"You don’t get to choose the leader you need to be. Your people tell you who you need to be to get the best out of them." Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown Leadership is in the spotlight like never before. In a recent episode of the Accounting Influencers podcast, global leadership expert Mark Fritz shares his insights on how leaders can navigate today’s complex environment. Fritz emphasizes that the core principles of leadership remain timeless, but their application must adapt to the rapid...
Feb 15, 2025•26 min
Full commitment is critical in niche accounting. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines In the world of accounting, niche specialization is often a deliberate strategy. For Tim Allen, CPA, however, his journey into winery finance was more serendipitous than strategic. With over 30 years of experience—including time at a Big 4 firm, leadership roles at multiple wineries, and now managing a successful boutique firm exclusively dedicated to the wine industry—Allen has carved out a...
Feb 14, 2025•28 min
In a special episode, student Arpan Grewal asks questions future CPAs and business leaders need answered. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto Introducing Special Guest Arpan Grewal Center for Accounting Transformation In an episode that flips the script, Accounting ARC features a fresh voice in business: Arpan Grewal, a high school junior and state officer for Indiana Business Professionals of America. In this inaugural episode of ARC: Student-led Conversations, Gre...
Feb 13, 2025•47 min
Reduce audit time by 20% without reducing quality. By Alan Anderson, CPA Transforming Audit for the Future For most audit firms, the concept of “just in time” means that the audit was completed and the financials were delivered “just in time” to meet the deadline. But in this webinar, Alan Anderson explains how concepts from just-in-time manufacturing can be applied to make audits more efficient, reducing time by at least 15-20% while also improving quality and customer service. MORE ALAN ANDERS...
Feb 12, 2025•59 min
Don't just check the boxes. Provide benefits. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Stefan van Duyvendijk, Accounting Operations Evangelist at FloQast, wants accountants in the industry to expand their roles. In addition to the vital role of providing the basic requirements of accounting, he wants them to develop an operational mindset, as described in the book van Duyvendijk co-authored with Mike Whitmire, CEO of FloQast: Shift Happens: The Rise of the Operational Mindset and How Controllers Can Drive R...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min
Revolutionize how businesses visualize and interpret data. Quick Tech Talk With Steve Yoss CPE Today Businesses today are moving beyond traditional reporting methods to embrace the transformative potential of business intelligence tools. Industry leaders emphasize the importance of platforms like Tableau, Qlik, and Power BI, which allow companies to turn raw data into dynamic, interactive dashboards. These tools empower decision-makers to access real-time insights tailored to their specific need...
Feb 10, 2025•3 min
Removing clients isn’t just about profitability—it’s a firm-wide morale booster. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown With over 35 years of industry experience, Jean Caragher has witnessed the profession's transformation, noting that marketing roles in accounting firms are now more strategic and influential than ever. More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here Caragher describes her work at Capstone Marketing, where she serves as a fractional chief marketing officer for firms specializing ...
Feb 08, 2025•29 min
Firms that price for time rather than value are holding themselves back. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines For decades, accountants have relied on billable hours, tracking time spent on client work and invoicing accordingly. However, according to Michelle Golden-River, CEO of Fore LLC, this model is fundamentally flawed. “Accountants have taken their cost structure—allocating hours to clients and projects—and turned that into their revenue model,” she explains. “They’re no...
Feb 07, 2025•50 min
“Coaching isn’t about fixing people—it’s about helping them unlock their full potential.” Accounting ARC With Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation For many accountants, career progression follows a predictable path—graduate, gain experience, and work toward a leadership role. However, as the industry transforms, many CPAs find themselves seeking something beyond technical expertise: personal growth, leadership skills, and work-life integration. That's where Doug Slaybaugh, CPA (...
Feb 06, 2025•31 min
Redefine how you hire and develop top accounting talent. The Disruptors With Liz Farr In 2012, Steve Evans’ friend Giles Pearson , a Big Four accountant in New Zealand, needed help. PwC kept making the same hiring mistakes because they had no way to assess a candidate’s technical accounting skills. Steve, an expert in psychometric testing, thought it might take half a day to scour the marketplace for appropriate tests but found nothing useful. MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Roger Knecht: Can You Be a...
Feb 04, 2025•48 min
Unlock insights quickly, from QuickBooks to custom systems. Quick Tech Talk With Steve Yoss CPE Today Microsoft’s Power BI revolutionizes how professionals and businesses interact with their data. This cutting-edge tool, designed for business intelligence and dashboarding, is user-friendly, highly versatile, and incredibly powerful. Whether you’re working with sales, marketing, accounting, inventory, payroll, or other datasets, Power BI seamlessly connects to nearly 100 native cloud resources—in...
Feb 03, 2025•2 min
Firms must embrace AI, digital tools, and diversity to remain competitive. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown In the latest episode of Accounting Influencers, an international panel of distinguished accounting professionals gathered to discuss the profession's challenges, opportunities, and future. Featuring Dr. Anton Lewis, Kelly Mann, Sabby Gill, and Eriona Bajrakurtaj and hosted by Rob Brown, the conversation delves into the pressing issues shaping the accounting landscape and the innovati...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min
“Compensation is one tool, not the tool, to change behaviors and outcomes." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Kristen Rampe, managing partner of Rosenberg Associates, spotlights two key drivers for CPA firm success: accountability and simplicity in partner compensation systems. 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 C...
Jan 31, 2025•33 min
From State Societies to the AICPA, the hosts shed light on the collaborative ecosystem guiding CPAs. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation The accounting profession operates within a complex framework of governance, where state and national organizations play critical roles in shaping standards, supporting professionals, and maintaining public trust. In a recent episode of Accounting ARC, Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; Byron Pat...
Jan 30, 2025•49 min
Learn how a 1% owner can wield more power than a 99% shareholder under specific agreements. Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today In today’s complex regulatory environment, the term "beneficial ownership" might sound straightforward, but it encompasses far more than simply owning shares in a company. A beneficial owner holds a controlling interest in a business entity. This control might be linked to shared ownership, but it can also extend to individuals who influence decisions in other ways....
Jan 29, 2025•3 min
You don’t need all the answers, but you do need to ask the right questions. The Disruptors With Liz Farr About ten years ago, Roger Knecht, President of Universal Accounting, noticed that while accountants wanted to move into the advisory space, few had any idea how to make that transition. So he talked to business owners about what they’d like to see and developed a curriculum to help accountants develop those skills. “It's game-changing,” Knecht says, “because once you have the confidence as w...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Understanding the story behind the data is critical to success. Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Katie Tolin, a veteran marketing strategist and the driving force behind CPA Growth Guides, recently sat down for a Capstone Conversation to share her expertise on navigating the complexities of marketing in the accounting industry. Tolin, a decorated member of the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) and its Volunteer of the Year for 2023, offeres a candid exploration...
Jan 27, 2025•24 min
Uncover how regulations, investor demands, and market expectations are driving organizations to embrace sustainable practices. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines In a world where sustainability is increasingly critical, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has emerged as a vital component of the accounting profession—described as the "fourth leg" of the accounting stool, alongside tax, audit, and consulting. ESG integrates sustainability metrics with financial data, ...
Jan 24, 2025•37 min
Outdated technology, unrealistic billable hours, and "unlimited PTO" among key issues discussed. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation The accounting profession is undergoing significant change, and workplace culture is at the forefront of that transformation. In a recent episode of Accounting ARC, industry leaders Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Liz Mason, CPA, explore the red flags professiona...
Jan 23, 2025•25 min
Helping clients with these filings isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a chance to enhance your practice and grow your billable hours. Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today Today, tax professionals are navigating an increasingly complex landscape, where compliance extends beyond the familiar Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including FinCEN and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. A division of the U.S. Treasury Department, FinCEN gained prominence after 9/11 to combat organized crime, money ...
