The Accounting Podcast

By Blake Oliver & David Leary

What's The Accounting Podcast about?

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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The Accounting Podcast episodes:

04.15.2024
Delivering Nuclear Value in Accounting
Joe Woodard joins Blake and David to examine how accountants and bookkeepers can increase the value of their services in the eyes of their clients. Joe introduces the Cobb value curve, illustrating how differentiation and relative value impact pricing. He...
04.11.2024
Get Rich Doing Bad Audits
Blake and David dive into the concerning trend of small CPA firms conducting shoddy audits of large companies and SPACs, raking in big fees while facing minimal consequences for deficient work. They also discuss the latest accounting app funding news,...
04.04.2024
Pizza Parties Boost Morale
Blake and David dig through the latest accounting news, including the effectiveness of pizza parties in boosting accounting firm morale, the record number of baby boomers reaching retirement age, and the impact on Social Security, as well as the massive...
04.03.2024
Modern Pricing Models Drive Higher Valuations for Accounting Firms
Blake and David meet with M&A; advisor Charles Bedard about valuations for accounting firms looking to sell. Bedard explains that subscription-based "modern" firms command much higher multiples than traditional hourly billing firms. Bedard provides specific valuation ranges based on revenue...
03.29.2024
A Sizable Portion of Accountants See No Use Case for AI
Blake and David look at the potential impact of AI on the accounting profession and discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT can boost productivity by automating tasks, improving communication, and assisting with problem-solving. They also examine the implications of these...
03.26.2024
Do Audit Opinions Matter? A Discussion with Professor Ed Ketz
Professor Ed Ketz of Penn State joins the show to discuss audits' current state and future. We delve into the relevance of audits and explore the value of unqualified opinions in making audits meaningful. The discussion also touches on the...
03.22.2024
Banks Will Fail & Listener Mail
Blake and David start with a discussion on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony regarding the failure of small and mid-sized banks due to exposure to the commercial real estate sector. They also get into Minnesota's CPA licensure bill for...
03.18.2024
Earmark Media Presents: Corporate Transparency Act Ruled Unconstitutional (Federal Tax Updates)
Here's a preview of Blake's recent appearance on Federal Tax Updates, where he joined host Roger Harris to unpack some of the biggest tax stories making headlines, from a federal court ruling deeming a new business reporting law unconstitutional to...
03.15.2024
The Race to Automate Audits
Blake and David meet up with AJ Yawn, partner at Armanino LLP, about Armanino's new tool, Audit Ally, which streamlines and automates SOC 2 audits. They discuss the growing trend of tech companies entering the audit space and commoditizing services...
03.12.2024
IRS Agents Working From Home Can Watch H&R Block Reality TV Show
We're celebrating surpassing 10,000 YouTube subscribers! Thank you! Blake and David look into H&R; Block's new reality show about teaching people life skills like doing their taxes. They also talk about workflow automation challenges for accounting firms, how the IRS...
03.08.2024
SPAC Attack: Why Withum Got Slapped with a $2M PCAOB Fine
Blake and David meet with Chris Vanover, President of CPAClub, about the recent $2 million PCAOB fine against Withum for poor audit quality on many 2021 SPAC audits. They examine Withum's 500% increase in audits with minimal staff growth, leading...
03.07.2024
Weighing The Risks and Rewards Of Surge Pricing Tax Returns
Fast food chain Wendy's considers demand pricing – should your firm, too? We discuss the potential for surge pricing tax returns to smooth workload and raise revenue. We also dive into new AI-powered accounting productivity tools from Sage and Xero,...
03.01.2024
Trust Me, I'm an AI: Aaron Harris on the Future of Accounting
Aaron Harris joins Blake and David to discuss Sage's new AI offering, Sage Copilot, which brings generative intelligence into Sage Intacct to eliminate routine accounting work. They discuss specific use cases Copilot handles, like chasing people for approvals/documents, drafting emails,...
03.01.2024
Lyft's Big Financial Typo
Blake and David discuss the Lyft financial typo that sent its stock price soaring. They also examine how AI-powered help desks and customer service are improving efficiency by 10-20%, and look at some alternatives to the pesky 150-hour rule. Other...
02.24.2024
Why Accountants Quit Public Accounting Firms
Blake and David meet with Geoffrey Brown of the Illinois CPA Society to examine some key findings from ICPAS's recent retention report, including top reasons for turnover, where departing accountants are going, and ideas for improving work-life balance. Meet Our...
02.21.2024
The Biggest Check You Can Write to The IRS
Blake and David break down the IRS's $99 million paper-check limit, how states use tax credits to attract movie productions (sometimes unsuccessfully) and give their take on actor Kenan Thompson losing $1.5 million to fraud as a child. They also...
02.16.2024
From Carpet Cleaner to CPA: An Accounting Student's Journey
Blake and David talk with Chayton Farlee, an accounting student at the University of the Pacific, about his journey into accounting and his thoughts on the profession. They discuss his inspiring path from cleaning carpets during the pandemic to pursuing...
