Drink While You Think🍺

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew dig into what the future holds for Sorren and for accounting — from the next evolution of CAS to the agentic space, plus how they’re thinking about firm-building from here.

Tune in for topics like...

👉 What’s Next At Sorren? (00:00)
👉 Building Up Our CAS Practice (01:50)
👉 Matthew’s Experience At BDO Alliance Conference (06:00)
👉 What CAS Will Look Like In Top Firms (07:15)
👉 What Happened To Payroll Will Happen To Accounting (10:32)
👉 Will Sorren Keep Adding Firms? (11:59)
👉 What Kenji’s Up To? (13:39)
👉 Supporting Accounting Tech Startups (17:34)
👉 Professor Kuramoto? (18:28)
👉 The Agentic Space (21:02)
👉 Landing This (4-Episode) Plane (22:09)
👉 Catch Up With Us At Conferences (23:20)
👉 Cheers & Drink Shoutouts (24:51)

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew talk about what happens after the deal closes — how they told the team, how fast integration started, and how many emotions went into this process.

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Deal Is Done, More Drinks (00:00)
👉 “The Dog Has Caught The Car Bumper” (01:37)
👉 How We Staged Telling Our Team (02:24)
👉 And…Matthew’s Parents Are In Town (04:26)
👉 PE = Everybody Assumes They’re Fired (05:00)
👉 Leadership Meeting, Then All-Hands (06:33)
👉 Matthew Books Site Visits (09:40)
👉 The Hardest Work: Immediate Integration (10:43)
👉 This Is Where Mental Health Comes Into Play (13:05)
👉 “Who Am I Now?” (15:36)
👉 The Heavy Responsibility For Firm Owners (20:37)
👉 Let’s Get Into Integration (21:38)
👉 Pros & Cons To Choosing Culture Influence (24:10)
👉 Bringing 14 Firms Together To Make A Top 50 Firm (28:37)
👉 We Now Have Leaders Who’ve Done It (30:50)
👉 Is PE Worse Than Staying Stagnant? (33:20)

 
👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew talk through what it looks like to navigate a deal — from stepping out of daily ops to prepping management decks, surviving diligence, and leaning on the right people to keep it all going.

(This is episode two in a four-part series, so stay tuned for more to come!)

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Why Kenji Stepped Away From Operating (00:00)
👉 Management Presentations & Matthew Taking Over (02:20)
👉 What Happens When Everyone’s Great? (06:05)
👉 Where Shit Gets Real: LOIs (07:13)
👉 Deal Structures Are Crazy (08:55)
👉 The Most Important: Culture & Team (10:29)
👉 Diligence = Tequila Time (14:02)
👉 The Importance of Bankers & Lawyers (16:20)
👉 The Emotional Aspect Of This Deal (18:48)
👉 Our Forums Were So Helpful (21:01)
👉 Being Ready For Deals To Die (22:36)
👉 Until You Sign The LOI…(23:48)
👉 How Your (Future) Partners Work With You (26:00)
👉 Not To Burst Your Bubble, But… (27:10)

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew share a beer (and some liquor) and talk about Acuity 3.0: Acuity, powered by Sorren.

(This episode is split up into a four-part series, so stay tuned for more to come!)

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Welcome! (00:00)
👉 This Week's Topics & Beers (00:04)
👉 What Is Sorren? (03:10)
👉 The Why – Being Prepared For Acuity 3.0 (04:35)
👉 How? Hiring Outside Perspective (12:44)
👉 Pros Of Capital Advisors (15:45)
👉 Let’s Talk Quality Of Earnings (21:50)
👉 The Marketing Side Of This Deal (24:15)
👉 Rum Time: Pampero Aniversario (27:46)
👉 Who We Wanted To Bring In (28:50)
👉 The Most Valuable Question (29:50)

🍺 WHAT WE'RE DRINKING 🍺
— KENJI is drinking Deth’s Tar / Revolution Brewing
https://revbrew.com/beer/deep-wood-series/deths-tar
— MATTHEW is drinking Caramelized Chocolate Churro Porter / Moody Tongue
https://www.moodytongue.com/our-beers/

➡️ THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR ⬅️
Bravaldo Capital Investors: https://bravaldocapitaladvisors.com

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew share a beer and talk about planning for the year ahead – goal setting, Q4 leadership retreats, creating community, and more.

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Welcome! (00:00)
👉 This Week's Topics & Beers (00:04)
👉 When To Set Goals For The Year Ahead (03:47)
👉 Accounting Firm Owners – Are You Planning? (05:10)
👉 Budgeting Advice For Entrepreneurs (07:45)
👉 Acuity’s Planning Process Now (09:16)
👉 Matthew As Our Integrator (11:03)
👉 Brainstorming Versus Open To Feedback (13:50)
👉 How We Structure The Planning (16:21)
👉 Initiatives Have To Be Communicated (22:04)
👉 Check Ins Create Community (27:27)
👉 The Art Of Facilitation (33:31)
👉 Acuity 3.0 (36:36)
👉 Untappd Beer Rankings (41:15)
👉 How Was Yo-Yo Ma? (42:53)
👉 Upcoming: 2025 Predictions (46:15)

🍺 WHAT WE'RE DRINKING 🍺
— KENJI is drinking Lesson In Love / Bluejacket
https://www.bluejacketdc.com
— MATTHEW is drinking Wildflower Bouquet / Wild Heaven
https://wildheavenbeer.com

➡️ THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR ⬅️
Trees Atlanta: https://www.treesatlanta.org

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew share a beer and talk about their recent trip to the Philippines for Acuity’s second Philippines Road Show!

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Welcome! (00:00)
👉 This Week's Topics & Beers (00:04)
👉 Quick Recap of Why PH (03:03)
👉 Far Away: Distance & Time - Hard to Be in Person (06:40)
👉 What It Requires to Get There: Travel Expectations (08:10)
👉 Tips for People Who Want to Go to PH (10:05)
👉 The First Time We Went… (14:45)
👉 What It’s Like Being in PH: Weather, Food, & Drinks (19:02)
👉 Beers You Need to Know (21:50)
👉 How We Structure Our Roadshows (22:28)
👉 Nights in PH: Dinners, Karaoke, Drinks (28:46)
👉 Things to Do / How to Interact (34:22)
👉 Category 5 Super Typhoon (36:14)
👉 It’s Always Worth It (38:15)
👉 Tips for Readjusting in the U.S. (39:05)
👉 Untappd Beer Rankings (42:50)

🍺 WHAT WE'RE DRINKING 🍺
— KENJI is drinking Farmers Daughter / Whitewater Brewing
https://www.whitewaterbrewery.com
— MATTHEW is drinking Beltliner / Wild Heaven
https://www.wildheavenbeer.com

➡️ THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR ⬅️
SalesiQ: https://verifyiq.co/salesiq/ 

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

In case you missed it...here's the recording of the LIVE #DrinkWhileYouThink Tech Stack Draft! 🍿

🚨 RULES 🚨 

- Snake draft 🐍

- Once an app is picked, it’s off the board. ✔️

- Each team must have one app in each of these categories: G/L, Spend Mgmt, Payroll, Forecasting/Reporting, Banking, Workflow, and Flex (our wildcard category) 👏

- The app has to *actually* work in the category. But – they can go wild with the Flex pick. 😎

- Matthew May, our "League Commissioner," handles any shenanigans. 👨‍⚖️

🤝 TRADES 🤝 

We encouraged teams to make them! The crazier, the better.

🏆 WINNER 🏆 

Who built the #GOAT tech stack? 🐐

Here's our lineup of GMs: Kristen Nies Ciraldo, Niki Mackenzie, Brian C., Jan Haugo, Miguel Alexander Centeno – and of course, your co-hosts Matthew May & Kenji Kuramoto ✨

We’ll let YOU vote on who built the best tech stack team. 😍 Drop a comment below to vote!

🍻 DRINKS 🍻

Umm...it's kind of a theme of the show. They brought a drink (or three) and so should you! 🕺

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew share a beer and ask themselves are accountants 'cool'? Plus, they dive into recent venture capital activity and important info about the new Beneficial Ownership Information Report requirement from FinCEN.

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Welcome! (00:00)
👉 This Week's Topics & Beers (00:04)
👉 The Industry At Large: Are Accountants Cool? (02:51)
👉 If You Don’t Do It Authentically, It Rings Hollow (10:09)
👉 The Largest Venture Capital-Backed Exits (13:55)
👉 VC Activity Is High In Accounting/Tech (16:50)
👉 Premium Deals Are Still Happening (18:49)
👉 Atlanta Brands On Our Sports Team Jerseys (22:18)
👉 What’s This Whole BOI Thing? (23:41)
👉 Taking Accounting Advice From TikTok (31:00)
👉 Untappd Beer Rankings (31:46)

🍺 WHAT WE'RE DRINKING 🍺
—   KENJI is drinking Wild Leap Brew Co. / Side Bae Double IPA.
https://wildleap.com/our-beers/side-bae-galaxy-enigma-strata-el-dorado/
—   MATTHEW is drinking Halfway Crooks Beer / Super Super Turbo Turbo.
https://untappd.com/b/halfway-crooks-beer-super-super-turbo-turbo/4889030

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji & Matthew share a beer and talk compensation plans, trying to answer the question: is there such thing as the perfect compensation plan??

Tune in for topics like...

👉 Welcome! (00:00)
👉 This Week's Topics & Beers (00:04)
👉 Why Compensation Plans Are So Tricky (06:00)
👉 Personalizing Plans (11:58)
👉 Where We Struggle At Acuity (13:45)
👉 Correlation Between Rates & Total Comp (15:23)
👉 How To Comp People For Value (18:00)
👉 Minimum Salary Of $75,000 (20:34)
👉 Execution Is A Super Challenge (24:12)
👉 Matthew Used To Be Very Driven By Comp… (28:23)
👉 Improving Our Communication (32:56)
👉 Untappd Beer Rankings (35:28)

🍺 WHAT WE'RE DRINKING 🍺
—   KENJI is drinking Elsewhere Brewing / Lady Brett.
https://untappd.com/b/elsewhere-brewing-lady-brett/4556624
—   MATTHEW is drinking New Realm Brewing Co. / Hazy Like a Fox.
https://newrealmbrewing.com/beer/hazy-like-a-fox-ipa/

➡️ THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR ⬅️
ADP – https://acuity.co/adp-and-acuity/

(And also Woodford Reserve 😉)

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig

In this episode of Drink While You Think, Kenji Kuramoto & Matthew May share a beer and talk about job responsibilities – when to create specialized roles, when you should rethink roles, and when you might want to consider combining roles in your company.

Tune in for…

👉 Welcome! (00:00)
👉 This Week’s Topics and Beers (00:05)
👉 Rethinking Roles (04:40)
👉 The "Player-Coach" Roles (05:53)
👉 The Onboarding Function (08:37)
👉 The Concept of "Losing Your Game" (10:49)
👉 The Sales Function (13:18)
👉 Specialization Vs. Simplification (15:24)
👉 Who Leads Your Verticals? (19:41)
👉 Giving Resources To Team Members (24:27)
👉 Roles That Go Well Together (25:53)
👉 The Benefits Of A Tech Stack Team (30:44)
👉 Untappd Beer Rankings (32:31)

🍺 WHAT WE'RE DRINKING 🍺
—  KENJI is drinking Creature Comforts Brewing Co.  / Bibo.
https://creaturecomfortsbeer.com/beers/bibo/
—  MATTHEW is drinking Cigar City Brewing / Theoretical Jam.
https://www.cigarcitybrewing.com/beer/theoretical-jam/

➡️ THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR ⬅️
BILL: https://acuity.co/bill-and-acuity/

👥 CONNECT WITH US 👥
Kenji Kuramoto: @kenjikuramoto, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
Matthew May: @TheTechCPA, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetechcpa/

👣 FOLLOW US 👣
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuity.co
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acuity_co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acuity.co/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acuity_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuity.co/
Uptappd: https://untappd.com/user/DWYT/
Website: https://acuity.co/

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL👇
 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCojjHAe6BqSgq9yZRR-O6ig