In this insightful episode, Rob Brown delves into the world of accounting firm valuations and sales with Brannon Poe. They discuss the current trend of consolidation within the industry, driven by the influx of private equity money and the large number of accounting professionals nearing retirement age. Brannon shares his expertise on the key factors that make an accounting practice valuable and sellable, including profitability, owner hours, location, and specialization. The conversation explor...
Aug 12, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 80
Is the accounting profession facing extinction or evolution? What does the future hold for accountants in a world of AI and rapid technological change? Rob Brown engages in a lively discussion with industry experts David Osborne, Katie Thomas, and Tom Hood about the current state and future of the accounting profession. The panel share their thoughts about the challenges that accountants are facing today, including talent shortages, technological disruption, and changing client expectations. The...
Aug 05, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 79
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of AI in accounting and finance? How can Azure OpenAI revolutionize the way financial professionals work? In this special bonus episode of the Accounting Influencers podcast, Rob Brown explores the world of artificial intelligence with Microsoft experts Jas Brar and Matt Quinn. The conversation explores how AI, particularly Azure OpenAI, is transforming the accounting and finance sector, offering new opportunities for efficiency, insight, and value crea...
Jul 31, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 78
Is your accounting firm struggling to keep up with technology? Are you curious about how tech adoption could impact your bottom line? Rob Brown sits down with Joel Hughes of Rightworks to discuss the findings of their 2024 Accounting Firm Technology Survey. They delve into the current state of technology adoption in accounting firms, exploring the challenges and opportunities that come with embracing cloud-based, connected, and collaborative technologies. Joel shares key insights from the survey...
Jul 29, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 78
Is the accounting profession facing an identity crisis? Can it adapt to meet the demands of a rapidly changing business landscape? Rob Brown brings together a panel of industry experts to discuss the future of accounting. Jeff Phillips, Maureen Dillmore, Samantha Louis, and Sandra Wiley share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the profession. The panelists share their thoughts with various topics, including the talent shortage, the impact of technology, the changing bu...
Jul 22, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 77
Is AI reshaping the accounting world? How can accountants harness the power of ChatGPT through prompt engineering? Rob Brown sits down with Mark Wickersham, an expert in prompt engineering and AI applications for the accounting industry. They discussed the world of ChatGPT, exploring its potential to revolutionize accounting practices and the crucial skill of prompt engineering. Mark Wickersham shares his journey with ChatGPT, emphasizing the importance of asking better questions to get better a...
Jul 15, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 76
Is the accounting profession facing an existential crisis? How can accountants stay relevant in a rapidly changing world? Rob Brown brings together three industry experts to discuss the future of accounting and the challenges facing the profession. Laura Day-Henderson, Michael Hsu, and Alan Morgan share their insights on the threats to accounting, the resistance to change within the industry, and the need for a shift in focus from compliance to advisory services. The panel explores the role of t...
Jul 08, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 75
Is the accounting profession facing an existential crisis? Or is it on the brink of unprecedented opportunities? Rob Brown assembles a panel of industry experts to dissect the current state and future prospects of the accounting profession. Jean Caragher, Jeremy Clopton, Rick Telberg, and Tamera Loerzel bring their wealth of experience to the table, offering insights on everything from talent shortages to technological disruption. The conversation delves deep into the challenges facing accountan...
Jul 01, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 74
Is artificial intelligence overhyped, or will it revolutionize the accounting profession? How can accountants prepare for the AI-driven future? Rob Brown interviews Mark Wickersham, a veteran accountant and AI enthusiast, about the impending impact of artificial intelligence on the accounting profession. Wickersham predicts significant changes in the industry by 2030, including the automation of bookkeeping and tax return preparation. He highlights the rapid advancements in AI technology across ...
Jun 24, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 73
Host Rob Brown is joined by Sue Coffey, CEO of Public Accounting at the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and Lexy Kessler, Partner at Aprio and Chair of the AICPA's National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG). They look into the alarming talent shortage facing the accounting profession and the potential solutions proposed by the NPAG. Lexy and Sue discuss the overwhelming evidence pointing to a significant talent pipeline issue in accounting, including declining enrolment in accounting programs, ...
