In Episode 2 of this 6-part series, Rob Brown explains why clients no longer value accountants as form-fillers and why they are demanding advisors who bring foresight, strategy and fluency.

With 70% of SMEs saying they would switch firms for more proactive advice, advisory is no longer optional. Rob shares the evidence, real-world examples and a 5-step playbook to align your work with client expectations.

This is not about firms. It is about you — your visibility, your relevance and your survival.

Sponsored by Infinite Ties, led by Deneen Dias, empowering US firms to scale Client Advisory Services through peer-to-peer learning and training.

**Key Takeaways**

* 70% of SMEs would switch firms for more advice (Thomson Reuters)

* Compliance is commoditised. Advisory is the expectation

* Clients want foresight, strategy and sector fluency

* AI can fill forms but cannot advise

* 5 steps to start aligning with client demand today

* Episode 2 of 6: The Accountant’s Survival Guide

**Killer Quotes**

* “Clients don’t want form-fillers. They want advisors”

* “Advisory is not optional. It’s the expectation”

* “70% of SMEs will switch firms for more advice”

* “If you stay silent, someone else will step into your client’s ear”

* “Advisory is the only safe harbour left in accounting”

Want help becoming more visible and authoritative? Explore Rob Brown’s Personal Brand Interview service.

The Accounting Voices Podcast is aimed at accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally.

You can find this on youtube here:

https://youtu.be/EpLuGfrNaYE

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The Accounting Influencers Podcast serves accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally. The show focuses on helping professionals strengthen their personal brand, stay informed about industry changes, and navigate disruptive forces affecting accounting business models and trends. The content includes solo insights from host Rob Brown as well as interviews or panel discussions with industry leaders. Check out the show on your preferred podcast app or platform, or go to the Accounting Influencers YouTube channel for all of the episodes in video format.

Rob works with consultants/experts in the accounting space via personal interviews to create video snippets and thought leadership pieces. If you have success stories, valued expertise or a brand that needs amplifying, but lack the time to create thought leadership or video content, chat with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Thanks to our sponsors:

ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.com

If you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore.

In Episode 1 of this 6-part series, Rob Brown explains why compliance work is collapsing under AI, automation and private equity consolidation. Accountants who stay compliance-only face price erosion, invisibility and unemployment.

Rob shares hard stats, cross-industry signals and a 5-step survival playbook for protecting your career. This series is not about firms. It is about you — your visibility, your relevance and your survival.

Stay tuned for Episode 2 where we explore how client expectations have shifted and what they really want now.

Sponsored by Infinite Ties, led by Deneen Dias, empowering US firms to scale Client Advisory Services through peer-to-peer learning and training.

*Key Takeaways*

• 40% of jobs worldwide are at risk from AI (IMF)
• 50% of compliance tasks can already be automated (PwC)
• 340k accountants left the US profession in 3 years (WSJ)
• Middle management is shrinking across industries
• Private equity roll-ups are cutting costs and layers
• Irrelevance equals unemployment for accountants
• 5 steps to start protecting your career today

*Killer Quotes*

• “If 50% of the work you bill for can be automated tomorrow, what is left of your career”
• “Irrelevance equals unemployment”
• “Compliance has become a commodity. Nobody wins that race”
• “If you’re invisible you’re vulnerable”
• “The only accountants who will survive are those who step forward”

Want help becoming more visible and authoritative? Explore Rob Brown’s Personal Brand Interview service.You can find this on youtube here:

https://youtu.be/TguwPn7JlcE

◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢

The Accounting Influencers Podcast serves accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally. The show focuses on helping professionals strengthen their personal brand, stay informed about industry changes, and navigate disruptive forces affecting accounting business models and trends. The content includes solo insights from host Rob Brown as well as interviews or panel discussions with industry leaders. Check out the show on your preferred podcast app or platform, or go to the Accounting Influencers YouTube channel for all of the episodes in video format.

Rob works with consultants/experts in the accounting space via personal interviews to create video snippets and thought leadership pieces. If you have success stories, valued expertise or a brand that needs amplifying, but lack the time to create thought leadership or video content, chat with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Thanks to our sponsors:

ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.com

If you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore.

In this final episode of the six-part series, Rob Brown explores what the accounting firm of the future will really look like.

Smaller teams. Fewer layers. Modular delivery. Tech-first talent. Clients demanding speed, insight and strategic value. The future firm is already taking shape. Are you part of it?

Global economic pressure, rising automation, and evolving business models are forcing firms to rethink how they’re structured. Rob outlines what changes are happening now and what professionals must do to stay valuable in the next chapter of the profession.

Whether you're just starting out, navigating mid-career or sitting in the partner seat, this episode gives you the playbook for what's coming.

**Key Takeaways:**

➜ Firms are shrinking by design, not decline

➜ AI and tech are replacing repetitive tasks

➜ Modular, freelance and specialist talent is on the rise

➜ Subscription and advisory models are replacing hourly billing

➜ Influence, adaptability and visibility are now essential

➜ Individuals must build relevance before they need it

➜ Firms must stop hoarding talent and start activating it

**Killer Quotes:**

"The firm you knew is already gone."

"Smaller teams are not a weakness. They’re a strategy."

"Your job is no longer to report the past. It’s to shape the future."

"Influence beats tenure in the new model."

"AI doesn’t replace you. It replaces what you’ve outgrown."

"Visibility isn’t ego. It’s career insurance."

"If you’re not building relevance now, you’ll be left behind later."

The Accounting Influencers Podcast (AIP) is aimed at accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally.

You can find this on youtube here:

https://youtu.be/4ja_ouLBO5k

◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢

The Accounting Influencers Podcast serves accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally. The show focuses on helping professionals strengthen their personal brand, stay informed about industry changes, and navigate disruptive forces affecting accounting business models and trends. The content includes solo insights from host Rob Brown as well as interviews or panel discussions with industry leaders. Check out the show on your preferred podcast app or platform, or go to the Accounting Influencers YouTube channel for all of the episodes in video format.

Rob works with consultants/experts in the accounting space via personal interviews to create video snippets and thought leadership pieces. If you have success stories, valued expertise or a brand that needs amplifying, but lack the time to create thought leadership or video content, chat with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

Thanks to our sponsors:

ADVANCETRACK OUTSOURCING. Transform your accounting firm with AdvanceTrack. Our top-tier offshoring solutions free your team from mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on growth and client engagement. Experience seamless scalability and expert support. Visit advancetrack.com and elevate your practice today. https://www.advancetrack.com

If you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore.