Figuring Out Data-Driven Salary Trends in Public Accounting

Learning Objectives

• Identify core steps that strengthen financial readiness for growth capital.
• Apply forecasting methods that support fast and unpredictable startup environments.
• Evaluate investor expectations using clear metrics and aligned internal planning.
• Recognize financial blind spots that limit scaling or delay funding.
• Build finance processes that integrate reporting, technology, and strategic planning.

What does it take for a high-growth startup to build financial systems that attract investors and support true scale? This CPE Episode opens by exploring the real pressures founders face as they move from early traction to serious capital needs. The conversation examines why financial clarity becomes a competitive edge, how unpredictable growth demands stronger planning, and why investors are increasingly focused on readiness rather than ambition. Listeners get an inside look at the common pitfalls around cash flow, forecasting, and market positioning that can derail even promising companies.

The discussion centers on insights from Janelle Gorman, CFO at York IE, whose background in public accounting, corporate finance, M&A, and high-growth advisory shapes a practical view of what scalable finance requires. She explains the mistakes startups make when preparing for funding, the financial metrics leaders must monitor, and the internal structures needed before approaching investors. Her experience highlights how disciplined reporting, aligned operations, and a thoughtful tech stack can strengthen credibility and reduce the chaos that often comes with rapid expansion.

Learning Objectives

• Identify operational drivers behind burnout in professional service firms.
• Analyze leadership behaviors that limit effective delegation and team ownership.
• Differentiate management tasks from true leadership responsibilities in firms.
• Evaluate holistic operating models for improving engagement and performance.
• Assess future leadership expectations facing accounting and advisory firm owners.

What if burnout in accounting firms is not a people problem at all, but an operating system failure? This CPE Episode takes a hard look at why professional service firms keep hitting the same walls around talent, delegation, and leadership, even as workloads and expectations rise. Instead of quick fixes or surface level perks, the conversation centers on how deeper operational design and leadership clarity shape whether firms scale sustainably or slowly grind down their best people.

In this Episode, Chase Damiano joins the conversation to unpack these challenges through the lens of operations and leadership development. Chase has worked across consulting, entrepreneurship, and professional services, bringing experience from Accenture, building a business from scratch, and advising firms through his work at Human at Scale. His focus is practical, helping accounting, tax, and wealth management firms rethink how workflows and decisions get made, and leaders show up when growth creates strain.

Learning Objectives

• Explain why transfer pricing directly affects global tax risk and cash outcomes.
• Compare IRS and OECD transfer pricing frameworks and their core structural differences.
• Identify key compliance challenges under dual IRS and OECD transfer pricing systems.
• Analyze how OECD Pillar Two interacts with existing transfer pricing strategies.
• Evaluate practical steps firms can take to prepare for upcoming global tax changes.

Is transfer pricing just a technical tax exercise, or a strategic lever that can move millions across borders? In a world where global businesses operate under two competing standards, the IRS on one side and the OECD on the other, transfer pricing has become a high-stake balancing act. This Episode digs into why transfer pricing matters now more than ever, how historical policy choices created today’s split frameworks, and what happens when companies misjudge the line between compliance and strategy. From audit exposure to real cash tax outcomes, the discussion grounds abstract rules in practical consequences firms face every day.

Carl Budenski, Tax Partner and Transfer Pricing Leader at Aprio, brings a practitioner’s lens to this complex terrain. Drawing from decades of advising multinational and mid-market companies, he explains how U.S. and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) transfer pricing regimes evolved along different philosophical paths, and why that divergence creates friction for modern businesses. Carl also unpacks how companies document, defend, and sometimes rethink their pricing models when operating across jurisdictions, especially as new global tax initiatives approach.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize unique financial challenges families face supporting lifelong care needs.
• Explain how traditional planning differs from special needs planning discussions.
• Identify emotional and psychological barriers impacting long-term decisions.
• Determine how CPAs can partner with advisors to guide complex conversations.
• Apply podcast insights to build stronger trust with overwhelmed families.

Some conversations don’t just teach you something, they stay with you — and this one does exactly that.

This CPE episode is built from a powerful podcast conversation with Mary McDirmid, who opens up about her journey from traditional tax work to becoming a purpose-driven financial planner for families raising children with rare diseases and lifelong care needs. Instead of a technical lecture, listeners are brought directly into a raw and personal dialogue about navigating medical uncertainty, building trust with overwhelmed parents, and creating financial plans that must outlive the caregivers themselves.

Through Mary’s stories, the episode reveals why typical planning frameworks fall short for special needs families and how financial professionals can step in, not just with numbers, but with empathy, clarity, and structure. The conversation blends humor, vulnerability, and real client moments to help CPAs understand the emotional, logistical, and financial layers behind these high-stakes decisions. 

