The Accounting Podcast

Blake and David take a dive into Google's decision to offshore accounting jobs to Mexico and India, which Google’s CFO claims is necessary to free up resources to invest in AI. They also discuss the stagnation of CPA salaries despite a shortage of talent. The conversation touches on a variety of other topics, including the modernization of the IRS, the future of the CPA profession, and advice for young accountants looking to carve their own career paths in a rapidly changing industry.Sponsors Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay Zoho - http://accountingpodcast.promo/zohoKeeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeperSettle - http://accountingpodcast.promo/settleChapters(05:53) - Blake reads some tweets about hours people are working during busy season (10:52) - Unlimited PTO is worse for employees (13:22) - College degrees aren't necessary for success (20:24) - Florida creates retired CPA status (23:35) - Listener mail on the 150-hour rule and salaries (29:16) - Update on Boston's commercial real estate woes (33:48) - Why office rent prices are still so high (43:10) - Some encouraging IRS news (48:27) - Internal audit reveals 279 former IRS employees or contractors still had access to logins (52:12) - Offshoring can be good or bad (54:04) - Setting a limit on billable hours (55:50) - Let accounting firms decide what requirements accountants need (58:08) - The rise of the "remote partner" (01:04:00) - Wrap up and Earmark now has a web browser version  Show NotesGoogle restructures finance team as part of AI shift, CFO tells employees in memohttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/17/google-restructures-finance-team-as-a-part-of-ai-shift-cfo-tells-employees-in-memo.html Josh Youngblood, EA didn’t work over 40 hours per week in tax seasonhttps://x.com/joshyoungblood/status/1779858374403747847?s=12 Skills-Based Hiring Can Shred the Paper Ceiling | BCGhttps://www.bcg.com/capabilities/diversity-inclusion/expert-insights/skill-based-hiring-can-shred-paper-ceiling The Office Market Is in Turmoil. So Why Are Rents More Expensive? – WSJhttps://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/the-office-market-is-in-turmoil-so-why-are-rents-more-expensive-d096f961?st=9ieavh5j7ep3wcw Florida Legislature Passes Bill Creating New Retired CPA Status | Florida Institute of CPAshttps://www.ficpa.org/publication/florida-legislature-passes-bill-creating-new-retired-cpa-status Kyle J. Bauman, CPA on X: "“Unlimited PTO” “Only 2100 Hours”https://twitter.com/kjb_cpa/status/1763595505928442248 62% of Americans Lack a College Degree. Can They Solve the Labor Shortage?https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/employers-open-more-doors-to-workers-without-degrees-but-few-are-getting-in-732f1098 Senior Leaders Nearly Twice as Likely To Receive AI Resources as Junior Staff | CFOhttps://www.cfo.com/news/senior-leaders-are-nearly-twice-as-likely-to-receive-ai-guidance/707230/ IRS didn't remove contractors' access to sensitive information | Accounting Todayhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-didnt-remove-contractors-access-to-sensitive-information Boston mulls commercial tax hike        https://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/boston-mulls-commercial-tax-hike-to-counter-office-market-slump IRS Commissioner Delivers End Of Tax Filing Season Message Touting Improvementshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2024/04/15/irs-commissioner-delivers-end-of-tax-filing-season-message-touting-improvements/ Florida Creates New Status for Retired CPAs in the State          https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2024/04/15/florida-creates-new-status-for-retired-cpas-in-the-state/103983/ Treasury cash balance jumps most in 2 years as tax payments risehttps://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/treasury-cash-balance-jumps-most-in-2-years-as-tax-payments-rise The rise of the remote accounting firm partner               https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/the-rise-of-the-remote-accounting-firm-partner Werfel sees IRS budget request yielding $341B in extra revenuehttps://www.cfodive.com/news/werfel-sees-irs-budget-request-yielding-341b-extra-revenue-tax-taxation-enforcement/713534/ Google restructures finance team as part of AI shift, CFO tells employees in memohttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/17/google-restructures-finance-team-as-a-part-of-ai-shift-cfo-tells-employees-in-memo.html Despite moratorium, IRS gets 20,000 ERC claims weekly, Werfel sayshttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2024/apr/despite-moratorium-irs-gets-20000-erc-claims-weekly-werfel-says.htmlNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com...

