compelling episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, Brian Hock, founder of HOCK International, argues that accounting certifications and qualifications are more important than ever in an era of automation and artificial intelligence. Complete episode notes here More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here Hock says the rapid shift in accounting standards is spawning a host of new specialty skills, including data analytics, cybersecurity, and automation. "When I took the CPA exam almost 30 years ago, it was paper-and-pencil," Hock recalls. "Now, technology is embedded in every aspect of accounting."

Bring complex financial data to life with advanced visualization techniques.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayFinancial statements can be difficult for non-accounting professionals to interpret. Balance sheets and cash flow statements often contain crucial information, yet they remain inaccessible to many decision-makers. Enter Microsoft Power BI—a business intelligence and visualization tool that transforms structured financial data into interactive, easy-to-understand dashboards. MORE Steve Voss | MORE Tech | MORE Podcasts With Power BI, organizations can break down income statements into charts, graphs, and statistical analyses that make data both digestible and actionable. Beyond traditional financial metrics, users can integrate sales, marketing, and even social media data to provide a holistic view of business performance. This seamless data integration empowers decision-makers with real-time insights tailored to their needs.

Mark Koziel, the newly appointed president and CEO of AICPA & CIMA, shares insights on the urgent transformation needed within CPA firms amid industry disruption. He discusses how COVID-19 accelerated shifts towards hybrid workforces and private equity involvement, challenging traditional firm models. Koziel emphasizes the need for innovative strategies to attract talent and adapt to new business models, highlighting the profession's evolution from audits to advisory roles, focusing on trust and client relationships.

Join Amy Cooper, an assistant accounting professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as she unveils fascinating insights about accountant retention. Her research shows that job embeddedness, rather than engagement, plays a crucial role in keeping accountants at public firms. Surprisingly, larger firms foster deeper professional ties and offer better career mobility, enhancing long-term commitment. Amy also discusses the significance of personalized support and mentorship, especially in today's remote work environment, urging firms to adapt for better retention.

Progressive firms are the key to the future of the profession.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrThe world of M&A is full of disruption, distraction, and disorientation these days, says Ira Rosenbloom, CEO of Optimum Strategies. While the headlines focus on private equity’s increasing role in CPA firm acquisitions, two new types of acquirers are playing a bigger role: Family offices and wealth management.MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: 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 | Greg Adams: From Finance to Storytelling | The Disruptors | Jody Padar: Make Radical Changes Now If You Want to Be Relevant in 2030 | Rebecca Driscoll: Amplify Reach By Helping Other Firm Owners | Rory Henry: Create the Return on Relationships | Mike Maksymiw: Be the Leader You Wish You Had | 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 FirstThese different participants are disrupting “the more traditional marketplace, which for years has been driven by two CPA firms getting together that had a lot in common, except one was larger and the other one was smaller,” says Rosenbloom. “I just think that what we've seen is there's not one approach that works for everybody. We're seeing dimension now. We're seeing a whole bunch of choices.”

Transform your workday with generative AI and discover practical ways to save time.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayGenerative AI tools are revolutionizing how we approach work, offering practical, efficient, and innovative solutions for professionals across industries. If you haven’t explored tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, now is the time to dive in. These cutting-edge technologies are as accessible as they are powerful, requiring no special training—just your ability to clearly express your needs.MORE STEVE YOSSMORE TECHExclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today.Imagine completing a 10-hour workload in just six hours. That’s the promise of generative AI: helping you work smarter, not harder.

Leaders must empower others, share leadership, and foster an inclusive culture to ensure long-term success.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesIn a rapidly evolving profession where mergers, acquisitions, and private equity investments dominate headlines, many CPA firms face a critical choice: sell, merge, or remain independent. For firms determined to chart their own course, leadership is the key to survival and success.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 hereSarah Elliott, co-founder and principal of Intend2Lead LLC, joins Jean Caragher on the "Gear Up for Growth" podcast to discuss how conscious leadership can help CPA firms maintain independence, foster innovation, and develop future leaders. Her insights underscore a fundamental shift in leadership—one that requires vision, empowerment, and adaptability.According to Elliott, firms that want to remain independent need to cultivate three critical leadership qualities.

“I’d go through cancer again before I’d go back to not having confidence.”Accounting ARCWith Arpan GrewalCenter for Accounting TransformationWhen Kelly Mann left her public accounting job, she had no clients, no roadmap, and no guarantee of success. But what she did have was a vision—and a willingness to take risks. Today, she is the CEO of AuditMiner, a groundbreaking software company that simplifies 401(k) audits for CPA firms across the country. MORE Accounting ARC: 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 | 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 Education“I was always told to stop being a bull in a china shop,” Mann recalls. “But I realized I was okay with being a bull—I just needed to leave the china shop.” That realization set her on the path to entrepreneurship. In 2020, Mann was preparing to launch AuditMiner when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Facing both a global pandemic and a personal health battle, she nearly gave up.

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have - yes, seriously. The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrTraditional accounting firms are undergoing a seismic shift, and at the forefront of this transformation is Roman Villard, founder of Full Send Accounting. In this episode of The Disruptors podcast, Liz Farr sits down with Villard to explore his unconventional approach to running an accounting and data consultancy. From redefining firm culture to embracing technology, Villard shares how his firm is reshaping what it means to be a modern accountant.MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: 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 | Greg Adams: From Finance to Storytelling | The Disruptors | Jody Padar: Make Radical Changes Now If You Want to Be Relevant in 2030 | Rebecca Driscoll: Amplify Reach By Helping Other Firm Owners Many in the accounting industry grew up hearing, “Dress for the job you want.” But for Villard, that meant rethinking what kind of job—and firm—he actually wanted. Tired of the rigid expectations of traditional accounting firms, he built Full Send to foster authenticity, allowing professionals to bring their whole selves to work. From casual attire to a brand identity inspired by adventure sports, Full Send is a firm built on passion, energy, and going all in.

Randy Johnston, a trailblazer in fintech and technology for accounting, shares his insights on the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. He traces AI's history from Alan Turing to modern breakthroughs like ChatGPT. Johnston emphasizes how generative AI can reshape accounting practices, enhancing efficiency while navigating ethical implications and job concerns. He also explores how augmented reality could transform the fintech landscape, suggesting a future where AI not only supports productivity but also inspires creativity.