CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Randy Johnston, a veteran tech strategist and shareholder at K2 Enterprises, shares insights gained from advising thousands of firms. He discusses the alarming decline in the quality of accounting technology products due to private equity consolidation, highlighting slower support and stagnation in innovation. Johnston also emphasizes the critical challenges of talent shortages and the need for firms to shift towards advisory services, along with the importance of building strong client relationships to enhance profitability.

Get more control, greater flexibility, and a path to smarter growth.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesIn this episode of Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, Anshul Agrawal, founder of June15 Consulting, shares how direct ownership offshoring is helping CPA firms unlock long-term value and sharpen their competitive edge.  Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effficient growth in today's competitive landscape. Gear Up for Growth every Friday here. More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More Gear Up for Growth More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here “Direct ownership offshoring is no longer just for the Top 100 firms,” Agrawal explains. “Whether you're a solo practitioner or a mid-sized firm, the model gives you full control of your offshore team without the middlemen – and that changes everything.” According to Agrawal, direct ownership offshoring – where firms directly employ and manage offshore staff – offers a more strategic and cost-effective alternative to traditional outsourcing. It enables firms to maintain independence, expand capacity, and deliver year-round support while improving margins.

Join Byron Patrick, CPA, a visionary CEO and educator, alongside Texlin Usher Quinney, CPA, PMP, Ph.D., and founder of Total Quality Excellence, in a thought-provoking discussion. They explore why today's students seek more than just job titles, emphasizing the evolving nature of passion in careers. The conversation highlights the unique challenges faced by Gen Z in the job market and stresses the importance of self-advocacy and adaptability. Insights on bridging the gap between students and educators provide a fresh perspective on career guidance.

Forward-thinking firms transform disruption into dominance. Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownIn a profession built on precision, trust, and timeless principles, a disruptive force has arrived—and it’s not just another regulation. It’s technology. Automation, AI, and machine learning are redefining accounting at a rapid pace, sparking a pressing question: Is technology a force for good, or the demise of accountants as we know them?  MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown In this episode of Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown tackles this seismic shift head-on. With over 300,000 accountants having exited the profession since 2020—a 17% decline—Brown cuts through the noise to examine whether accounting is facing an extinction event or a long-overdue evolution.He asks, “Tech is coming for your job—are you ready?”That provocative question lies at the heart of this episode, which unpacks the opportunities and risks technology presents to today’s firms and professionals. Spoiler alert: tech isn’t the enemy. But indifference might be.

“When people see their strengths clearly for the first time, they feel seen, and that changes everything.”MOVE Like ThisWith Bonnie Buol RuszczykFor CPA TrendlinesAt Clark Nuber, developing talent is more than a bullet point on a strategic plan; it's woven into the fabric of how the firm operates. Angela Oakley, director of the firm’s Talent Advisor Program, sits down with the Move Like This podcast to share how her team has successfully embedded the CliftonStrengths assessment into nearly every phase of the employee life cycle. From onboarding to performance conversations, strengths-based coaching has become a core tool for helping individuals grow and for building stronger, more connected teams.More MOVEOakley describes how the initiative began in 2016, after one of the tax teams had already explored strengths to improve internal collaboration. That early success, along with a culture already committed to learning and people-first leadership, laid the foundation for broader adoption. With support from key influencers and her own certification in the assessment tool, Oakley began integrating CliftonStrengths into the firm's coaching framework, building buy-in organically, one conversation at a time.The launch of the Talent Advisor Program shortly before the pandemic created a timely opportunity to scale this approach. Meeting regularly with employees at all levels, Oakley and her team were able to personalize development using strengths as a shared language. Whether coaching new associates or partnering with team leads, the focus remains the same: help people understand what they do best and how to use those strengths to navigate challenges, build relationships, and succeed at work.

Thrive with a lean schedule, happy clients, and a calm home life.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrErica Goode was exhausted and burned out as a corporate accountant and mom of two young children. “I could not figure out a sane way to operate a 50-hour work week and raise two kids and have a spouse who worked a 50-hour work week,” Goode explains. “I don't think there is a great way to do it. It does not leave a lot of margin to be a full-time working parent.” CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES: The 100th Episode of The Disruptors MORE STREAMING: Randy Crabtree: Live at the Intersection of Passion & Skill | McClelland and Telka: Women Ready to Rewrite the Rules of Accounting | Jacob Schroeder: AI Won’t Replace Accountants—But It Will Reveal Who’s Replaceable | Ditching Corporate America: The Bold Story Behind PBS Accounting’s Rapid Rise | Jean Zick: Happy Team = Happy Clients | Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client Advocate | Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | So she quit to become a full-time mom. However, she missed accounting.  So when the owner of the fitness studio where one of her children took Tae Kwon Do classes asked for help, she said yes, even though she had never touched QuickBooks before.

Philipp Hecker, CEO of Bento Engine, and Seth Fineberg, founder of Accountants Forward, dive into the evolving world of financial advisory. They discuss how accountants can adapt to meet changing expectations by embracing holistic wealth management. The duo emphasizes the importance of empathy and trust in client relationships, while innovative software is highlighted for its role in streamlining advisor processes. They also address the urgent need for new advisors amid a wealth transfer and the importance of fostering financial literacy in younger generations.

Philip Hecker, CEO of Bento Engine, and Seth Fineberg, founder of Accountants Forward, delve into the financial advisory landscape. They highlight the looming shortage of financial advisors, a golden opportunity for CPAs to step in. The conversation shifts to the evolution of CPA practices towards holistic advising, emphasizing empathy and building trust with clients. The duo discusses leveraging technology for proactive client engagement, enhancing relationships, and the urgent need for financial literacy among youth amid a vast wealth transfer.

In this discussion, Andrew Berg, a virtual CPA firm managing partner, joins Renee Moelders, a leadership consultant, Allison Ball, a marketing VP, and Sona Akmakijian, a seasoned CPA. They address the urgent need for systemic reform in the accounting industry, emphasizing innovative tech and a human-first workplace. The panel highlights challenges like outdated business models and the quest to attract younger talent. