Leaders of the Ledger

In this season finale, host Rob Brown distills the most powerful insights from 14 standout accounting innovators featured in the CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40. Discover the 5 transformative themes that surfaced across every conversation: how influence begins with service, why your personal story is your greatest asset, what makes leadership truly human, why visibility carries responsibility, and how curiosity and adaptability are shaping the future of the profession.

Key Themes Covered:

• Influence Begins With Service: Real influence starts with helping others. Anna Arazo talks about lifting people up and Mac Lillard shows how calm leadership builds trust.
• Your Story Is Your Superpower: Every leader's influence starts with a personal story. Lexi Weber stopped waiting for permission, Zach Gordon encourages bold decisions, and Matt Tate shows how honesty breaks down barriers.
• Leadership Is Human Before It Is Technical: Beyond technical excellence, people follow people. Catherine Houghton reflects on burnout, Taylor Hartman explains psychological safety, and Gohan Dimitrovich reframes accounting as a human helping profession.
• Visibility Is Responsibility: Your voice matters. Caleb Jenkins shows how influence grows when you contribute with no expectation and Kendall King urges young leaders to act with conviction.
• Curiosity and Adaptability Shape the Future: With the biggest transition since paper ledgers, adaptability wins. Rachel Farris champions curiosity and Matt Tate calls this the best time to be an accountant.

This wrap-up honors the rising leaders shaping the next chapter of accounting and highlights the mindset shifts needed to stay relevant, visible, and impactful in a changing profession.

About Leaders of the Ledger
Leaders of the Ledger is an ongoing podcast series spotlighting the innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping the future of accounting with practical insights and proven strategies.

This podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. You can learn more about the podcast, episode recaps, and more at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:

Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

In this episode, Rob Brown sits down with Matt Tait, a recovering attorney turned entrepreneur who has built and scaled multiple companies, including Decimal. Matt shares how he accidentally became an accounting influencer, why honesty and transparency outperform perfection, and why leading through change matters now more than ever as accounting experiences its biggest transformation since the shift away from paper ledgers.

Matt discusses the realities of entrepreneurship, the shift from startup mode to company-building mode, and the accounting industry's resistance to change. Matt explains why adopting AI isn't optional anymore, sharing his belief that "if you think change is hard, try not changing." He also opens up about identity, authenticity, and building your voice online, even if you're an introvert or an employee, reminding listeners that "building trust and credibility is the one thing AI will never replace."

From the future of accounting firms to personal branding, this episode is packed with practical insights and no-nonsense truth about leading through change.

Key Topics Covered

• Matt's journey from attorney to multi-company founder
• Why vulnerability builds trust more than pretending to know everything
• AI adoption and what happens to firms that ignore it
• "Choose your hard" – a philosophy for leadership and growth
• Building a personal brand authentically as an introvert

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is for accounting firm owners navigating transformation, young leaders in accounting and finance, professionals looking to grow their personal brand, entrepreneurs dealing with scaling challenges, and anyone curious about AI's real impact on the profession.

About Leaders of the Ledger
Leaders of the Ledger is an ongoing podcast series spotlighting the innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping the future of accounting with practical insights and proven strategies.

This podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. You can learn more about the podcast, episode recaps, and more at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:

Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

In this episode, Rob Brown sits down with Arna Erazo, a rising leader in Client Accounting Services. She built a thriving outsourced accounting practice at GHJ from scratch while working remotely from Oklahoma.

Arna shares her journey from Big Four audit to industry to advisory. She opens up about balancing motherhood and leadership. She discusses scaling her practice from four clients to over 100. Her team grew from one to 12 members across the country.

This conversation covers people-first leadership, building culture in remote teams, and why CAS is accounting's fastest-growing service line. Arna breaks down what CAS 3.0 looks like. She explains how firms can leverage AI and technology to elevate the profession.

She also discusses personal branding, writing thought leadership, and how both introverts and extroverts can become influential in their own ways.