02.15.2024
Beware of E-Filing Your Tax Return
Blake and David discuss a wealth of timely topics, including the risks of filing taxes electronically versus by mail, the impact of the 150-hour rule on diversity in the accounting profession, and how major accounting firms are turning to private...
02.08.2024
Building a Bank for Accountants and Small Businesses
Yoseph West joins Blake and David to examine Relay Financial's background and their ambition to solve banking problems by becoming a bank themselves, designing the ideal user experience, and overcoming regulatory challenges. West also outlines Relay's redesigned accountant partner program,...
02.02.2024
What to Do if You Can't Find an Accountant for Tax Season
CNBC tells taxpayers to seek out EAs if they can't find a CPA, crypto fraud by a pastor who claims God told him to do it, issues with IRS taxpayer notices and filing, accounting irregularities at agricultural giant ADM send...
01.30.2024
Listener Mail: Finding Balance with Tech & CPA Pipeline Problem
This week, Blake and David Leary sort through the mail and respond to a variety of listener emails and voicemails. Amongst the topics covered, they explore working as a TurboTax preparer to barriers faced by career-changers entering public accounting. They...
01.25.2024
How To Take The Pain Out Of Busy Season
Blake and David discuss the challenges of busy season and achieving work-life balance as accountants. They also debate the value and investment risks of cryptocurrency and analyze global economic impacts like outflows from China's economy. They also review some of...
01.23.2024
Pay Transparency Website Levels Playing Field for Accountants
Dominic Piscopo is the founder of Big4Transparency.com, an accounting salary transparency website. Dominic was inspired to start the site based on his experience discovering the disparity in compensation between his accounting job and what other accountants were making in the...
01.19.2024
Survey Says 80% of CPAs Support Alternatives to 150 Hours
Blake and David mull over the Arizona CPA Society's survey revealing that 80% of Arizona CPAs support 150-hour-rule alternatives. They also examine the UK Post Office scandal that led to hundreds of criminal convictions of postmasters, as well as Deloitte's...
01.17.2024
AI for Accountants - Exploring Rightworks Spark
Blake and David meet up with TJ Lewis and Aaron Van Ruler from Rightworks about their new AI tool called Spark, built specifically for accountants on top of ChatGPT. They discuss how Spark helps accounting professionals by providing industry-specific content,...
01.12.2024
How Much Tax Preparers Charge
Blake throws his hat into the ring for President and CEO of NASBA! Hear how he intends to shake things up should he be chosen! Next, Blake and David unpack a survey on the surprisingly low tax-preparer fees across the...
01.05.2024
Turning Staff Into Workaholics Makes Them Way Less Productive
In this 2023 wrap-up, Blake and David discuss an appeals court ruling that audit reports are so generic they are essentially useless to investors. They also explore the concept of "productivity theater" where employees pretend to be constantly working, even...
12.28.2023
Accounting Professor Bills Trump $900,000 for Expert Testimony
Just in time for the holidays, Blake and David examine the accounting professor from NYU who charged Trump nearly $900,000 for expert testimony. They also tackle issues around accountant retention and turnover, tax updates, the financial operations of Hamas, as...
12.22.2023
Building a Firm to the Right Size with Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA
Keila Hill-Trawick joins Blake and David to discuss her philosophy on intentionally building a firm to the "right" size, rather than pursuing endless revenue growth. She also explains how her firm narrowed its service offerings to focus on core recurring...
12.21.2023
Solving the CPA Pipeline Problem: An Interview with AICPA's National Pipeline Advisory Group
Lexy Kessler, National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG) chair and Sue Coffey, Chief Executive Officer – Public Accounting with AICPA join us for a special bonus episode to address the accounting talent crisis and talk about how we can improve the...
12.13.2023
QuickBooks Desktop Is Dead. Long Live Online!
Blake and David discuss Intuit's announcement that QuickBooks Desktop will no longer be sold as new subscriptions after July 2024. They also talk about the need for changes in the accounting profession, such as simplifying financial reporting requirements and revising...
12.06.2023
AICPA Blames Boring Accounting Professors for Pipeline Problem
Blake and David discuss updates from the AICPA's Talent Pipeline Committee, including surprises about the high dropout rate of accounting majors in college. They also explore new custom AI capabilities in ChatGPT that allow users to create specialist bots and...
11.29.2023
Listener Mail: Compilations, Talent Crisis, ESOPs, 120 v. 150, TurboTax
Blake and David sort through the listener mailbag to find out what you think! Amongst the letters, we’ve got opinions on accounting without assurance and the industry talent crisis, as well as potential unethical practices by some tax experts, and...
11.22.2023
What's New in QuickBooks from Connect | Firms Turning Away Work Due to Staffing Shortages
