Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE 

What if your CPE fit your life—and your firm’s strategy? Blake Oliver, CPA, co-host of The Accounting Podcast and founder of Earmark, joins Chelsea Summers to dig into how learning is evolving and how that connects to the real work inside firms. From podcast-based CPE to building repeatable AI workflows, Blake lays out what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s next. 

We talk about why access alone (team licenses for ChatGPT/Copilot) isn’t enough—and how to close the gap with structured training, shared prompt libraries and “AI SOPs.” Blake explains why experienced reviewers often get better AI results than juniors, the risks of “work slop” and how firms can build review into AI-assisted processes. 

We also explore the changing pipeline: offshoring, automation and fewer entry-level roles at large firms—and what that means for developing managers, compensation and university curricula. Plus, a look at Earmark’s model (including free weekly CPE), paid expert content and how broader access to instruction can diversify voices across the profession. 

If you care about practical talent strategy, modern learning and the real impact of AI on firm work, this one’s for you. 

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE

Compliance is no longer the centerpiece of the accounting profession. In this data-driven discussion, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers explore how consulting and advisory services are becoming the true growth engine for firms of all sizes. 

Using insights from the IPA Practice Management Report, they break down the rise of non-compliance revenue — now over 43% among the largest firms — and what this shift means for pricing models, staffing and firm strategy. 

Discover why firms that invest in advisory practices are seeing higher profitability, stronger client loyalty, and leaner operations. Plus, learn how Client Advisory Services (CAS), IT consulting and digital transformation work are creating a new definition of what an accounting firm really is. 

We’ll talk about: 

• Advisory vs. compliance: the new revenue balance 
• How firms are blending accountants, technologists and analysts 
• Why pricing models must evolve beyond billable hours 
• CAS and consulting as sustainable growth drivers 
• The redefined accounting firm of the future 

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE

Artificial intelligence is changing the accounting profession faster than any prior technology shift—and the firms that prepare now will be the ones leading the future.

In this episode, Rob Brown sits down with Jin Chang, CEO and co-founder of Fieldguide, to unpack what it means to be truly AI-ready. Jin, a former auditor turned AI entrepreneur, explains how modern technologies like generative and agentic AI are transforming audit work, culture and firm strategy.

He outlines Fieldguide’s AI Maturity Framework, a practical roadmap to help firms identify where they are today and move step by step toward becoming AI-powered firms of the future. From culture and training to compliance, risk management and leadership vision, Jin offers a realistic and encouraging perspective on how firms can adapt—and thrive—in this new age of automation and autonomy.

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c

In this Q&A edition, Rob Brown and IPA’s Executive Director, Chelsea Summers, unpack the questions firm leaders are asking right now and what the data actually shows. 

They cover: 

• Turnover at PE-backed firms vs. non-PE firms among the IPA 100 (and what culture amplifies—not replaces). 
• Independence without outside capital: why clarity, pricing discipline and client selection matter. 
• Offshoring and nearshoring: the rise of Latin America, hybrid teams and why 93% of the largest firms plan to expand outsourcing. 
• Transparency as a retention and engagement tool, not a risk. 
• Succession readiness: pipelines, leadership development and avoiding the “tide going out” moment. 
• What separates steady growers from merger-driven leaps—and what’s sustainable. 
• The 3 V’s Rob is hearing across the profession: visibility, velocity, voice. 
• The metric to watch by 2030: revenue per FTE—reframed for offshoring and automation. 

If you’re leading a CPA firm through change, this episode turns survey insights into action. 

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast | Earmark CPE

This episode gets into the work of keeping great people—and helping them thrive. Rachel Anevski has led HR and Business Development inside firms, advised dozens more and co-authored Accounting for Times: Evolve or Dissolve. She and Rob dig into the parts of firm life we talk about a lot but don’t always fix.

We’ll cover:

• Why “transformation” is real—but the people side lags     
• Internships that market your firm (and what breaks them)
• Micro-learning as a blueprint for faster, better onboarding
• Writing the pitch for CPAs to choose your firm, not just clients
• Transformational and ethical leadership that builds followership
• Remote/hybrid realities and keeping people connected
• Wellness beyond fruit bowls—redesigning work to cut burnout
• The tech shift: are we accounting firms, tech firms, or both?
• Billable hours, project management, and using fractional talent smarter

Why it matters:

Retention isn’t one initiative. It’s how you hire, teach, lead, and structure the work. Rachel offers clear, doable changes firms can start this quarter.

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast | Earmark CPE 

Each year, INSIDE Public Accounting names its “Best of the Best” — a select group of firms that exemplify excellence across strategy, structure and sustainability. Out of more than 600 participating firms across the U.S. and Canada, only 75 make the list. 

In this episode, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers dig into what truly defines these elite firms. They discuss the proprietary IPA formula that evaluates 30 key metrics, including financial health, staffing models, leadership development, governance and long-term strategy. 

The conversation highlights patterns that distinguish top performers — such as leadership beyond billable hours, operational discipline and a data-driven commitment to succession, pricing and culture. These firms don’t rely on luck or short-term wins. They’re intentional, consistent and built for the long haul. 

If you want to know what the best firms are doing differently and how to apply those lessons inside your own organization, this is the episode to hear! 

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast | Earmark CPE

Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers break down IPA’s 2025 Human Resources Report across 326 firms—demographics, turnover, compensation, benefits, recruiting, training and evaluations. You’ll hear what the workforce really looks like now (younger overall), where leadership still lags (gender), how turnover varies by firm size, and which benefits and development moves are gaining traction. Practical takeaways for firms competing in a tight talent market.

Highlights from this episode:

• Nearly a third of staff are under 30, while only about one in ten are over 60—putting succession planning front and center.  
• Women make up 57% of staff, but only about one-quarter of equity partners.
• Overall turnover averages 12%, rising to 14% at the largest firms and dropping closer to 8–9% at smaller firms. Most of that turnover is voluntary.
• Firms are expanding family benefits, adding wellness support and rethinking culture to stay competitive.
• Raises are moderating, but bonuses and other incentives are becoming more important.
• Internships, referrals and even non-traditional hires are shaping the next generation of talent.

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: Earn FREE CPE For Listening to Accounting & Tax Podcasts

What separates a good firm from a great one? According to Amanda Garner of The Growth Partnership, it’s not just technical expertise, it’s leadership, communication, adaptability and emotional intelligence.

In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, host Chelsea Summers and Amanda Garner explore why critical skills are often undervalued, how they link directly to profitability and what firms risk when they overlook them. They discuss:

• Why technical skills are only the starting point for leadership
• The measurable ROI of investing in leadership development (including a 250% ROI on soft skills training)
• The role of mentorship and coaching – and how to get them right  
• Balancing technical excellence with leadership readiness in promotions
• The hidden costs of neglecting training including burnout and turnover
• How transparency and future-focused career pathing strengthen retention

Amanda also shares stories from her work with firms across the country and insights from The Partner Institute, now in its 25th year of developing future leaders in the profession.

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast | Earmark CPE 

Advisory isn’t a side service anymore, it’s becoming the core of how firms grow. But what does it take to get there? In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Rob Brown is joined by Mike Hajek, who shares how his firm made the move from compliance-heavy work into an advisory-first model. 

Mike explains why CAS is just the beginning, how pricing and scope management set the tone for success, and why younger firms are often better positioned to adopt advisory than larger, traditional ones. He also covers how outsourcing and vertical integration play into firm strategy, the importance of training and talent development and why small businesses remain the biggest source of opportunity for accountants. 

Whether you’re rethinking your firm’s service mix or looking for ways to keep talent engaged, this conversation offers a practical look at what it takes to future-proof your practice. 

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast | Earmark CPE 

In this episode, Rob Brown and IPA’s Chelsea Summers go under the hood of the 2025 Firm Administration Report—based on 339 North American firms and 15 years of benchmarking. We explore how firms are structuring leadership and equity (including a rise in the prevalence of equity for administrative leaders), how often partner agreements are updated and where succession planning stands—especially in firms above $30 million. 

Staffing pressure continues to shape strategy. Many firms plan to add headcount next year, internships remain a reliable entry path and larger firms are more likely to invest in dedicated recruiters. On the client side, more firms are formalizing acceptance criteria and segmenting portfolios, while nearly half conduct an annual “pruning” to free capacity for higher-value work. We also look at business development maturity—who tracks a pipeline, who has a BD lead, and how incentives are structured. 

Finally, we tackle transparency. Only a small share of firms operate truly open-book, and most limit profitability data to equity partners. What does that mean for the next generation of leaders who expect more visibility and context? Chelsea connects the dots between the data and practical steps firms can take now to improve retention, growth and trust. 

If you lead, manage, or aspire to shape a CPA firm, this episode distills the numbers into actions you can use.