Jan 22, 2025•4 min
Stop wearing your hours worked as a badge of honor. The Disruptors With Liz Farr A few months ago, Beth Whitworth emailed her remaining legacy 1040 clients, informing them that they would have to move over to the subscription-based model she’s been implementing over the last few years. “I will say it's scary,” she says. “And when I pushed the button and then sent the email, I was like, 'Oh, what'd I do?” But she quickly realized that she was doing the right thing. “This is where we need to move ...
Jan 21, 2025•58 min
Your data has probably already been exposed. Quick Tech Talk With Steve Yoss CPE Today Data breaches have become an unfortunate reality in the digital age, and with them, the risk to personal and financial information continues to grow. However, there is a simple yet powerful way to protect your accounts: multi-factor authentication (MFA). MORE STEVE YOSS MORE TECH Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today . MFA, sometimes referred to as one-time passwords, has become a co...
Jan 20, 2025•3 min
Discover why intentionality and clarity are key traits for successful leaders. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Leadership in accounting firms requires a shift from technical expertise to guiding and empowering teams. Jason Blumer, founder and CEO of Blumer CPAs, discusses the journey of embracing leadership roles, overcoming self-doubt, and fostering a service-oriented mindset on Gear Up for Growth, Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficien...
Jan 17, 2025•34 min
CEO says private equity isn’t about cost-cutting—it’s about investing in technology and talent. Accounting ARC With Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation The accounting profession is evolving, and if private equity is any indicator, firms like Prosperity Partners are leading the charge. In the latest Accounting ARC episode, host Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, speaks with CEO and Prosperity Partners co-founder Jeremy Dubow, CPA, about the firm’s innovative approach, private equi...
Jan 16, 2025•32 min
The IRS is increasing scrutiny, and your due diligence must meet the challenge. Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today As the IRS increases its enforcement efforts fueled by new funding and additional agents, understanding and practicing due diligence is more critical than ever for tax professionals. Due diligence requirements, established to ensure compliance with tax law, place a significant responsibility on tax practitioners to verify their clients’ eligibility for certain tax benefits. Cli...
Jan 15, 2025•4 min
Be blunt. Give your clients the advice they should hear, not what they want to hear. The Disruptors With Liz Farr The talent crunch in accounting isn’t an issue for Mike Sylvester. Last year, 40 accountants applied to work at his firm, SBS CPA Group . He’s had serious inquiries from people at top 50 firms eager to work with him. Further, he just hired someone from a top 10 firm who says the benefits are better and who will make $10,000 more while working 300 fewer hours. MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Balancing tech, trust, and innovation. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown Jason Staats shares insights on balancing innovation, mental health, and technology in today’s profession. Staats, known for combining accounting expertise with entrepreneurial thinking, has become a prominent voice in the field. More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here Staats’ mission is to help accountants and firm owners create enjoyable and sustainable ways to manage their practices. Through platforms like Tw...
Jan 11, 2025•31 min
Efficiency meets innovation when you turbocharge audits with AI. Quick Tech Talk With Steve Yoss CPE Today Accountants can leverage AI tools—not just the industry-specific platforms like MindBridge and Inflow Systems, but also generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude—to enhance their auditing processes. MORE STEVE YOSS MORE TECH Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to PRO today . Amazing, dedicated AI tools exist for accountants, but did you know you can use general generati...
Jan 09, 2025•2 min
"A firm’s culture during busy season reveals its true colors." Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation As the busiest time of year looms for accountants, industry leaders Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Liz Mason, CPA, share practical advice for maintaining resilience during tax season. Their conversation explores actionable strategies to counteract stress and promote mental health. MORE Accountin...
Jan 08, 2025•45 min
If you try to help everyone, you don’t help anyone. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Salim Omar, CPA, opened his firm in 1996 after working as a CFO in a small investment boutique firm because he wanted to be his own boss. But the experience was terrible: “I found myself working long hours. I was not enjoying the work I was doing. Having the team was a revolving door.” “There’s got to be a better way,” Omar said then. “If this is what entrepreneurship is, I'm not sure if I want it anymore.” MORE POD...
Jan 07, 2025•49 min