We're back from QuickBooks Connect 2023 with announcements, updates, new features, and improvements in QuickBooks Online. Also, EY got fined $3 million for cheating on ethics exams, and 42 percent of firms are turning away work due to staff shortages....
11.18.2023
How to Survive Public Accounting and the CPA Exam
CPA Exam prep rockstars Peter Olinto and Roger Philipp join Blake and David to discuss the evolution of the CPA Exam over time, the importance of making studying entertaining, and challenges facing the accounting profession like public accounting burnout. Both...
11.11.2023
Earmark Media Presents: Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast
Listen to the full Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5586a16e Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast. Hector and Alicia dig into all the details and speculation around Intuit's newest cloud accounting product QuickBooks Ledger. Is...
11.09.2023
Can AI Become An Accounting Expert?
Blake and David examine the downfall of FTX and founder Sam Bankman-Fried and look at some controversies around Deloitte auditors backdating audit paperwork in Canada, receiving only a minor fine. They also marvel at Donald Trump's attempt to blame accountants...
11.02.2023
Headlines: Maryland Can't Account For $1.4 Billion of Covid Funds
An independent audit reveals over $1.4 billion in questionable spending and lack of financial oversight at Maryland's Health Department during the COVID pandemic. We break down the audit's alarming findings, and the response from state officials committed to improving financial...
11.01.2023
Headlines: How a Vegas Hotel Manager Allegedly Stole $773K in Guest Refunds
A former Vegas hotel manager is accused of stealing over $773,000 in guest refunds and using the money to live lavishly. We unpack how he allegedly pulled off the massive refund scam and what could have been done to catch...
10.31.2023
Trump Trial Updates | Are You Coffee Badging? | Proof Americans Move for Lower Taxes
An embezzlement scheme at Aria Hotel costs MGM $770,000, an accounting firm apologizes for paying a staffer below minimum wage, problems with Workday ERP implementations for state and local governments, a spike in accounting enrollment at Purdue University, and tax...
10.30.2023
Joshua Lance, CPA: A Humble, Thoughtful Leader
Today, we are honoring the life of Joshua Lance, CPA, founder of Lance CPA Group, who passed away in October at the age of 40 after a battle with cancer. To commemorate Josh's life, we are playing a eulogy delivered...
10.27.2023
Headlines: Questions Surround Justice Thomas' RV Loan
A recent report alleges Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose that a $267,000 recreational vehicle loan from a friend was forgiven, raising questions about potential tax issues and scrutiny around the justice's financial practices. Need CPE? Get CPE...
10.25.2023
QuickBooks Launches Bill Pay | NetSuite Adds AI | How Financial Fraud Will Fill CPA Pipeline
Blake and David discuss the factors that impact accountant salaries, including location, experience, and industry, and highlight the correlation between accounting salaries and overall economic conditions, noting that periods of economic growth can lead to higher salaries. They also take...
10.19.2023
Evan Goldberg on NetSuite Turning 25 and Pushing Boundaries with AI
NetSuite founder Evan Goldberg discusses the company's 25th anniversary, new AI features like Text Enhance and Customer 360, and his long-term vision for intelligent assistants integrated with NetSuite. Meet Our Guest, Evan Goldberg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-netsuite/ Learn more about NetSuite...
10.18.2023
Becoming Employee-Owned: How BDO Broke Out of the Partner Model
Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO USA, joins Blake and guest host, David Leary, on the Earmark Podcast to discuss BDO's recent transition to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), making it the first major accounting firm to implement an ESOP...
10.17.2023
Israel War Impact on Fintech | FTX & Trump Trial Updates | Iowa Blames Workday
There’s a lot to digest in this episode! Blake and David discuss Microsoft's $28.9 billion tax bill, and examine a tax-fraud scheme involving art donations. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon predicts that AI advancements will create a shorter workweek in...
10.15.2023
Headlines: Microsoft's Puerto Rico Tax Odyssey
After a decade-long audit, Microsoft is facing a whopping $29 billion tax bill from the IRS for what the agency claims was an "illusory scheme" to channel profits through Puerto Rico—but with years of appeals ahead, will the tech giant...
10.11.2023
Don Jr. Explains GAAP & Why No One's Going Into Accounting
Blake and David dig into the use of AI agents in solving problems, emphasizing the effectiveness of assigning different roles to the agents and having them interact with each other to reach satisfactory results. They also discuss the latest accounting...
10.07.2023
Headlines: The Top 10 Cities for U.S. Accountants
Looking for the best cities to launch your accounting career? This top 10 countdown will highlight the metro areas with the highest demand, abundant jobs, and the most competitive salaries for accountants. Forbes Advisor compiled this list. See the...
10.05.2023
Straight Talk on Accounting's Big Issues with Dr. Sharon Lassar
Sharon Lassar, Ph.D., CPA, and Director of the School of Accountancy at the University of Denver, shares concerns and perspectives on CPA licensure, including the resistance to changing the 150-hour requirement, the challenges of online learning and potential cheating, the...

