Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, is one of two accounting firm leaders presenting at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE on where to begin when it comes to starting a technology-focused advisory practice. Client advisory services (CAS) are a growing opportunity for firms, so the presentation by Shimamoto and Liz Mason, CPA, is timely.

In this episode, Shimamoto takes a look back — at how firms and CPAs in general worked to integrate technology — and a look ahead — to what advisory services could look like in the future.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s the focus of this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Kari Hipsak, CPA, CGMA, senior manager–Firm Services at the AICPA, explains why mental health matters to her and shares advice for how managers and organizations can better promote mental health of their staff.

Several resources are mentioned in the episode:

• Hipsak’s interview about mental health on the What’s Your “And”?
• PCPS mental health resources.
• A recent Journal of Accountancy article on companies expecting to increase pay for employees.

Sean Stein Smith, CPA, CGMA, DBA, is speaking June 7 at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE on the blockchain ecosystem. Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are a part of that ecosystem. In this podcast episode, Stein Smith explains what NFTs are and aren’t, how baseball cards or other physical items can be “tokenized,” and more.

Also, get an update on two recent IRS items, related to estate and gift tax proposed changes and the public input sought on prioritization of tax issues.

Resources

Here are three recent JofA articles about NFTs:

• NFTs Come With Big Valuation Challenges
• Tax Consequences of NFTs
• How NFTs Work and Where They Get Their Value

Sandi Matthews, CPA, CGMA, was ready for a new adventure when she was hired in 2018 as an accounting manager for not-for-profit Khan Academy. It was not just a new job she accepted — it was a role in a faraway location.

Matthews helped to establish Khan Academy’s subsidiary in India in its early days. She’s now head of finance, and in this podcast episode, Matthews discusses the barriers she faced moving from North Carolina to New Delhi, advice for others considering an international assignment, and why she recommends visiting a new country as a resident instead of as a tourist.

Denise Dettingmeijer, CFO of Randstad North America, is part of a panel discussion at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June in Las Vegas. In this podcast episode, she previews the theme of that session and explains why having fellow CFOs “along the same part of the journey” is helpful.

Dettingmeijer also shares advice on how professionals can get the most out of attending a conference.

Also, here are links to other JofA coverage mentioned in the episode:

• Paul Bonner’s coverage of progress reported in Treasury’s equity action plan.
• Brannon Poe, CPA, on why converting to the cloud has advantages related to a firm’s exit strategy.

Jill Schlesinger, a CBS News business analyst, author, and podcast host, built her brand as a purveyor of financial advice in part through radio call-in shows. She’s a seasoned speaker on all things money and the guest on this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Schlesinger is slated to be an emcee at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June in Las Vegas, where she looks forward to hearing more about how accounting and finance professionals are adapting to “accelerants” related to the economy and office work.

Schlesinger also explains more about how inflation may keep some people working or send some retirees back to work.

“If anybody wants to accomplish anything, at some point, they have to believe it’s possible.” Those are the words of this episode’s guest, mental performance coach Chris Palmer. He discusses why belief is important, how it can be confused at times with arrogance, and why growing a sense of belief in ourselves can be done.

Also, get an update on several IRS-related issues, including an update to Schedule K-2 and Schedule K-3 FAQs and news of a Government Accountability Office report on the 2021 tax filing season.

John Garrett is rarely at a loss for words. A former CPA turned stand-up comic, Garrett these days is a speaker, podcast host, and author, and he’s a repeat guest on the Journal of Accountancy podcast for good reason. This episode puts a 2022 spin on two previous discussion topics: advice for presenting to groups and the tie-in between outside passions and work.

And make sure to listen to Garrett’s wardrobe story before packing for that in-person work meeting or conference.

Also, hear a summary of news from the IRS commissioner’s testimony at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

Floyd Amuchie, CPA, has been the corporate controller at Virgin Galactic, the space travel company, for about a year. In this episode, Amuchie discusses his early fascination with astronomy, why the phrase “lift as you climb” is meaningful to him, what parenting a newborn was like during the pandemic, and why “invest” is part of his career advice to aspiring CPAs.

Also, hear a summary of two recent news items related to the IRS:

• The IRS has eased the application process for U.S. residency certification.
• The IRS issued proposed regulations that would revise the premium tax credit’s affordability test.

CFOs and other finance leaders “are all on the same quest” to transform finance into more of a value partner, according to Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Engagement and Growth for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Hood’s 2021 conversations with finance leaders led to the formation of the Future of Finance Leadership Advisory Group, which continues to grow in numbers and share knowledge about what it will take to upskill its talent and transform the finance function.

In this podcast episode, Hood shares insights coming from the group’s recent virtual meeting and explains the vision for 2025 and beyond.