Jun 17, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 72
Ever wondered how top accountants stay ahead in a fast-evolving industry? Rob Brown hosts a panel of influential voices in the accounting world to discuss the current state and future of the profession. The conversation delves into the threats and challenges faced by accountants, the need for rebranding and attracting new talent, the role of technology, and the opportunities that lie ahead. The panelists, including Paul Surtees, Leslie Shiner, Denise Froemming, and Adam Lean, share t...
Jun 10, 2024•56 min•Season 4Ep. 71
This international panel discussion explores the current state and future trajectory of the accounting profession. The distinguished panel includes influential leaders and innovators in the field such as Arun Mehra, Chase Birky, Eric Gregg, and Jody Padar to share their diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. The conversation kicks off with an assessment of the profession's current shape. While the panelists acknowledge the existence of challenges, such as t...
Jun 03, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 70
Brannon Poe is the author of "The Unplugged Vacation," and founder of Poe Group Advisors and Accounting Practice Academy. Rob Brown and Brannon Poe delve into the often-overlooked challenges accountants face in managing their time and achieving work-life balance. Brannon, sheds light on the realities of the accounting profession, where the relentless demands of clients and the struggle to maintain boundaries can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction. Brannon's book, "The Unplugged Vacation," serve...
May 27, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 69
This international panel discussion explores the current state and future trajectory of the accounting profession. The distinguished panel includes influential leaders and innovators on the field such as Dianne Yetter, Sarah Dobek, Tom Barry and Jeff Seibert to share their diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. The conversation goes through with an assessment of the profession's current shape. While the panelists acknowledge the existence of challenges, suc...
May 20, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 68
This international panel discussion explores where the accounting profession is headed and what it needs to do to remain relevant. The all-star panel includes influencers Daniel Dronsfield, Amy Vetter, Jasen Stine and Andrew Harding. The experts agree the profession is at an inflection point, with a divide between those embracing change and those resistant to it. Firms unwilling to adapt face potential irrelevance as the workforce ages and talent becomes scarce. Persistent myths like accountants...
May 13, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 67
Jeremy Clopton is a governance and leadership expert who works extensively with accounting firms. Jeremy and Rob delve into the critical topic of governance best practices for successful accounting firms. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of separating governance (strategic decision-making) from operations (day-to-day management). He shares insights on streamlining decision-making processes, delegating authority, and fostering effective communication within partner groups. Clopton's insights shed...
May 06, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 66
This episode features a panel discussion on the challenges and future of the accounting profession. Panelists include Ed Kless, Michael Turner (Validis), Steve Cox (IRIS), and Dan McMahon (Integrated Growth Advisors). They delve into issues like the billable hour model, talent shortages, resistance to change, the role of technology like AI, client advisory services, private equity's impact, and more. The conversation offers insightful perspectives on where accounting is stuck and what kind of tr...
Apr 29, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 65
Rob Brown discusses the future of accounting with special guests Davis Bell, Geni Whitehouse, Geoffrey Brown and Jason Blumer. The panel provides insights into the key challenges and opportunities facing accountants, from talent retention and technology adoption to redefining the role of the modern accountant. The conversation delves into the accounting profession's image problem, with the panel highlighting the need to better communicate the diverse career paths and meaningful work available to...
Apr 22, 2024•56 min•Season 4Ep. 64
Jeff Seibert is the co-founder and CEO of Digits, a modern accounting platform. Jeff and Rob delve into the impact of AI on the accounting profession, exploring its potential to revolutionize the industry while also addressing concerns and misconceptions surrounding this emerging technology. Jeff explains the fundamental concepts of machine learning and artificial intelligence in layman's terms, emphasizing that AI is not aimed at replacing accountants but rather augmenting their capabilities an...
Apr 15, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 63
This engaging panel discussion explored the rapidly evolving landscape of the accounting profession, addressing the challenges, opportunities, and pivotal factors shaping its future. The panelists delved into topics such as technological disruption, changing workforce dynamics, the erosion of public trust, and the critical skills and mindsets required for accountants to stay relevant and indispensable in an era of unprecedented change. The conversation highlighted the shared responsibility among...
