A major shift is coming to the accounting profession. In December 2025, a new suite of quality management standards will take effect, replacing the long-standing quality control framework firms have used for decades. This change goes beyond new policies; it reflects a broader mindset focused on continual improvement, risk awareness, and firmwide accountability.

To help us understand what is coming, we sit down with Mike Manspeaker, past chair of the MACPA board and a member of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board. With deep experience in peer review, audit evidence, risk response, and technology, Mike offers an insider’s perspective on why these standards matter and how firms can prepare.

Mike explains that the new standards are not burdens but tools that help practitioners deliver high-quality work and manage growing risks. We discuss the transition challenges firms may face and the opportunities to build a stronger culture of communication, leadership, and shared responsibility for quality.

Resources:

• AICPA Quality Management Standards
• AICPA Quality Management Implementation Guide Resources
• Coastal Peer Review
• MACPA Quality Management Resources
• AICPA Peer Review Program

What happens when you are ready to step away from the business you have built? In this episode of Future-Proof, we sit down with Erin Daiber, founder of Well Balanced Accountants, to explore why effective succession planning starts long before retirement.

Erin shares practical guidance on developing future leaders, creating a culture that supports growth, and avoiding common pitfalls like confusing technical skill with leadership potential. She also breaks down what to do if you realize you do not yet have a clear successor and touches on the rising influence of private equity in firm transitions.

This conversation is a timely reminder that succession planning is not an end-of-career task. It is an ongoing strategy that helps you strengthen your firm today while preparing it for tomorrow.

Resources:

• Aon, MACPA Preferred Provider
• Well Balanced Accountants with Erin Daiber
• Erin Daiber LinkedIn Profile

There is no single path to success in accounting, and few people prove that better than Greg Kyte. In this episode of Future-Proof, we explore how Greg built a one-of-a-kind career that blends finance, comedy, and purpose in ways that challenge traditional ideas of what it means to be a CPA.

Greg is the Controller and CFO at Riverwoods Medical Arts Center in Utah, but that is only part of his story. He is also a stand-up comedian, keynote speaker, fraud expert, podcaster, cartoonist, and MC, using humor to bring humanity and connection into a profession often seen as buttoned up.

Originally part of MACPA's CPA Purpose series, this conversation digs into how Greg found meaning by bringing his personal passions into his professional life. Greg shows that joy, creativity, and authenticity all have a place in our work.

If you have ever felt boxed in by what an accounting career “should” look like, this episode is your reminder that you can bring your whole self to the profession and make it a lot more fun along the way.

Resources

• Greg Kyte LinkedIn Profile
• MACPA's CPA Purpose Campaign
• Going Concern commentary and cartoons by Greg Kyte

In today’s data-driven world, information is everywhere, but what truly sets professionals apart is their ability to tell the story behind the numbers. In this episode of Future-Proof, we sit down with Jake DeKinder, Head of Client Communication at Dimensional Fund Advisors, to explore why storytelling may be the most essential skill CPAs can master.

Jake explains how data alone doesn’t inspire action; stories do. He shares his framework for effective communication, the Four S’s of Storytelling (scripts, stories, sketches, and supplements), and shows how authentic, human connection builds trust and meaning in client relationships.

Jake will also present at the MACPA’s 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference on October 28, where he’ll dive deeper into how financial professionals can transform data into stories that stick.

It’s not just about communicating numbers; it’s about helping people see the meaning in their money.

Resources:

• 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference
• Jack DeKinder LinkedIn Profile
• Dimensional Fund Advisors Website

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy, it’s for anyone who wants to protect the people and causes that matter most. In this episode of Future-Proof, we sit down with Patrick Carlson, Associate General Counsel for Estate and Tax Product at Vanilla, to explore how simple planning steps can bring peace of mind to everyday clients.

Patrick, who’s presenting at the MACPA’s 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference, shares practical ways to make estate planning accessible, meaningful, and essential for financial professionals. It’s not about doom and gloom — it’s about love, legacy, and making sure your wishes are honored.

