On Episode 128 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes tax attorney and author Eric Green, the founder of Tax Rep Network. Eric’s goal with Tax Rep Network is to help tax professionals build successful IRS representation practices. He shares stories, including one where he helped clients resolve large tax debts and avoid penalties, and another horror story that saw a preparer potentially on the hook for six figures. Eric provides valuable advice for tax season, such as considering collectability when ...
Oct 24, 2023•42 min•Ep. 128
Randy welcomes a very special guest, legendary hospitality leader Horst Schulze, on episode 127 of The Unique CPA. The co-founder and former COO of Ritz-Carlton hotels, as well as the founder of Capella Hotel Group, Horst shares invaluable insights on achieving excellence through defining a specific goal for your business, empowering employees, and making customers feel cared for. Underlying his philosophy, which is centered around having a concrete, attainable goal, is a sense of responsibility...
Oct 17, 2023•52 min•Ep. 127
Randy Crabtree talks to Hector Garcia, creator of RightTool, on Episode 126 of The Unique CPA . A QuickBooks expert, Hector discusses the future of the accounting profession in the age of AI and automation. He shares insightful perspectives on how software is changing the perception of accounting work, challenging the profession to get creative in redefining its roles and business models. Listen in to learn how to reinvent themselves and their firms to stay ahead of disruption, and get an exclus...
Oct 10, 2023•31 min•Ep. 126
Randy welcomes John Pace, the 2022 Digital CPA Innovation Practitioner of the Year, to The Unique CPA for episode 125. John transformed his outsourced accounting department, which is focused on nonprofits and government contractors, after becoming its director about a year into his time at GRF CPA in Bethesda, Maryland. He shares his insights into building a strong culture centered on employee wellbeing and work-life balance over billable hours. John's perspectives on leadership, innovation, and...
Oct 03, 2023•40 min•Ep. 125
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 an...
Sep 26, 2023•36 min•Ep. 124
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 note...
Sep 19, 2023•28 min•Ep. 123
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 ...
Sep 12, 2023•36 min•Ep. 122
Episode 121 of The Unique CPA features Roger Knecht sharing with Randy the key aspects of developing an accounting firm. Roger is President of Universal Accounting Center, a postsecondary school for accounting professionals, and the UAC has developed training programs that include identifying core service offerings, sales and marketing methods, pricing models, and providing value-added advisory services to help businesses grow and increase profits. Get the full show notes and more resources at T...
Sep 05, 2023•42 min•Ep. 121
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...
Aug 31, 2023•42 min
On Episode 119 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes Seth Fineberg, founder of Accountants Forward. Seth is a veteran journalist and editor who has worked in the accounting industry for many years. He recently launched Accountants Forward, to consult with and help accounting professionals and vendors serving the industry. His vast experience in accounting media and in launching events and platforms inform his expertise. One major focus of his is on strengthening relationships between accountants and...
Aug 22, 2023•37 min•Ep. 119
Randy welcomes newly appointed President and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society, Geof Brown, on Episode 118 of The Unique CPA. Geof discusses Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the accounting profession and a report the Society recently published, going over Randy’s specific questions on a number of metrics. Jeff shares his insights and expertise around DEI and highlights the need to promote inclusion, recognize the benefits of diverse perspectives, and prioritize employees' mental health and wellb...
Aug 15, 2023•31 min•Ep. 118
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...
Aug 08, 2023•32 min•Ep. 117
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 resourc...
Aug 01, 2023•28 min•Ep. 116
On Episode 115 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Eileen Adao, Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships with Glean.ai. Eileen discusses her career journey from the Big Four to tech startups, and what she’s learned about the importance of culture, coaching, and diversity in creating an inclusive workplace where people can bring their authentic selves to work. She also details Glean.ai’s leveraging of AI to provide insights and efficient workflows for accountants. Get the full show notes and mor...
Jul 25, 2023•46 min•Ep. 115
On Episode 114 of The Unique CPA, Randy gets together with Dawn Brolin, the CEO of Powerful Accounting and author of The Designated Motivator. Dawn discusses her journey of coaching a college softball team during tax season, the experience of which led her to write her book. She details how technology and relationship pricing models have helped her reduce her hours during tax season and provide more value to her clients. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com...
Jul 18, 2023•50 min•Ep. 114
Randy talks to Zach Baughan, a mindfulness consultant and practitioner, on episode 113 of The Unique CPA. Zach discusses how mindfulness and meditation practices can help reduce stress and increase performance for accounting professionals through techniques like deep breathing and seated, silent meditation, as well as a number of book and app recommendations. Randy also talks to Zach about his own advocacy for mental health in the accounting profession and how he hopes to incorporate mindfulness...
Jul 11, 2023•40 min•Ep. 113
Making technology work for your firm is the theme on Episode 112 of The Unique CPA. Randy talks to Ellen Choi, co-founder of Aiwyn, an automation platform for accounting firms. She talks about how Aiwyn helps firms streamline processes and overcome resistance to change. Leveraging AI, through what she describes as the “virtuous cycle of mutual learning,” can help not only to improve value based pricing and client experience for firms of any size, but increase the knowledge and understanding of t...
Jul 04, 2023•29 min•Ep. 112
Randy Crabtree talks “coach-ulting” and tax optimization with Brian Amann of CPA Edge on Episode 111 of The Unique CPA. Brian was the former founder and partner at TaxOps, which has been recognized as a top accounting firm by Accounting Today and Inc. magazine, among others, and he took his experience developing TaxOps’ model and offered it to other accounting professionals by founding CPA Edge. He stresses the important of culture and brand, both difficult things to measure, but very important ...
