EP523: Spotlight - Joe Woodard - How To Stay Relevant In The AI Era

"At some point in the future, somebody's going to be watching a movie about our era and there's going to be a human bookkeeper. And they're going to turn to their parents 20 years from now, and they're gonna say, 'Bookkeepers used to be people? That's so weird. I thought they were always artificial intelligence. I thought they were always computers.'" -Joe Woodard In this spotlight episode, founder of Scaling New Heights, Joe Woodard shares a clear view of where the bookkeeping profession is heading as AI reshapes the industry. He breaks down how service models are evolving, why advisory must be structured differently, and what practical steps you can take today to stay relevant and valuable plus much more! In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to use AI safely while protecting client data
• The difference between AI-enabled tools & native AI platforms
• How to structure your services using "swim lanes" instead of pricing tiers

To learn more about Joe, visit his LinkedIn profile here.

To get your ticket for Scaling New Heights, click this link. Time Stamps 00:53 – Introduction to Joe Woodard & what's new since his last visit 02:15 – Why advisory is becoming the core value in bookkeeping 04:20 – Moving from pricing tiers to service "swim lanes" 06:04 – Breaking down transactional, controllership, FP&A & outsourcing 08:26 – How subscription models change pricing & scope conversations 10:16 – Why managing scope is harder than managing profitability 12:11 – How to handle scope creep using swim lane language 15:23 – Pricing differences for small versus larger clients 16:22 – The impact of AI on bookkeeping & accounting 18:03 – Book recommendations to understand the future of work 20:14 – The "Hidden Figures" lesson every bookkeeper should understand 22:18 – Two paths to adopt AI in your firm 25:41 – Native AI tools versus AI layered on existing platforms 28:34 – How to protect client data when using AI 32:21 – Practical advice for using tools like ChatGPT safely 35:36 – Scaling New Heights conference & what to expect Your expertise has more value than you think, so Own Your Authority at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit 2026! It's a high-energy two-day virtual experience for bookkeepers ready to lead with confidence and elevate their impact. Join inspiring leaders on November 4th–5th to gain actionable strategies, powerful tools, and the clarity to shape the work you want, not just keep up with it. Don't miss this incredible opportunity! REGISTER TODAY!