Key Topics Covered:

• Scaling a remote outsourced accounting practice from the ground up
• Building firm culture and connection across distributed teams
• Balancing motherhood with demanding leadership roles
• People-first approach to team building and client relationships
• Why CAS is the fastest-growing accounting service line
• Leveraging AI and technology for accounting's future
• Writing and personal branding done intentionally
• Mentorship, coaching, and supporting the next generation

This episode is packed with practical wisdom for anyone building teams, leading remotely, or shaping the future of accounting.

Leaders of the Ledger is an ongoing podcast series spotlighting the innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping the future of accounting with practical insights and proven strategies.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:

Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

Leaders of the Ledger is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. You can learn more about the podcast, episode recaps, and more at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Rob Brown sits down with Tailor Hartman, founder of Celerity, to unpack his journey from burnout and rigid corporate structures to becoming one of the most authentic voices in accounting. Tailor shares how he built a thriving CAS firm, why vulnerability online works, and what accountants must do to stay relevant in an AI-driven world.

Tailor opens up about his leap from BDO and private accounting to starting Celerity, where he earned $200K in his first year working just 20 hours a week. He discusses why authenticity beats polished, AI-written posts, and how loneliness and mental health challenges shaped his early founder journey. Community connections became his lifeline and referral pipeline.

Key topics covered:

• The power of niches: specializing in QuickBooks Online and NetSuite for sustainable growth
• Why accountants must post online even when engagement feels low
• How AI is making soft skills and personal brand the number one differentiator
• Practical advice for leaving your job to start a firm on your own terms

This episode offers powerful insights for accountants, creators, and firm owners who want to grow their influence and build a business while staying true to themselves.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:
Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

This is an ongoing podcast series spotlighting the innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping the future of accounting with practical insights and proven strategies.

Leaders of the Ledger is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. You can learn more about the podcast, episode recaps, and more at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Lexi Weber, Senior Manager of Emerging Professionals Initiatives at AICPA and CIMA, joins Rob Brown for a powerful conversation about the future of the accounting profession. As one of the profession's rising voices and influencers, Lexi brings a unique perspective on what's working, what's broken, and what needs to change as accounting undergoes its biggest transformation in decades.

Growing up in an accounting family, Lexi's path into the profession was shaped by mentors, early classroom experiences, and a deep passion for leadership development. Now working at the heart of the AICPA's emerging professional initiatives, she's helping to bridge the gap between what firms need and what the next generation of talent actually wants—flexibility, leadership opportunities, meaningful work, and a more human profession.

In this episode, Lexi and Rob explore:

• Why the pipeline problem starts in high school—and what firms can do about it
• How AI is removing busywork while increasing demand for strategic, trusted advisors
• The AICPA's Rise 2040 project and the major trends shaping accounting's next 15 years
• Private equity's growing influence on firm ownership, leadership, and culture
• The urgent need for succession planning as Baby Boomers retire
• How authenticity and personal branding can attract talent and humanize the profession

Whether you're a firm leader, HR professional, young accountant, or student exploring the profession, this episode offers a roadmap for navigating change and building a stronger, more sustainable future for accounting.

Leaders of the Ledger is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. You can learn more about the podcast, episode recaps, and more at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:

Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

Leaders of the Ledger is an ongoing podcast series spotlighting the innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping the future of accounting with practical insights and proven strategies.

In this episode of Leaders of the Ledger, host Rob Brown sits down with John Malone—an attorney-turned-accounting firm owner who’s redefining what it means to lead in the modern accounting world.

John shares how he built a $4M firm without being a CPA, why personal branding is no longer optional, and how embracing AI is transforming how firms serve clients. From football fields to boardrooms, John brings a refreshing, entrepreneurial energy to an industry that’s rapidly evolving.

What You’ll Hear:
✅ Building a thriving accounting firm as a non-CPA
✅ Why accountants must step outside their comfort zone to build visibility
✅ How AI can boost client service and firm efficiency
✅ The power of personal brand in attracting both talent and clients
✅ Embracing change and staying ahead of industry shifts

A must-listen for firm leaders, accountants, and ambitious professionals who want to stay relevant and influential in a fast-changing profession.

Leaders of the Ledger spotlights innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping accounting's future with practical insights and proven strategies. The podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. 

