Transforming: Tales of Business Evolution

Robotic Process Automation, or RPA, has been a buzzword in the accounting profession for several years. Despite that, many practitioners don't have a great grasp of what RPA is and what it can do for accountants. Wesley Hartman has spent much of the past eight years developing RPA solutions for midsize firm Kirsch Kohn Bridge (KKB), where he serves as director of technology. In this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast, produced in partnership with the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Hartman shares how he has used RPA, how RPA can help accounting firms address key pain points, and why he and his firm are so bullish on the technology they have launched an RPA startup. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Click on the links to learn more about KKB or Automata or to contact Wesley. You can access an edited transcript of this episode on the JofA website. Resources mentioned in the conversation: AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE Conference Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

CPA firms and the clients they serve often view the world through a different lens. Tom Hood, the AICPA's executive vice president of business engagement and growth, recently had the rare opportunity to engage both groups. In this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast, Hood explores the common challenges – and shared solutions -- that CFOs and CPA face. Resources mentioned in this episode: Top Issues Survey Business Learning Institute ENGAGE 2023 CAS 2.0 AICPA Town Hall To learn more about Tom, follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

The AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section has been asking accounting firms to rank their top issues since 1997. But never has there been a list of concerns quite like the one produced by the 2022 CPA Firm Top Issues Survey. Listen in as two AICPA executives, Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, vice president of small firm interests, and Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, VP of firm issues, offer their insights on the top takeaways from the 2022 Top Issues Survey. Resources mentioned in this episode: Resources mentioned AICPA Town Hall Succession planning center CPA cybersecurity checklist Hybrid work best practices This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, visit aicpa.org/pcps or email pcps@aicpa.org for a free web tour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

Loretta Tubiello-Harr, founder of Tubiello-Harr & Associates, LLC, was approaching retirement and set out to create an exit plan. What did it take for her to get her practice attractive to buyers, vet those potential sales, and finally execute a successful sale? Find out in this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast from the AICPA's Private Companies' Practice Section (PCPS). Succession Planning Survey Succession Planning Guide & Tools To learn more about Herbein + Company, Inc., please visit their website at herbein.com. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

Loretta Tubiello-Harr, founder of Tubiello-Harr & Associates, LLC, was approaching retirement and set out to create an exit plan. What did it take for her to get her practice attractive to buyers, vet those potential sales, and finally execute a successful sale? Find out in this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast from the AICPA's Private Companies' Practice Section (PCPS). Succession Planning Survey Succession Planning Guide & Tools To learn more about Herbein + Company, Inc., please visit their website at herbein.com. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

Dedicated volunteers play an essential role in helping the AICPA provide a more robust member experience. How can you get involved and what can you gain from the experience? Find out in this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast as Erin Roche, CPA, CGMA, team leader with Elliott CPA Group, shares the personal and professional development opportunities she's experienced through volunteering. PCPS resources mentioned in this episode: AICPA Volunteer Central PCPS CPA Firm Competency Model To learn more about Erin and Elliott CPA Group, please visit elliott.cpa. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

Patrice Mills, CPA, was sunning herself on a Florida beach when she received an alarming phone call. All of her client files had been seized in a ransomware attack, and cybercriminals were demanding payment to release them. Listen in as Mills recounts this experience and shares best practices for keeping your firm's data safe. PCPS resources mentioned in this episode: PCPS CPA cybersecurity checklist To learn more about Patrice, please visit https://www.millscpa.com. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

Phishing schemes, ransomware attacks, and data breaches are on the rise. CPA firms and their client's data are prime targets. Listen in as Roman Kepczyk, director of Firm Technology Strategy with Right Networks and author of Digitally Speaking, a PCPS exclusive publication, shares how you can protect your firm's data from cybercriminals. Resources mentioned in this episode: CPA cybersecurity checklist Digitally Speaking To learn more about Roman, please visit https://www.rightnetworks.com. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour.

The AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section Succession Planning Survey finds that 44% of solo and sole practitioners plan to retire soon. David Shealy, CPA, Founder of the Shealy Group, was approaching retirement age and set out to find an exit plan. Brandon Miller, CPA, President & CEO of HW&Co, was actively seeking growth through smart acquisitions. Listen to this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast as David shares how he prepared his firm for an exit and what Brandon and HW&Co consider when acquiring a practice. PCPS resources mentioned in this episode: Succession Planning Survey Succession Planning Guide & Tools Work on your firm now, retire well later To learn more about HW&Co, please visit their website at hwco.cpa. This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, email pcps@aicpa.org and schedule a free webtour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.

Public accounting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are gaining momentum. Oftentimes, it can be the larger firms making the headlines, but small firms need not be overlooked. Listen to this episode of the Small Firm Philosophy podcast as Orume Hays, CPA, managing director of Hays CPA LLC, shares her first-hand experiences promoting diversity in a small firm. Resources mentioned in this episode: PCPS Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit Establish the next generation of diverse CPAs Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in small firms McKinsey & Company: Delivering through Diversity This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the home of small firms. To learn more about PCPS, check out our membership information or sign up for a free web tour. Note: If your podcast app does not hyperlink to resources, visit https://aicpasmallfirm.libsyn.com to access show notes with direct links.