Humans in Accounting

Most accounting firms don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because nothing gets executed.

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, James Bohan shares how he built his firm starting from one client—and why taking action early mattered more than having everything figured out.

From preparing tax returns by hand to becoming a CFO and eventually launching his own firm, his path wasn’t linear—and that’s exactly the point.

They talk about hiring before you feel ready, building systems as you grow, and how “done is better than perfect” actually plays out in real life.

If you’re thinking about starting or scaling your firm, this episode is a practical reminder:

You don’t need perfect—you need momentum.

🎯 What you’ll learn:

• Why waiting for perfect slows you down
• How one client can start a firm
• The importance of taking action early
• Why hiring sooner can unlock growth
• How to build a niche in accounting
• Offshore hiring and scaling
• Real lessons from building a firm

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

• James’ early career and starting as a bookkeeper

• From no accounting experience to CPA

• Transition from firm to CFO role

• Starting his own firm from a single client

• Building a niche in real estate & private equity

• Offshore hiring and scaling a team

• In-person vs online networking today

• Lessons from the GFC and early career struggles

• Systems and hiring early

• Advice for new firm owners

What if something as simple as your name affected how people saw you professionally?

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Astrid Daniela Galvez, Founder of Accounting Specialist & Business Solutions, to talk about building a firm from scratch—and the identity challenges that came with it.

Astrid shares how she started her firm with no clients and only six months of savings, how she landed her first opportunities, and why she made the decision to change how she introduced herself professionally.

They dive into imposter syndrome, building trust as a new firm owner, and what it really takes to grow a business over 13 years.

If you’re starting from zero—or navigating confidence and identity in your career—this episode will resonate.

🎯 What you’ll learn:

• How to start an accounting firm from zero
• How to get your first clients
• Imposter syndrome in the accounting industry
• How identity can impact opportunities
• Why community is key when starting out
• Building trust as a new firm owner
• Lessons from 13 years in business

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

• Astrid’s early career and transition into accounting
• Starting a firm with no clients
• First clients and early challenges
• Imposter syndrome and identity in business
• Why she adapted how she introduced herself professionally
• Building trust as a new firm owner
• Working with minority-owned businesses
• The role of community and connections
• Defining an ideal client
• Advice for new firm owners

What makes an accounting firm valuable—and what actually determines how much it sells for?

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner at White Tiger Connections, to break down how accounting firms are built, scaled, and ultimately sold.

Geoff shares his journey into the accounting space through M&A, recruiting, and consulting—and how private equity is reshaping the industry.

They dive into what most firm owners get wrong about valuation, why being involved in day-to-day operations can hurt your exit, and how to build a firm that buyers actually want.

They also explore how AI is starting to impact accounting firms, and what founders should do today to stay competitive.

If you’re thinking about growing, or eventually selling, your firm, this episode gives you the playbook.

What you’ll learn:

• How to build an accounting firm with exit in mind
• What determines the value of an accounting firm
• Why founders hurt their own valuation
• The difference between SDE and EBITDA
• How private equity is changing accounting
• How AI will impact bookkeeping and operations
• What buyers look for during due diligence

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

Topics Covered

• Geoff’s path into M&A and accounting firms

• Building White Tiger Connections

• Private equity in the accounting industry

• Accounting firm valuation basics

• SDE vs EBITDA explained

• What affects exit value

• Why founders lower their own valuation

• AI in accounting firms (current vs future)

• Niche strategy for accounting firms

• How to build a firm to sell

Scaling an accounting firm sounds simple—until you’re the one stuck doing everything.

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Chase Damiano, Founder & CEO of Human at Scale, to break down why so many accounting firm owners struggle to scale—and what actually needs to change.

Chase shares his journey from Accenture to building and scaling a coffee business, and how that experience led him to work closely with accounting firms as an operations partner.

They dive into the real reasons firms get stuck: lack of visibility, weak systems, unclear roles, and founders who become the bottleneck.

If you’ve ever felt like your firm is growing… but you’re still overwhelmed, this conversation is for you.

Because scaling isn’t about working more—it’s about building a business that works without you.

What you’ll learn:
• How to scale an accounting firm without burning out
• Why most accounting firms hit growth plateaus
• How to stop being the bottleneck as a firm owner
• The operational systems every firm needs to grow
• How to get out of day-to-day client work

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

Topics Covered

• How to scale an accounting firm sustainably
• Why firm owners burn out while growing
• The biggest bottlenecks in accounting firms
• Lack of visibility and operational data
• Why meetings don’t drive real progress
• Systems, SOPs, and workflow breakdowns
• CEO vs operator mindset shift
• Revenue plateaus and how to break them
• Why niche focus accelerates growth
• The power of the accounting community

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Tracy Brantingham, CEO of Building Profits LLC, to explore how she built her firm from just three clients into a growing business — and the decisions that shaped that journey.

Tracy shares her background in construction accounting, how she transitioned from employee to business owner, and the role networking played in getting her first clients and scaling early on.

We also talk about why she chose not to niche down, how her firm approaches client relationships and technology, and what it takes to build systems that support long-term growth.

Plus — we dive into hybrid work, building team culture, moving to monthly recurring revenue, and the importance of community when growing a business.

Because behind every balance sheet, there’s a story worth telling.

