The Unique CPA

John Pace, 2022 Digital CPA Innovation Practitioner of the Year, shares insights on building a strong culture centered on employee wellbeing and work-life balance. He discusses the evolution of technology, creating a positive workplace culture, and the power of leverage in running a practice. Personal anecdotes, hobbies, and family life are also discussed.

On Episode 124 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Mike Whitmire, CEO and Co-Founder of FloQast. Mike discusses how he overcame burnout in public accounting brought on by personal pain points to build FloQast, such as long hours both at a Big Four firm and at an L.A. startup, the difficulty of the month-end close process, and the need for a better work-life balance in accounting. He discusses growing FloQast to over 500 employees with a focus on culture and transparency. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Paul Hamann, the founder of RCReports, joins Randy for Episode 123 of The Unique CPA. Paul discusses reasonable compensation and how it plays a vital role in tax planning and compliance for closely held businesses. Paul debunks common myths around reasonable compensation and provides valuable insights into how to properly determine reasonable comp. He and Randy both stress the importance of advisory in accounting services and how that addition of value can boost your firm. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

On Episode 122 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by accounting business expert Tatiana Tsoir. Tatiana shares her journey from accounting to entrepreneurship, and how she helps businesses succeed. Also an author, Tatiana covers an incredibly diverse range of topics, from price psychology to establishing work-life balance. Her passion for developing educational courses and coaching clients with the ultimate goal of bettering lives really shines through. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Listen to Randy Crabtree interview Roger Connect, president of Universal Accounting Center, as they discuss the key aspects of building an accounting firm. Topics include core services, marketing and sales strategies, unlocking the value of accounting professionals, balancing personal time, and promoting self-awareness.

Randy connects with Chase Birky, co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs, on Episode 120 of The Unique CPA. Chase explains the platform model Dark Horse uses to support CPAs under the firm’s banner support services. CPAs can start, scale, and grow their practices through collaboration and shared resources within Dark Horse’s innovative structure. The two touch on how this model can help avoid burnout and promote mental health. Chase joined us a speaker and panelist at the 2023 Unique CPA: Bridging the Gap Conference the week of August 28.  Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Seth Fineberg, founder of Accountants Forward and veteran journalist, discusses strengthening relationships between accountants and vendors, the importance of trust and communication, wild after parties at accounting conferences, the humorist Greg Kite and the importance of authenticity, personal music preferences, and a visit to Firestone Walker brewery in California.

Geof Brown, President and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society, discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion in the accounting profession. They highlight the legacy of Mary T. Washington Wiley, the challenges faced by underrepresented populations in accounting, and the need for adequate feedback and development. They also address the lack of diversity in the profession and emphasize the importance of supporting mental well-being in the accounting profession.

Justin Korth of Lutz Accounting joins Randy on Episode 117 of The Unique CPA to discuss how his firm faced down the challenges currently endemic in the accounting profession. To tackle the shortage of accounting graduates and high turnover rates, among other issues, Lutz started outsourcing some tax and audit work to a team in India. Justin discusses how outsourcing has helped reduce employee workload during busy season while still maintaining a high level of client service. He provides five key recommendations for firms considering outsourcing some of their work, covering topics like client consent, training the offshore team, setting expectations, and measuring key performance indicators. Listen in to learn how outsourcing can help your firm tackle the labor shortage crisis and improve efficiency. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

On Episode 116 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Jonathan McGuire of Aldrich Advisors to discuss Opportunity Zones, a unique element of the tax code introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2018. Opportunity Zones allow investors to defer capital gains taxes and later taxation by investing in designated low-income communities. Jonathan covers the tax benefits, requirements for Opportunity Zone Funds and Businesses, and types of eligible investments. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com