What's The Accounting Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Accounting Podcast episodes:

Delivering Nuclear Value in Accounting

Get Rich Doing Bad Audits

Pizza Parties Boost Morale

Modern Pricing Models Drive Higher Valuations for Accounting Firms

A Sizable Portion of Accountants See No Use Case for AI

Do Audit Opinions Matter? A Discussion with Professor Ed Ketz

Banks Will Fail & Listener Mail

Earmark Media Presents: Corporate Transparency Act Ruled Unconstitutional (Federal Tax Updates)

The Race to Automate Audits

IRS Agents Working From Home Can Watch H&R Block Reality TV Show

SPAC Attack: Why Withum Got Slapped with a $2M PCAOB Fine

Weighing The Risks and Rewards Of Surge Pricing Tax Returns

Trust Me, I'm an AI: Aaron Harris on the Future of Accounting

Lyft's Big Financial Typo

Why Accountants Quit Public Accounting Firms

The Biggest Check You Can Write to The IRS

From Carpet Cleaner to CPA: An Accounting Student's Journey

Beware of E-Filing Your Tax Return

Building a Bank for Accountants and Small Businesses

What to Do if You Can't Find an Accountant for Tax Season

Listener Mail: Finding Balance with Tech & CPA Pipeline Problem

How To Take The Pain Out Of Busy Season

Pay Transparency Website Levels Playing Field for Accountants

Survey Says 80% of CPAs Support Alternatives to 150 Hours

AI for Accountants - Exploring Rightworks Spark

How Much Tax Preparers Charge

Turning Staff Into Workaholics Makes Them Way Less Productive

Accounting Professor Bills Trump $900,000 for Expert Testimony

Building a Firm to the Right Size with Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA

Solving the CPA Pipeline Problem: An Interview with AICPA's National Pipeline Advisory Group

QuickBooks Desktop Is Dead. Long Live Online!

AICPA Blames Boring Accounting Professors for Pipeline Problem

Listener Mail: Compilations, Talent Crisis, ESOPs, 120 v. 150, TurboTax

What's New in QuickBooks from Connect | Firms Turning Away Work Due to Staffing Shortages

How to Survive Public Accounting and the CPA Exam

Earmark Media Presents: Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast

Can AI Become An Accounting Expert?

Headlines: Maryland Can't Account For $1.4 Billion of Covid Funds

Headlines: How a Vegas Hotel Manager Allegedly Stole $773K in Guest Refunds

Trump Trial Updates | Are You Coffee Badging? | Proof Americans Move for Lower Taxes

Joshua Lance, CPA: A Humble, Thoughtful Leader

Headlines: Questions Surround Justice Thomas' RV Loan

QuickBooks Launches Bill Pay | NetSuite Adds AI | How Financial Fraud Will Fill CPA Pipeline

Evan Goldberg on NetSuite Turning 25 and Pushing Boundaries with AI

Becoming Employee-Owned: How BDO Broke Out of the Partner Model

Israel War Impact on Fintech | FTX & Trump Trial Updates | Iowa Blames Workday

Headlines: Microsoft's Puerto Rico Tax Odyssey

Don Jr. Explains GAAP & Why No One's Going Into Accounting

Headlines: The Top 10 Cities for U.S. Accountants

Straight Talk on Accounting's Big Issues with Dr. Sharon Lassar