Blake and David delve into the effects of remote work on accountant salaries and the mental health challenges faced by auditors at Big Four firms. They inspect a recent study showing lower pay for hybrid workers compared to fully remote or in-office employees. They also contemplate the future of work organization inspired by Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer, and discuss the potential impact of AI on the accounting profession, the accuracy of AI-related surveys, and the misrepresentation of AI capabilities in recent news headlines.SponsorsLiveFlow - http://accountingpodcast.promo/liveflow Uncat - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncatEarmark - https://earmark.appSettle - http://accountingpodcast.promo/settleChapters(00:34) - Will accountants soon earn overtime pay? (04:57) - Listener writes in about their own audit experience at a Top-30 firm (08:14) - Trump's Truth Social audit update (14:44) - PCAOB proposed audit metrics (20:44) - 71% of Big 4 auditors worry about mental health (23:27) - Blake shares a clip from new Bayer CEO (33:48) - H&R Block employees prefer remote work (38:14) - Remote accountants get paid less (39:35) - Executives and managers perceive in-office workers as higher performers (42:06) - The four day work week is becoming more common (45:27) - Cody writes in about Big 4 vs industry (47:09) - Hannah asks about outsourcing and offshoring costs (49:59) - Amazon Fresh stores were using Indian employees for "just walk out" tech (55:22) - Shohei Ohtani's translator charged in sports gambling case (58:14) - Accounting Today wrongly claims accountants are saving 30 hours a week on average using AI (01:01:34) - Blake shares a clip from the All In podcast on the future of AI (01:04:48) - Is it time for a new ERP system? (01:07:47) - Thanks for listening and remember to subscribe  Show Notes71% of Big 4 Auditors Worry About Mental Health | CFO             https://www.cfo.com/news/71-of-big-4-auditors-worry-about-mental-health/712063/ Will Getting Rid of Bosses Fix the Workplace? - The Journal. - WSJ Podcastshttps://www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal/will-getting-rid-of-bosses-fix-the-workplace/fc0d31d3-2d08-441e-abd8-d77b660fe258 59% of accountants use AI to save about 30 hours a week on tasks | Accounting Todayhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/59-of-accountants-use-ai-to-save-about-30-hours-a-week-on-tasks Y Combinator wants to fund new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software"https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3-zHmOIqbI/?igsh=dTMxMDBjNGg3a2p0 Ohtani translator charged with stealing millions for 19,000 bets | Accounting Todayhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/ohtani-translator-charged-with-stealing-millions-for-19-000-bets KPMG Fined Record $25 Million in Exam-Cheating Scandal – WSJhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/kpmg-fined-25-million-over-alleged-netherlands-exam-cheating-a4dcba2a?st=yl6xiqm8nh6gug8 Botkeeper Infinite replaces outsourcing with more AI to help firms automate | Accounting Todayhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/botkeeper-infinite-replaces-outsourcing-with-more-ai-to-help-firms-automate More Companies Adopt 4-Day Work Week - CPA Practice Advisor        https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2024/03/27/more-companies-adopt-4-day-work-week/103199/ When Layoffs Happen, Remote Workers Are Hardest Hit - WSJ               https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/layoffs-remote-work-data-980ed59d?reflink=integratedwebview_share Does Working from Home Boost Productivity Growth? | San Francisco Fed     https://www.frbsf.org/economic-research/publications/economic-letter/2024/january/does-working-from-home-boost-productivity-growth/Trump Media's Accounting Firm Has Audit Deficiency History https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-media-accounting-firm-history-150150627.html Amazon's Just Walk Out Actually Uses 1,000 People in Indiahttps://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-just-walk-out-actually-1-000-people-in-india-2024-4 PCAOB Wallops KPMG Netherlands With Record $25M Fine For Exam Cheatinghttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2024/04/10/pcaob-wallops-kpmg-in-the-netherlands-with-25-million-fine-for-exam-cheating/103803/ PCAOB crackdown shifting to focus on auditing firmshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-crackdown-shifting-to-focus-on-auditing-firms PCAOB Proposal Would Require Audit Firms to Disclose a Variety of Metricshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2024/04/10/pcaob-issues-proposal-requiring-audit-firms-to-disclose-variety-of-metrics/103758/ PCAOB proposals call for firms to disclose more about themselveshttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2024/apr/pcaob-proposals-call-firms-to-disclose-more-about-themselves.html Only 48% of accounting, consulting, legal, and private capital professionals have used AI tools at work despite near ...