Learning Objectives

• Identify how neuroscience shapes conversational success and relationship outcomes. 
• Explain how oxytocin, dopamine, and cortisol influence client engagement. 
• Apply strategies for creating psychological safety in professional discussions. 
• Analyze emotional regulation techniques that enhance connection and trust. 
• Use neuroscience-based frameworks to transform everyday communication effectiveness.

What if every conversation you have could literally rewire the brain for better or worse? In this engaging Episode, we explore the neuroscience of communication and how understanding brain chemistry can transform the way professionals connect, collaborate, and build trust. Listeners will discover how subtle conversational shifts can turn transactional exchanges into meaningful, trust-driven relationships that strengthen both personal and professional outcomes. 

Our guest, Mary Schmid, is a communication strategist and neuroscience-based leadership expert who helps financial and advisory professionals master the “science of connection.” Through her signature Conversational Edge framework, she reveals how oxytocin, dopamine, and cortisol shape client dynamics and decision-making. The conversation dives deep into the biology of listening, the art of psychological safety, and how emotional regulation determines success in high-stakes interactions.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the key benefits and privileges of the Enrolled Agent designation.
• Explore career opportunities available to EAs beyond traditional compliance roles.
• Examine NAEA’s role in advancing the visibility and influence of EAs.
• Assess how AI and automation are transforming modern tax practice.
• Recognize strategies for future-proofing an EA career amid regulatory change.

Course Overview

What does it really mean to be an Enrolled Agent in today’s tax world? In this engaging Episode, we sit down with Megan Killian, Executive Vice President at the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), to uncover why the EA credential is more than just a title, it’s a strategic career advantage. From expanding representation rights to embracing technology, Megan breaks down how EAs are uniquely positioned to thrive in an era of complex tax reform and digital transformation.

As one of the foremost advocates for tax professionals, Megan offers a front-row view of the evolving landscape and NAEA’s role in shaping it. She explores how the EA designation compares to CPA and attorney credentials, what new career paths are emerging, and how AI and automation are redefining what it means to serve taxpayers today.

Learning Objectives

• Identify key misconceptions about SALT affecting modern businesses.
• Discuss the impact of Wayfair on economic nexus thresholds.
• Differentiate between physical nexus and economic nexus rules.
• Analyze how remote work reshapes SALT compliance obligations.
• Explain the role of voluntary disclosure agreements in reducing penalties.

State and Local Tax (SALT) is one of the most dynamic areas of modern business. With tax laws evolving rapidly and remote work changing traditional boundaries, companies must rethink their compliance strategies. But how do you navigate physical versus economic nexus rules, Wayfair’s ripple effects, or the tax consequences of employees scattered across states? This CE course breaks down these complex issues in a way that’s both practical and approachable.

Guided by industry experts, we’ll explore the misconceptions businesses often hold, such as thinking SALT only applies to large corporations, and highlight how even smaller organizations face significant risks. You’ll also discover how voluntary disclosure agreements can help mitigate historical liabilities, and how digital-first companies can avoid the trap of over-compliance. This course will arm you with actionable strategies to reduce exposure, strengthen compliance, and stay ahead of state-level audits.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze why marketing misalignment affects firm success.
• Identify key steps in realigning firm marketing with client needs.
• Discuss practical methods for uncovering marketing disconnects.
• Explore ways to encourage creativity in accounting firms.
• Develop actionable steps for firm leaders to improve marketing alignment.

In this eye-opening Episode, Karen Reyburn, founder of PF and a CPA turned creative strategist, explains why many firms feel like their marketing efforts are stuck. She dives into how misalignment between marketing strategies and client expectations is the real issue, and how firms can realign their approach for more natural, authentic, and sustainable results.

Karen shares actionable insights for firm leaders, drawing on her experience working in both the U.S. and Scotland. She emphasizes the importance of understanding your ideal client before refining your marketing strategy. The discussion covers how values, vision, and culture play crucial roles in developing marketing strategies that resonate with the right audience.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how AI is transforming the tax profession. 
• Identify misconceptions about AI among accounting professionals. 
• Analyze how AI helps address the talent shortage. 
• Explain how technology reshapes career growth for young accountants. 
• Explore ethical and regulatory implications of AI adoption.

In this eye-opening Episode, technology strategist Leroy Kerry dives into how artificial intelligence is redefining the future of tax and accounting. As automation accelerates and agentic AI gains traction, many professionals are asking: Will AI take over, or take us higher? This Episode explores that question head-on, offering a grounded look at the realities, risks, and rewards of integrating AI into tax practice. 

Leroy unpacks how AI is solving real pain points, from the growing talent shortage to inefficiencies that drain productivity and profits. You’ll discover how firms can use intelligent systems to enhance accuracy, accelerate workflows, and attract new generations of talent to the profession. The discussion goes beyond buzzwords, showing how human expertise and AI can work hand in hand to create smarter, more resilient firms.