Apr 08, 2024•58 min•Season 4Ep. 62
This is an insightful discussion on the future of the accounting profession, featuring an esteemed panel of accounting industry leaders and experts - Gary Boomer, Val Steed, Sarah Beale, and Bob Lewis. They delve into the current state of accounting, the need for change, potential threats like AI and automation, the importance of rebranding and improving the profession's perception, the relevance of accounting qualifications, predictions for the profession's future, and more. The panel acknowled...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 61
Rob Brown and Jeremy Clopton discuss work-life balance and productivity in the accounting profession. Jeremy, a thought leader in the industry, shares his candid views on why traditional work-life balance is a flawed concept and offers a fresh perspective on prioritizing life over work. He emphasizes the importance of defining personal success, setting boundaries, and identifying the right work to focus on rather than falling into the hustle culture trap of merely doing more. Jeremy's wisdom cha...
Mar 25, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 60
In this panel discussion, host Rob Brown brings together knowledgeable guests from the accounting industry to discuss the current state of the profession, the challenges and threats it faces, and make bold predictions about the future of accounting. The panelists include Jeff Gramlich (Managing Director, Validus), Pat Morrell (Co-Founder, iWin), Hitender Patil (Director, Datamatics Business Solutions), Doug Lewis (Director, The Visionary Group), and the host Rob Brown. The conversation covers va...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 59
This engaging roundtable discussion explores the future of the accounting profession from multiple perspectives. Host Rob Brown is joined by Gary Shamis, Lexy Kessler, Roger Knecht and Calvin Harris to debate whether accountants need to change, examine threats and challenges facing the field, discuss making accounting an attractive career choice, and share bold predictions. The panel acknowledges accounting is in flux, with technology, staffing shortages, and an increasingly transactional approa...
Mar 11, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 58
Discover how Bob Lewis shapes CPA firm futures with M&A, advisory services and growth tactics. Essential listening for accountants and CPAs In this episode, host Rob Brown interviews Bob Lewis, CEO of The Vision Group, about major disruptions happening in the accounting industry. They discuss the key inflection points causing disruption such as aging partners, workforce shortages, emerging technologies, and private equity investments. Bob explains the importance of recognizing these disrupti...
Mar 04, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 57
Jim Bourke is a thought leader in the accounting profession. Jim and host, Rob Brown, extensively discuss the impact of private equity investments and rapidly evolving technology on the accounting landscape. Bourke emphasizes the substantial changes brought about by private equity, altering traditional norms of firm acquisitions and augmenting profitability. He also underscores how technology, particularly artificial intelligence and machine learning, is reshaping the profession. He talks about ...
Feb 26, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 56
Rob Brown interviews Katie Thomas, a podcasting expert, about the benefits of podcasting for accountants and finance professionals. Katie makes a compelling case for why podcasting is worth the investment of time and resources, even in a crowded space with over 5 million active podcasts. Katie explains how podcasting helps build relationships and trust with both existing and prospective clients. It establishes you as an expert in your niche and gives you a platform to share valuable insights. Po...
Feb 19, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 55
Rob Brown interviews Geni Whitehouse, an accountant turned speaker, author, and trainer who helps CPAs make the transition from compliance work to becoming trusted advisors for their clients. They discuss why technology hasn't replaced accountants, the importance of communication skills for advisors, asking insightful questions, and overcoming the resistance many accountants have to expanding their services. Geni emphasizes that the future of the accounting profession depends on building deeper ...
Feb 12, 2024•34 min•Season 4Ep. 54
In this insightful conversation, Nicolas Boucher shares his perspective on how artificial intelligence (AI) and tools like ChatGPT are transforming the accounting and finance functions. He emphasizes that AI will not make these roles obsolete but rather enable professionals to focus on more strategic and value-adding activities. Boucher highlights the importance of embracing technology, learning coding (e.g., Python), and developing communication skills to effectively translate financial insight...
Feb 05, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 53
Marketing expert Jo Edwards brings 35 years of experience to the topic of personal branding for accountants and CPAs in creating industry rockstars in accounting. Jo shares why building a strong personal brand is critical for standing out and attracting high-quality clients in a competitive marketplace. Rob and Jo discuss how to build an authentic brand aligned with your interests, the power of microniche expertise, and how to measure your brand's progress. Jo emphasizes being intentional about ...
Jan 29, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 52
