"This is your chance to make a real difference."

Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

Millions of accountants and bookkeepers are stuck in a cycle of overwork, undercharging, and undervaluation. In this episode of the Accounting Influencers podcast, Adam Lean, CEO and co-founder of TheCFOProject.com, delivers a wake-up call: The compliance model is broken—and the profession must change course to remain relevant.

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Lean explains that for most clients, every accountant “looks the same.” They expect the books to be done and the taxes to be filed, and they rarely see the difference between high-quality and mediocre service. This makes it nearly impossible for accountants to raise prices or grow sustainably.

“Your clients don’t understand how to evaluate your work,” Lean says. “So they see you as interchangeable. That’s the trap.”

To earn more, accountants often take on more clients or work longer hours—neither of which leads to long-term career satisfaction or better client outcomes. And because software tools and tech companies now offer “automated accounting,” competition is intensifying.

PE doesn't have to strip your culture.

With Jean Caragher
For CPA Trendlines

On a recent episode of Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, Aprio CEO Richard Kopelman offered a behind-the-scenes look at what’s powering his firm’s remarkable trajectory—from a traditional CPA firm to a diversified advisory powerhouse. In conversation with Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, Kopelman credited Aprio’s sustained momentum to two key drivers: a relentlessly reinforced culture and a bold leap into private equity.

• Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth here | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here

Since stepping into the CEO role in 2013, Kopelman has steered Aprio into the ranks of the top 25 U.S. accounting firms. At the heart of that rise? A set of “31 Fundamentals” that shape everything from team interactions to client engagements.

“Leaders should model respect, not just expect it.”

Accounting ARC

With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto

Center for Accounting Transformation

In the age of digital disruption and hybrid work, professional etiquette often feels like an afterthought. But in the latest episode of Accounting ARC, hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA, argue the opposite: manners are more relevant—and strategic—than ever.

• MORE Accounting ARC: Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service | Ron Baker: Surviving Tariff Turmoil | Are We Ready for the Hidden Risks of AI in Accounting? | The Research Imperative: Why Data Drives Accounting Success | How Coaching Can Unlock Professional Success | Demystifying Accounting Governance | Top 10 Red Flags to Watch for in Accounting Offices | Jeremy Dubow: Private Equity as a Catalyst for Growth

“Manners make a difference,” says Patrick, CEO of VERIFYiQ and co-founder of TB Academy. “They impact hiring, client service, team dynamics—everything.”

Treat cryptocurrencies like the next dot-com bubble.

Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

As cryptocurrencies continue to infiltrate everyday investment portfolios and client conversations, seasoned tax educator and CPA Art Werner offers a stark warning to practitioners: “Crypto concerns me—and I think it should concern accountants.”

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In a recent episode of Quick Tax Tips with Art Werner, the well-respected tax advisor and educator peels back the hype to expose the risks tax professionals and their clients face when navigating the unpredictable world of digital currency. With over 20,000 cryptocurrencies in existence globally and little regulation governing many of them, Werner believes the speculative nature of crypto investments resembles past financial manias—with potentially devastating consequences.

“The real question isn’t whether a firm is diverse enough. It's whether the people in that firm feel like they truly belong there.”

MOVE Like This
With Bonnie Buol Ruszcyk
For CPA Trendlines

In this episode of MOVE Like This, host Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk and guest Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, explore the complex landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the accounting profession, specifically in the current political climate.

Shimamoto, founder and managing director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC and founder and inspiration architect for the Center for Accounting Transformation, shares insights into the challenges faced by underrepresented professionals, drawing from his personal experiences as an Asian male in leadership roles. They discuss the persistent barriers that prevent women and people of color from advancing to top leadership positions despite making up a significant portion of accounting graduates.

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The discussion delves into the current political climate surrounding DEI efforts, acknowledging the pushback and misconceptions about diversity initiatives. Shimamoto emphasizes that these efforts are not about quotas or tokenism but about creating genuine opportunities and a sense of belonging for all professionals. The conversation highlights the importance of moving beyond mere inclusion to fostering an environment where every team member feels they truly belong and can contribute meaningfully.

Flexible schedules, remote culture, and ‘durable skills’ are reshaping the accounting profession.

The Disruptors
With Liz Farr

The traditional accounting firm model is under pressure—and The Disruptors podcast is highlighting the pioneers who are rewriting the rules. In this episode, host Liz Farr talks with Jean Zick, CEO and co-founder of Juna Financial, about how she’s building a different kind of accounting firm: remote, people-first, and future-ready.

• MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client Advocate | Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | Dave Kersting: Collaborate with Co-Firming | Ashley Francis: AI's a Partner, Not a Replacement | Richard Roppa-Roberts: Collaboration Over Competition | Ira Rosenbloom: M&A Numbers Are Easy - Culture Fit Is Hard | Roman Villard: Ditch the Suit & Shine | Monique Swansen: Align Firm Values with Services | Tina McGill: How to Create Lasting Client Impact | Stefan van Duyvendijk: Develop Operational Mindset | Steve Evans: Why Traditional Hiring Methods Fail | Roger Knecht: Can You Be an Accountrepreneur?

“We wanted to create a company we would have wanted to work for earlier in our careers,” says Zick, who launched Juna in 2016 to fill what she saw as a gap in the market: companies paying CFO-level fees for basic bookkeeping tasks. “Every company deserves great accounting, no matter their size.”

"If you're not putting your clients into retirement plans, you're missing one of the biggest value-adds in tax advisory."

The Concierge CPA
With Jackie Meyer
For CPA Trendlines

In a recent episode of The Concierge CPA, host Dr. Jackie Meyer welcomes back David Podell, CEO and founder of Business Benefits Consultants, for a deep-dive on retirement strategies that are often overlooked by small business owners, CPAs, and even seasoned financial professionals.

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Kicking off with sharp-witted tax news, Meyer touches on IRS free file expansions, refund reductions, and the hiring of thousands of new auditors—before jumping into a topic that directly connects tax strategy to future financial health: retirement planning.

Podell, with more than two decades of experience designing retirement plans, returns to emphasize a crucial point: "If you're not putting your clients into retirement plans, you're missing one of the biggest value-adds in tax advisory."

Global accounting leaders call for mindset shifts, better storytelling, and a redefined brand.

Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

In this edition of Accounting Influencers, four of the profession’s most prominent voices gather for a candid discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the accounting world. From evolving business models to deep talent shortages, the conversation explores how firms must adapt—or risk irrelevance.

The panel includes Randy Johnston, co-founder of K2 Enterprises and a long-time tech strategist for CPAs; Trevor Greenway, CEO of Interval, a software firm helping accountants uncover real-time advisory opportunities; Harry Blum, managing partner at RSM Canada; and Jennifer O’Carroll, CEO of ERP vendor HansaWorld and former tax advisor.

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“The knowledge is there,” says Greenway. “The question is—do firms have the people and bandwidth to act on it?” He warns that while accountants understand the changes required—like the shift to advisory services and the adoption of AI—the labor shortage is the primary obstacle.

Blum agrees, calling today’s environment “an experiment in change management,” where firms have never had more opportunity but also never faced more complexity. “The mindset shift needed to transform is the biggest challenge,” he says.