The Accounting Podcast (formerly the Cloud Accounting Podcast) is the world's #1 accounting, bookkeeping, and tax podcast! Join us weekly for a roundup of accounting news, analysis, and interviews. Plus, earn free NASBA-approved CPE credits for listening with the Earmark app. Learn more at https://earmarkcpe.com.
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What happens when politicians threaten to cut funding from accounting standard-setters unless they eliminate specific rules? Blake and David explore unprecedented political interference in FASB and PCAOB operations, plus the IRS facing a 23% budget cut despite Trump's push for more customer service staff. They unpack Sam Altman's warning about AI breaking voice authentication at major banks, why accounting degrees deliver 261% ROI (fourth-best among all majors), and how $28.7 billion in private ...
This episode dives into the groundbreaking Genius Act, which mandates monthly audits for the burgeoning $2 trillion stablecoin market, creating a significant new revenue stream for CPAs but also raising concerns about financial stability. Hosts Blake and David also cover the shake-up in PCAOB leadership, the AICPA's updated fraud detection standards, and discuss alternative CPA licensure pathways. A live demonstration of agentic AI attempting invoice entry reveals both the exciting potential and current messy reality of browser-based automation in accounting.
Why is AI failing at basic accounting tasks while claiming to outsmart PhD students? Blake and David dive into the stark reality of AI implementation in accounting, from Ramp's promising new expense management agents to QuickBooks' baffling suggestion to credit and debit the same account. You'll discover the critical security vulnerabilities in AI systems and learn why clients are increasingly using AI to fact-check their accountants' advice. Plus, get a comprehensive breakdown of the top 10 tax...
What happens when AI decides who gets promoted and who gets fired? Blake and David dive into the shocking reality that 60% of managers now use AI for HR decisions, with over 20% letting algorithms make final calls without human oversight. They explore a Stanford study revealing that tax preparers are the #1 profession seeking automation, but only for basic calendar scheduling. Plus, discover why young Americans now rank health over wealth as their top measure of success, and how this generationa...
What happens when AI agents promise to transform accounting but create more cognitive burden than productivity gains? Blake and David explore the reality behind the AI agent hype as QuickBooks, Digits, and Big Four firms launch their "digital teammates." They also dig into Xero's massive $2.5 billion acquisition of Melio and what it means for the payments landscape. You'll learn why managing AI agents might be like managing offshore contractors—you wake up to work that's 80% done but everyone ha...
What happens when 19 states simultaneously abandon the 150-hour CPA requirement while tariffs create unprecedented uncertainty for CFOs? Blake and CFO.com reporter Adam Zaki explore the rapid transformation of CPA licensure—from New York's recent changes to the coordinated state-by-state rollout that followed Barry Melancon's AICPA retirement. You'll discover how political and economic volatility is driving demand for accounting services, why the PCAOB may disappear in the Senate's tax bill, and...
What happens when venture capitalists spend billions on AI but need customers to buy it? In this episode, Blake and David explore how investment firms are now purchasing accounting firms to force-feed AI adoption, comparing it to Pepsi buying restaurants to sell more soda. They also dig into the massive gap between AI promises and reality, questioning bold claims that 80% of tax prep is now automated while basic bookkeeping tools still make obvious errors. You'll learn about the AICPA's surprisi...
Live from the Sage Future conference in Atlanta, Aaron Harris, CTO of Sage, joins Blake and David to explain why he wants to completely eliminate the financial close rather than just make it faster. Harris breaks down the three waves of AI transformation in accounting—from task-based automation to generative AI to fully autonomous agents—and reveals how Sage is building custom language models trained specifically on accounting principles with the AICPA. He also discusses the psychology of trust ...
Blake and David return from Sage Future 2025 with insights into how AI is reshaping accounting—from eliminating the financial close to real-world use cases. They also cover Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s public breakup, the latest in Deel’s corporate spying allegations, Deloitte’s unapologetically intense work-life balance ad, and a billion-dollar “AI” startup that turned out to be powered by humans. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Keeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keep...
Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast: What happens when Congress votes to eliminate the watchdog that's overseen public company audits for two decades? In this episode, Blake Oliver sits down with three leading accounting academics—Maureen McNichols from Stanford, Nemit Shroff from MIT, and Daniel Aobdia from Penn State—to examine the research behind the PCAOB's effectiveness and what elimination could mean for audit quality. You'll discover why companies with clean audit in...
What happens when a major newspaper publishes a summer reading list where only five of the 15 books actually exist? Blake and David explore this real example of AI-generated content gone wrong and what it means for accounting professionals who increasingly rely on automated tools. They break down QuickBooks' latest price increases, demonstrate how AI can now build complex consolidation spreadsheets in minutes, and discuss why Excel skills still outrank AI knowledge in finance hiring. Plus, they ...
How close are we to expense reports that create themselves? In this crossover episode recorded live at Emburse in Motion, Blake Oliver explores real-world AI implementation with Adriana Carpenter, CFO of Emburse, and Olga Pavlova from PizzaExpress. Discover how PizzaExpress manages 350+ restaurant locations using AI to automatically flag policy violations and detect hidden SaaS subscriptions buried in expense reports. You'll learn specific strategies for vendor consolidation that deliver immedia...
What happens when Congress passes a $3.8 trillion deficit-increasing bill by just one vote while promising fiscal responsibility? Blake and David break down the "Big Beautiful Bill" and reveal who really benefits—spoiler alert: it's not the middle class or the national debt. They explore QuickBooks' aggressive new AI agents rollout with price hikes up to 17%, examine why Tesla's CPA CFO earned $139 million in one year, and uncover how tariff-stressed businesses are weaponizing invoice rejections...
Could the Pope be on the hook for US taxes? As the first American elected Pope, Leo XIV faces an unusual conundrum under US citizenship rules. Meanwhile, Intuit's controversial new API pricing has developers reeling, and Hector Garcia joins the conversation to explain why this "tariff" threatens the entire QuickBooks ecosystem. Blake and David also examine how companies use foreign trade zones to dodge Trump's tariffs, unpack the AICPA's new CPA licensure model, and reveal shocking numbers on go...
What if your firm could cut its tech stack in half while delivering faster results to clients? In this episode, Blake and David explore the consolidation revolution in accounting software as practice management tools secure massive funding rounds. They also break down how private equity is reshaping the profession's business model, with some firms now prohibiting CPAs from using their credentials in email signatures. Plus, discover why a proposed Florida bill eliminating the Board of Accountancy...
Could AI create a $20 trillion professional services earthquake? In this episode, Blake and David dive into the data showing that AI firms generate $45,000 more revenue per employee than non-adopters. You'll discover how AI is reshaping traditional accounting and what Claude's new ability to connect with your Gmail and calendar means for productivity. They also demonstrate how indistinguishable AI-cloned voices have become, sharing practical tips to protect yourself and clients from increasingly...
Could you spend years earning your CPA license only to be told you can't use it? In this episode, Mark Koziel, president of the AICPA, joins Blake and David to discuss the shocking trend of firms prohibiting CPAs from identifying themselves as such in emails, on business cards, and even on LinkedIn. Blake and David also explore the economic uncertainty created by Trump's tariff policies, with major corporations cutting costs and delaying investments. Plus, learn about Republican plans to elimina...
In this bonus episode, David teams up with Caleb and Zach from Oh My Fraud to unpack the 2016 film The Accountant. Together, they explore how Hollywood portrays forensic accounting, internal controls, and what happens when your auditor brings a thermos full of sniper parts. Connect with David and Caleb https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidleary https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebnewquist Oh My Fraud Episodes mentioned in this episode https://ohmyfraud.com/episodes/the-fraud-came-first-remembering-craz...
Could AI be doing a day's work in just minutes for accountants? In this episode, Blake and David explore how accounting technology is revolutionizing traditional workflows, from Xero's new AI protocol that connects chatbots directly to accounting data, to Google's game-changing "I" function in Sheets that lets you analyze data with natural language. You'll discover why deep research tools might replace entire teams of analysts and why revealing your AI usage might actually hurt your professional...
What happens when a trade war meets bureaucratic red tape? In this episode, Blake and David dive into the explosive impact of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods and what it means for American businesses' bottom lines. Through real-world examples—from small retailers to tech giants like Apple—they break down how these policies could devastate supply chains and force difficult decisions for companies caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency is shaking up the IRS, tran...
Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast: Join Blake Oliver as he interviews Yuri Kapilovich, a CPA who's cracked the code on balancing work and life in accounting. Discover how Yuri maintains a thriving practice while working just 10-15 hours per week outside tax season and a maximum of 40 hours during crunch time. Learn actionable strategies for setting the right fees, optimizing workflows, and prioritizing fun and family without sacrificing success. Yuri will share his insigh...
Could AI-generated fake receipts upend expense reporting as we know it? In this eye-opening episode, Blake and David demonstrate live how easy it's becoming to create convincing financial documents with AI—from receipts to audit opinions. They break down why Trump's new "reciprocal" tariffs aren't what they seem (complete with meaningless Greek symbols) and how they're already triggering market turbulence. You'll also learn why the federal government is ending paper checks by September, potentia...
What happens when tax enforcement weakens? With 17% of millennials considering skipping their tax filing altogether, Blake and David dig into how IRS budget cuts might impact compliance and revenue. They analyze fascinating survey data revealing what taxpayers truly value when choosing between professional preparation and free options like Direct File. Plus, discover the accounting scandal forcing Financial Times to retract its Tesla analysis, exposing how GAAP complexity confounds even financia...
Blake and David dive straight into the headlines, starting with the controversial IRS workforce cuts and their potential impact on tax collections. They examine corporate espionage allegations between payroll companies Rippling and Deel, including a complex web of legal battles, Russian connections, and political involvement, and go on to discuss how AI is rapidly improving at handling longer tasks. All this and much more, right now! Sponsors RightWorks- http://accountingpodcast.promo/rightnow20...
Is the CPA exam fundamentally flawed? With FAR section pass rates plummeting to a 15-year low of 36% and a staggering 40-point gap between discipline section pass rates, something isn't adding up. Dr. Josh McGowan of Troy University joins Blake Oliver to dissect these troubling statistics and explore how the 2024 CPA Evolution model may be inadvertently pushing candidates toward "easier" disciplines. They tackle the growing movement to drop the 150-hour requirement and propose a provocative solu...
This week on the pod: Judge orders 6 agencies (including IRS?) to rehire fired probationary workers, we dig into the tax trick Dr. Oz used to pay no Medicare taxes, AICPA in pointless talks with the IRS, Digits takes on QuickBooks with AI-powered GL, remote accounting jobs in retreat, and more! Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay RightWorks- http://accountingpodcast.promo/rightnow2025 (use code TAP15 for 15% OFF) Chapters (01:29) - L...
How does a profession revitalize itself when salaries haven't budged since 2007? In this episode, Blake and David examine the shocking reality that Big Four audit associates in Chicago earn the same salary range today as they did nearly two decades ago. They also explore why accounting's value proposition has stagnated in a world where financial statements fail to capture what truly matters to modern investors, and you'll hear their take on the IRS's plan to cut 50% of its workforce, Social Secu...
What happens when political changes collide with tax enforcement? In this revealing conversation, former IRS revenue agent Jeff Johnson shares his firsthand account of being caught in the recent mass layoffs at the IRS. Having just completed seven months of intensive training, Jeff was among 7,000 probationary employees suddenly terminated as part of a broader federal workforce reduction initiative. Jeff pulls back the curtain on the agency's antiquated systems—including 1960s COBOL programming ...
What happens when the US government considers creating a cryptocurrency reserve? In this episode, Blake and David dive into Trump's surprising announcement about establishing a crypto strategic reserve and the immediate market reaction. They explore this proposal's potential consequences and skepticism, from security vulnerabilities to valuation challenges. You'll also hear about PwC Israel's $2.8 million fine for exam cheating, Connecticut's push to create alternative CPA licensure pathways, an...
Billions in federal funds for nonprofits were abruptly frozen by the Trump administration, leaving organizations scrambling to stay afloat. Blake speaks with Jerilyn Dressler and Harriet "Hatsy" Cutshall from YPTC about how these freezes disrupted essential services, the complex flow of federal grants, and the rigorous compliance requirements nonprofits must meet. With a judge ordering the funds to be reinstated, they discuss what’s next for nonprofits and the ongoing challenges of government fu...