Jun 27, 2023•39 min•Ep. 111
David Toth of Winding River Consulting brings his digital marketing expertise to the table in this conversation with Randy on episode 110 of The Unique CPA. David identifies the five core principles behind developing a successful digital culture that drives growth at a CPA firm amongst a plethora of other business development insights. He further touches on how important getting buy-in from people in important, decision making roles, as well as finding them “gems” within your firm that will carr...
Jun 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 110
Randy Crabtree is joined by Gale Crosley of Crosley+Company on episode 109 of The Unique CPA . Gale’s specialty is in driving strategic, organic, revenue growth for CPA firms, and she has been recognized for her influence and insights into the accounting profession by The Advisory Board, CPA Practice Advisors, Accounting Today , Inside Public Accounting , and more. Gale shares her insights through actionable principles any CPA firm can take now to improve its growth and profitability, and delves...
Jun 13, 2023•45 min•Ep. 109
Joe Woodard joins Randy for Episode 108 to talk about June's Scaling New Heights conference and automation as the key to helping your business soar. The founder of Woodard, a nationally recognized CPA coaching membership, and co-host of The Woodard Report podcast with Heather Satterly, Joe offers a road map for firms that are looking to automate more of their processes, shares tips for how to get it done in an efficient, scalable way, and relieves tensions around the onslaught of AI solutions wi...
Jun 06, 2023•47 min•Ep. 108
Randy welcomes Tina White, the founder of Panoramic Academy, on Episode 107 of The Unique CPA. Tina started her career in the public accounting world, then transitioned to ownership of an HVAC servicing company, and now runs Panoramic Academy, which specializes in coaching business owners to improve their financials and make their companies self-sufficient. She discusses how important advisory services are in the accountant / business relationship, the human element of that connection, and how i...
May 30, 2023•24 min•Ep. 107
Randy welcomes Jody Grunden of Anders CPAs on Episode 106 of The Unique CPA. A two-time author, speaker and visionary, Jody helped pioneer virtual CFO services as well as subscription-based billing in the accounting profession, creating new ways for firms to do business. He recounts his unusual journey, including tales of lost luggage and declined credit cards as he tried to finally solidify a stable business. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com...
May 23, 2023•44 min•Ep. 106
On Episode 105 of The Unique CPA, Jennifer Lee Wilson returns and is joined by Renee Moelders to talk to Randy about the latest, encouraging results of ConvergenceCoaching’s biennial Anytime, Anywhere Work survey. The survey results are available for free , and they show big developments for firms in making work more flexible and more accessible. The trend indicates that these were the firms not having trouble attracting new talent or keeping existing talent: Perhaps an unsurprising consequence,...
May 16, 2023•45 min•Ep. 105
Mary McDonald joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 104 of The Unique CPA to talk about #TaxTwitter. When Mary, Dan Heron, and Allison McLeod started planning the TaxTwitter Retreat, they had no idea that it would far exceed their expectations, potentially bringing together professionals from various areas of the tax industry in an environment of camaraderie, learning, and even wine and beer tastings—the latter, thanks to Randy! Who knew that the power of community and networking could lead to such un...
May 09, 2023•32 min•Ep. 104
On Episode 103 of The Unique CPA , Randy is joined once again by Donny Shimamoto of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies and The Center for Accounting Transformation. With the busy season completed, Donny is now looking towards solutions to improve the wellbeing of the members of the profession and strategies for healthy firm culture and growth—and he has commissioned two research studies to find out how best to accomplish those goals: one on advisory services, and one on staffing strategies. The two discus...
May 02, 2023•43 min•Ep. 103
Continuing the theme of special episodes around the century mark, The Unique CPA presents a re-broadcast of Randy Crabtree’s recent appearance On The Air with Accounting Today . Host Daniel Hood leads a discussion with Randy and other guests David Bergstein and Jasen Stein of the AccounTrends Podcast focusing on the future of accounting and how best to stay on top of all the changes the profession is undergoing. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com...
Apr 25, 2023•45 min•Ep. 102
We're back with Part 2 of The Unique CPA's celebration of reaching the 100 episode milestone, with Episode 101. Randy is once again the “guest,” and producer Justin Grant of Professional Productions.net continues his hosting duties, as the two listen and respond to messages and questions sent in by several past and future guests on the show. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com...
Apr 21, 2023•52 min•Ep. 101
The Unique CPA has reached a milestone on Episode 100, and the tables have been turned on Randy ! Longtime producer Justin Grant, founder of Professional Productions , asks the questions on this special episode, which in addition to being the hundredth, is also the first Unique CPA Happy Hour episode. Wondering what that’s all about? Tune in and find out—there are a few more surprises waiting, too! Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com...
Apr 18, 2023•43 min•Ep. 100
On episode 99 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by John Briggs, the Founder and CEO of Incite Tax . John has created a very unique model through Incite, whereby accountants may enter a licensing agreement with Incite, which handles the backend systems and lead generation, while allowing the accountants to have their own lucrative practices without working 60 or 70 hours a week. He explains his idea and his passion for bettering the accounting community, preventing the dehumanizations of its mem...
Apr 11, 2023•40 min•Ep. 99