Learn more about episodes and recaps at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:
Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

In this episode of Leaders of the Ledger, host Rob Brown sits down with Zach Gordon—CPA, entrepreneur, and thought leader reshaping what it means to lead in accounting.

Zach shares his unconventional journey through big firms, startups, and now running his own practice—all while helping modernize the profession’s reputation. From AI and automation to advising in emerging industries like cannabis and crypto, Zach is part of the new wave of CPAs redefining influence, innovation, and impact.

He opens up about:
✅ Why accounting’s brand problem needs urgent fixing
✅ How AI and automation are transforming firm work
✅ Why the next generation of CPAs must think like entrepreneurs
✅ The skills accountants must develop to stay relevant
✅ His mission to make accounting exciting again

A must-listen for firm leaders, partners, and ambitious accountants ready to embrace the future of the profession.

Leaders of the Ledger spotlights innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping accounting's future with practical insights and proven strategies. The podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. 

Learn more about episodes and recaps at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:
Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

In this episode of Leaders of the Ledger, host Rob Brown sits down with Victor Garrido, Managing Member of GG CPA Services and a passionate advocate for the accounting profession's evolution. Victor's story takes us from Madrid to Milan to New York, where he built a career spanning Big Four experience and small-business leadership. Today, he's not just a CPA — he's a commissioner on the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission, an advocate for the Hispanic business community, and a mentor pushing accounting into a more modern, human, and influential era.

What You'll Hear:

• Victor's journey from Spain to the U.S. accounting scene.
• How accountants can influence communities beyond tax and audit.
• Why it's time to fix accounting's brand problem.
• How joining boards and organizations can elevate your career.
• The two most important skills accountants need to stay relevant.
• Why mentorship, curiosity, and technology are the future of accounting.
• The truth about AI — and why human connection still matters most.

Leaders of the Ledger spotlights innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping accounting's future with practical insights and proven strategies. The podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. Learn more about episodes and recaps at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:
Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

In this episode of Leaders of the Ledger, host Rob Brown sits down with Tim Petrey, CEO of HD Davis CPAs and one of the founding partners at Ascend, a private equity–backed platform transforming regional accounting firms across the U.S.

Tim’s journey from answering phones at a small firm to leading an $8 million practice is nothing short of inspiring. He opens up about mentorship, overcoming complacency in the industry, and how accountants can find purpose, fulfillment, and impact in their careers.

What You’ll Hear:

• How Tim went from receptionist to managing partner at 25
• The power of mentorship and why it changed everything for him
• Why accounting needs a brand makeover
• How AI, technology, and generational shifts are reshaping the CPA world
• What “influence” really means in the accounting space
• Tim’s advice for young accountants and firm leaders: “Embrace the change and keep an open mind.”

Leaders of the Ledger spotlights innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping accounting's future with practical insights and proven strategies. The podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. Learn more about episodes and recaps at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:
Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor

In this episode of Leaders of the Ledger, we sit down with Tim O’Neill, a senior manager at Whitley LLP, to discuss how young professionals can make a big impact in accounting. Tim shares his journey from starting in a big CPA firm to becoming a thought leader in the profession, breaking stereotypes, and inspiring the next generation of CPAs.

Topics covered in this episode:

• How to build a personal brand while working at a big firm.
• Strategies to stand out and influence within the accounting profession.
• Balancing technical expertise with leadership, empathy, and innovation.
• Opportunities for young professionals to shape the future of accounting.
• How CPAs can leverage thought leadership, state societies, and networking.

Whether you’re an aspiring CPA, a young professional in finance, or someone interested in leadership and influence, this episode offers actionable insights to grow your career and make a difference.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes on accounting leadership and innovation!

Leaders of the Ledger spotlights innovators, firm leaders, and rising stars shaping accounting's future with practical insights and proven strategies. The podcast is produced and owned by CPA Practice Advisor. Learn more about episodes and recaps at https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts/.

Follow CPA Practice Advisor on Social:
Twitter: https://x.com/cpapracadvisor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpapracticeadvisor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927201/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPracticeAdvisor