Are accounting firms actually using AI or just talking about it?

In this clip David Barbeito shares how his firm is using AI in real life, why they created an internal AI policy around privacy, and how tax software like BlueJay has been a complete game changer for efficiency and cost.

This is what AI adoption really looks like inside a modern accounting firm.

Most business owners focus on taxes and profit. But cash is what actually keeps the business alive.

In this episode, I sit down with Patty Santayana, founder of Delphi Advisory Services. She shares how CFO-level cash flow planning helps business owners grow, stay bankable, and increase the value of their business long before they think about selling.

We talk about the 16 cash flow drivers, how to simplify financials into clear actions, and why ignoring cash flow for tax savings can limit future growth. Patty also explains how dashboards, systems, and long-term planning help owners work on the business instead of just putting out fires.

Key Takeaways
• Why cash flow matters more than profit alone
• How reducing taxes can hurt financing and exit value
• How a red–yellow–green dashboard drives better decisions
• Why planning years ahead leads to higher sale value

The core message is simple: strong businesses are built with intention. Cash, systems, and strategy are what create freedom and long-term value.

Guest: Patty Santayana
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-santayana-0813a99/
Website: https://delphiadvisoryservices.com

Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-de-beer/

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Most accounting firms try to bolt AI on top of broken systems. In this episode, you’ll hear what happens when you bring in an AI consultant, tear everything apart, and rebuild your firm for speed and sanity.

I’m joined by Bette Hochberger, CPA, CGMA, owner of a boutique CPA firm in Miami serving real estate, service businesses, crypto/Web3 and tech startups. We talk about AI in accounting, time tracking, billing, and what it really looks like to rebuild tax firm systems while still running a busy practice.

Key Takeaways
• Why Bette hired an external AI consultant instead of trying to do everything herself
• How a “no sacred cows” mindset led to better tools, better integrations and less friction
• Practical examples of AI and automation in a CPA firm (SmartVault, tax AI tools, Zoho CRM)
• The ongoing battle with time tracking, billable hours and pricing tax work fairly
• Why SOPs, documentation and “how you do one thing is how you do all things” shape firm culture

At the end, Bette shares the simple rule that guides how she runs her firm and her life: how you do one thing is how you do all things. It’s a helpful filter for the systems you build, the clients you work with, and the standards you hold in your accounting firm.

Guest: Bette Hochberger, CPA, CGMA – Owner, Bette Hochberger, CPA, CGMA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettehochberger/
Website: www.bettehochberger.com

Connect with me, Leonard De Beer:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-de-beer/

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Most firms wait for referrals. Reuben Bergola built a data-driven marketing engine and is now using AI to systemise bookkeeping, BAS, and client acquisition at scale.

In this episode, I chat with Reuben, Managing Partner at New Wave Business Solutions, a multi-service advisory firm that started in accounting and now spans law, financial planning, insurance, and digital marketing. We dig into how his team drives 90% of new business through digital channels, where AI fits into their systems, and how they’ve added 30–35 people in just 12 months without losing culture.

Key Takeaways
• How New Wave evolved from an accounting practice into a multi-division business advisory firm
• Why Reuben focuses on AI and automation to handle bookkeeping and BAS prep while keeping humans on the final review
• The data-driven marketing funnel behind their growth: SEO, Google Ads, Facebook retargeting, and founder-led content
• Why most firms give up on paid ads too early, and how New Wave thinks about lead quality, conversion rates, and cost per acquisition
• How they attract talent by building a culture people want to join—clear growth paths, support, no-blame learning, and shared wins

Reuben’s story shows what happens when a firm stops relying on referrals, tracks its numbers properly, and treats AI as a way to free people up for higher-value advisory work.

Guest: Reuben Bergola, Managing Partner, New Wave Business Solutions

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/managementaccountantgoldcoast/
Website: https://www.new-wave.com.au

Connect with me, Leonard De Beer:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-de-beer/

Subscribe to the Business Growth Podcast and learn how top finance leaders are scaling smarter, serving better, and building firms that last.