Resources:

• MACPA 40th Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference Registration
• Patrick Carlson LinkedIn Profile

Busy season horror stories of 80-hour weeks, sleepless nights, and lost weekends have long defined the accounting profession. But Samantha Bowling, managing partner at GWCPA, is rewriting that narrative.

This past tax season, her firm went bold: no weekends, a 50-hour cap, mandatory extensions, upfront pricing, and a 15% fee increase. The payoff? Nearly full client retention, lighter partner workloads, and a team that felt energized instead of exhausted.

In this episode, Samantha shares how GWCPA pulled it off, what challenges came with change, and why people-first innovations like these may be the key to attracting talent and future-proofing the profession.

If you have ever thought, “There has to be a better way,” you will want to hear this conversation.

Resources

• Samantha Bowling, CPA, CFE, CGMA LinkedIn Profile
• GWCPA Firm Website
• MACPA Preferred Providers

Tom Hood, Executive Vice President of Business Growth and Engagement at the AICPA, shares his perspective on the forces shaping the future of accounting and finance through Accounting and Finance 2040: Rise to the Future Together.

In this conversation, Tom discusses the rapid evolution of the finance function, driven by generative AI, digital transformation, shifting business models, and changing workforce expectations. He examines the skills professionals will need to thrive, highlighting adaptability, curiosity, and strategic thinking alongside technical expertise.

Tom also offers practical advice for finance leaders and professionals on how to prepare themselves and their teams for what is coming next.

Resources:

• Tom Hood, CPA, CGMA, CITP, EVP Business Engagement & Growth, AICPA LinkedIn
• McKinsey Reports on CFO Priorities
• Deloitte CFO Signals Report
• Gartner Finance Insights

In today’s polarized climate, terms like DEI and diversity can spark debate, but the need for fairness at work remains just as important. In this episode, Siri Chilazi, co-author of Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, joins the conversation to explore what actually drives equity in the workplace.

Instead of buzzwords or big proclamations, Siri focuses on small, practical changes that make a real impact. She shares how reducing bias in hiring, running more inclusive meetings, and building systems where talent has a true chance to shine can lead to meaningful progress. She calls this moment a reset, a chance to step back and ask what’s really working.

If you're looking for ways to create a fairer workplace grounded in evidence and action, this episode offers steps to get started.

Resources:

• Siri Chilazim Author, Academic, Speaker and Consultant, website
• "Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results", by Siri Chilazi, Iris Bohnet

Risk is evolving quickly, and CPAs need to stay ahead. In this episode of Future Proof, we talk with Nicole Graham, risk consultant at Aon, about how firms can turn risk management into a strategic advantage.

From cyber threats and regulatory changes to the everyday use of generative AI, Nicole shares real-world trends and practical tips to help firms stay protected. Learn how to spot red flags early, strengthen engagement practices, and embed a proactive risk culture across your team.

Smart risk management isn’t optional, it’s essential to building a future-ready firm.

Resources:

• Ashley Graham, Risk Consultant, LinkedIn
• Aon Insurance Services, an MACPA Preferred Provider

This week on Future Proof, Paul Dunn, award-winning entrepreneur, global business leader, and founder of B1G1 (Business for Good), joins the conversation to explore the true purpose of the accounting profession.

Paul challenges CPAs to shift from focusing on what they do to why they do it. He shares how small, purpose-driven actions can create lasting impact and how accountants can become storytellers who communicate the real value of their work. His message is clear: CPAs are heroes (they just don’t always realize it).

This uplifting episode is a powerful reminder of how purpose and impact can redefine the profession and inspire change far beyond the bottom line.

Resources:

• B1G1 (Business for Good)
• Paul Dunn’s TEDx Talks
• The Soul of the Enterprise Podcast
• Verasage Institute
• MACPA Purpose Resources