What happens when a homeless 21-year-old musician transforms into a financial leader negotiating $20 billion deals at Google? Devon Coombs shares his remarkable journey from living in his car after his recording studio failed to becoming an ASC 606 revenue recognition expert who helped shape multibillion-dollar cloud contracts. You'll discover how he leveraged technical accounting expertise to leapfrog traditional career paths, why he cold-called a thousand controllers as a first-year auditor, and his predictions for how AI will transform accountants into "orchestrators" rather than individual contributors. Plus, learn why he's leaving Google to build a consulting practice focused on helping the profession adapt to an AI-driven future.

Chapters

• (00:54) - Devon's Early Struggles and Music Industry Journey
• (02:59) - Transition to Accounting and Education
• (04:52) - Challenges and Lessons from the Recording Studio
• (06:58) - Impact of Automation and AI on Careers
• (12:59) - Devon's Path to Success in Accounting
• (17:59) - Early Career at Deloitte and Winning Business
• (22:45) - Transition to Smaller Firm and ASC 606 Insights
• (25:36) - Deep Dive into ASC 606
• (28:06) - Becoming an Expert in ASC 606
• (31:13) - Transition to Google and Work-Life Balance
• (34:18) - Negotiating Billion-Dollar Deals at Google
• (37:45) - The Role of AI in Accounting
• (48:20) - Leaving Google for Principal Consulting Group
• (51:49) - Conclusion and Future Collaborations

Download the Earmark CPE App

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Connect with Our Guest, Devon Coombs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devoncoombs/
Website: https://www.devoncoombs.com/

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Small businesses offering 401(k) plans see 40% lower employee turnover in the first year, yet only 10% receive benefits guidance from their accountants. Justin Kurn explains how Dark Horse CPAs identifies the right triggers, such as growing staff or high turnover, to initiate benefits conversations. Meanwhile, Julia Miller from Gusto breaks down how accountants can help clients navigate the cost and complexity of offering health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits. The conversation reveals how positioning yourself as a benefits advisor can double or triple your fees while helping clients attract better talent and reduce costly employee churn.

Chapters

• (00:56) - Meet Our Guests
• (01:26) - The Growth Story: Dark Horse CPAs' Success
• (02:04) - Advisory First Approach: Transforming Client Relationships
• (03:38) - Gusto's Role in Benefits: An Overview
• (07:37) - Challenges and Solutions: Small Businesses Offering Benefits
• (10:25) - The Cost and Complexity of Benefits: Breaking It Down
• (15:00) - Advisory Conversations: Identifying Client Needs
• (19:23) - Gusto's Support for Accountants: Tools and Resources
• (25:43) - Affordability and Competitive Advantage
• (26:40) - Partnering with Gusto for Benefits
• (28:19) - Gusto's Software Solutions
• (29:12) - Client Experiences with Gusto
• (29:52) - Gusto's User-Friendly Platform
• (39:10) - Implementation and Timeline
• (47:42) - Increasing Revenue through Advisory Services
• (49:52) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Download the Earmark CPE App

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Connect with Our Guests:

Julia Miller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-g-miller

Justin Kurn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinkurn
Website: https://darkhorse.cpa/justin-kurn-cro/

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

What if the foundation of financial accounting is fundamentally flawed? Tom Selling, author of The Accounting Onion blog, argues that historical cost accounting creates a "truth in labeling problem" that allows management to manipulate earnings while failing to capture economic reality. Through compelling examples from oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and subscription businesses, he explains why value creation often occurs years before GAAP recognizes a single dollar of revenue. You'll discover how a $2 change in expected cash flows can trigger a $400,000 impairment loss, why the FASB shifted focus from earnings to balance sheets, and how current corporate governance essentially lets management "grade their own papers." This conversation challenges core assumptions about what accounting should measure and offers a provocative vision for reform.

Chapters

• (01:21) - The Myth of Honest Financial Accounting
• (02:28) - Management Gaming the System
• (03:22) - Historical Cost Accounting Explained
• (05:44) - Examples of Manipulation and the Enron Scandal
• (09:16) - Impairment and Depreciation Issues
• (13:26) - Alternatives to Historical Cost Accounting
• (20:59) - The Disconnect in Value Recognition
• (25:08) - R&D Expenses and Unrecognized Assets
• (25:39) - Challenges in Valuation and Accounting
• (27:08) - Measuring Assets and Liabilities
• (28:09) - Industry-Specific Accounting Limitations
• (31:08) - The Role of Transparency in Accounting
• (34:12) - Subscription Businesses and Revenue Recognition
• (44:22) - The Problem with Estimates and Auditing
• (48:18) - Conclusion and Summary

Download the Earmark CPE App

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Connect with Our Guest, Tom Selling

The Accounting Onion: http://accountingonion.com

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/