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

• From employee to business owner in accounting

• Getting the first clients through networking

• Why Tracy chose not to niche down

• Construction accounting and client complexity

• Hybrid work and building team culture

• Moving from hourly billing to monthly recurring revenue

• Scaling a firm with systems and structure

• The importance of community and mentorship

• Favorite food: chips & salsa 🌮

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Chris Meyers, Partner at Welch LLP, to explore how a career in accounting can evolve across industries — and why human relationships still matter more than ever.

Chris shares his journey from starting at Welch as a student to working in government, including roles at the Bank of Canada and as CFO within public finance, before returning to the firm as a partner.

We also dive into how accounting firms are evolving, the role of client relationships in a world shaped by AI, and why vulnerability and communication are becoming key differentiators in the industry.

Plus — we talk about career growth, scaling a service line, favorite foods (pizza 🍕 and steak 🥩), and practical advice for professionals and entrepreneurs.

Because behind every balance sheet, there’s a story worth telling.

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

• Chris’s career journey from Welch to government and back

• Working in finance during the global financial crisis

• What a full-service accounting firm actually does today

• The rise of Client Accounting Services (CAS)

• Why human relationships matter in accounting

• Generational differences in client communication

• Scaling a service line inside a firm

• Favorite foods 🍕 pizza & 🥩 steak

• Advice for professionals and entrepreneurs

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Chris Meyers, Partner at Welch LLP, to explore how a career in accounting can evolve across industries — and why human relationships still matter more than ever.

Chris shares his journey from starting at Welch as a student to working in government, including roles at the Bank of Canada and as CFO within public finance, before returning to the firm as a partner.

We also dive into how accounting firms are evolving, the role of client relationships in a world shaped by AI, and why vulnerability and communication are becoming key differentiators in the industry.

Plus — we talk about career growth, scaling a service line, favorite foods (pizza 🍕 and steak 🥩), and practical advice for professionals and entrepreneurs.

Because behind every balance sheet, there’s a story worth telling.

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

• Chris’s career journey from Welch to government and back

• Working in finance during the global financial crisis

• What a full-service accounting firm actually does today

• The rise of Client Accounting Services (CAS)

• Why human relationships matter in accounting

• Generational differences in client communication

• Scaling a service line inside a firm

• Favorite foods 🍕 pizza & 🥩 steak

• Advice for professionals and entrepreneurs

In the Season 3 premiere of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Greg Verchick, owner of Verchick Accounting Services, and Wayne Herring, founder of Business Builder Camp, for a conversation about resilience, mentorship, and building a business centered around helping people.

Greg shares the personal journey that led him to rebuild his life and launch his accounting practice after overcoming alcoholism — and how mentorship, community, and referrals helped him grow a successful bookkeeping and accounting business.

Wayne explains how entrepreneurs grow faster when they learn from business owners outside their own industry, and why even in a world filled with AI tools and automation, business is still fundamentally about human relationships.

Together they explore the role of trust, mentorship, and referrals in building a sustainable accounting practice.

Plus — we also dive into favorite foods (Mexican enchiladas 🌮 and Berkshire pork ribeye 🥩), business coaching insights, and practical advice for anyone starting their own firm.

Because behind every balance sheet, there’s a story worth telling.

🎧 South Offices Home
https://southoffices.com/

🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company
https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/

📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist
https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

• Greg’s journey into accounting and entrepreneurship
• Overcoming addiction and rebuilding a career
• Building an accounting firm through referrals
• Why smaller firms often offer broader experience
• Mentorship and coaching in entrepreneurship
• Mixing industries to solve business problems
• Favorite foods segment 🌮 Berkshire pork ribeye & enchiladas
• Advice for entrepreneurs starting a business

In this season finale of Humans in Accounting, host Alex Roman sits down with Irene Seelig, CEO & Co-Founder of Account Groove — a platform helping accountants automate proposals, pricing, and client management.

They talk about:

✅ Selling her first tech firm and discovering the gaps in the accounting industry

✅ Building a founder-funded SaaS from scratch

✅ The shift from compliance to advisory work in accounting ✅ Launching Account Groove’s CRM and community for accountants

✅ Irene’s love for home-grown food, goulash 🥘 and pumpkin pie 🥧

✅ Her advice for new founders: Just start — and build systems early!

🎧 Listen till the end for an exclusive promo code for Humans in Accounting listeners: one month free on Account Groove’s annual Pro plan.

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, host Alex Roman sits down with Jacob LaCour, founder and owner of Expert Bookkeeping, to talk about the power of purpose, the importance of saying yes to helping others, and how to build a successful business rooted in passion and service.

Jacob shares his inspiring story from growing up in a small Louisiana town and volunteering as a firefighter to owning his first business at 20 and eventually launching Expert Bookkeeping. He discusses how the pandemic transformed his business, why AI is a tool (not a threat), and why understanding your “why” is the most important step before starting any venture.

We cover:

• From small-town roots to running Expert Bookkeeping.

• What being a volunteer firefighter taught Jacob about service and leadership.

• Owning a gas station at 20 and lessons learned from early entrepreneurship.

• The explosion of his business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Why AI is like the nail gun — and how it’s changing bookkeeping.

• Building a purpose-driven business and saying yes to helping others.

• Niche focus: service industries and insurance clients.

• Favorite food 🍲 sauce piquant and seasonal crawfish.

• Best advice: Focus on your why — your purpose will lead to profit.
  

If you’re an accountant, bookkeeper, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights on building a purpose-driven firm, navigating the future of AI, and making a real difference in clients’ lives.