Accounting expert Joe Woodard discusses increasing service value for accountants. Topics include Cobb Value Curve, differentiation for pricing, offering high-value services like controllership and financial planning, and exploring historical perspectives on firefighting and value capture in accounting.

Blake and David discuss the alarming trend of small CPA firms conducting subpar audits for large companies, with minimal consequences. They cover AI funding news, the power of AI in persuasion, and resistance to changes in CPA licensure requirements. They also touch on the growth of client accounting services and the impact of AI in debates.

Topics include pizza parties boosting morale in accounting firms, baby boomers impacting Social Security, COVID fraud in South Florida, audit integrity issues, long working hours in accounting, and latest app headlines.

M&A advisor Charles Bedard discusses how subscription-based accounting firms command higher valuations than traditional ones, highlighting the importance of recurring revenue. He provides actionable tips for firm owners to increase their value and prepare for an exit, emphasizing strategies like aqua hire and strategic billing approaches.

Blake and David discuss the impact of AI on accounting, efficiency gains, and pricing strategies. They review a recent Accounting Today survey on accountants' perceptions of AI. The conversation also touches on kind initiatives, gratitude in the workplace, and personal AI usage. Various AI tools and their benefits are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of integrating AI in accounting practices to boost productivity.

Professor Ed Ketz of Penn State discusses the relevance of audit opinions and their impact on investor understanding. The conversation covers the need for audit regulation improvement, overstandardization of reports, and the debate on the value of unqualified opinions. Professor Ketz sparks a discussion on how the existence of the opinion itself may create more value than its content.

Blake and David start with a discussion on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony regarding the failure of small and mid-sized banks due to exposure to the commercial real estate sector. They also get into Minnesota's CPA licensure bill for 150-hour requirement alternatives and KPMG's audit findings on the Department of Education and the cost of the federal student loan program. Rounding out the episode, they answer listener questions and comments on topics including the psychological challenges of CPA firm employment, NASBA's lack of customer service, and the high fees for taking the CPA exam internationally.SponsorsLiveFlow - http://accountingpodcast.promo/liveflowKeeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeperClient Hub - http://accountingpodcast.promo/clienthubChapters(00:28) - Welcome to the show, how much trouble are small banks in? (06:49) - Minnesota CPA Society's Pathways CPA Licensure Bill advances in Senate (10:08) - Our listener plugs a security hole in tax client portal software (14:03) - The cultural issues that plague the accounting profession (20:57) - Fortune magazine article that CPAs need to tell their stories (24:48) - Should we have a federal CPA license? (27:54) - The government doesn't know the costs of student loans (35:03) - Christy shares a positive message (36:21) - Does starting your career at Big 4 lead to better industry jobs? (40:42) - Alex writes in about problems they had scheduling their CPA exam (45:55) - IRS inviting biggest ERC filers to learn the correct way to file them (50:34) - Tax preparer using basic Word doc to collect information (52:04) - Listener replies to Blake's Accounting Today article (54:27) - The international costs to take the CPA exam (57:45) - The firm and work culture issue (58:52) - Why students don't want to major in accounting (59:39) - Thanks for listening! The new Earmark app is coming soon!  Show NotesCould CPAs telling their stories be the key to attracting Gen Zers to accounting? A PwC vice chair thinks so   https://fortune.com/2023/11/15/cpa-attracting-gen-z-accounting-pwc/ Senate File 1660, the MNCPA-backed bill to broaden the pathways to CPA licensure, advanced in the Minnesota Senate on Thursday.     https://www.mncpa.org/about/press/releases/pathways-cpa-senate-bill-hearing/ Powell: ‘There will be bank failures’ caused by commercial real estate losseshttps://thehill.com/business/4516758-powell-there-will-be-bank-failures-caused-by-commercial-real-estate-losses/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifiedsFutureFirm - https://futurefirmaccelerate.com/capRoyalwise - https://royalwise.com/partnerForwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/ClassifiedsWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Explore the recent court ruling deeming the Corporate Transparency Act unconstitutional, legal challenges in Alabama and Arizona, debates on reporting requirements for small businesses, navigating compliance complexities, and discussions on challenges and loopholes in money laundering disclosure requirements.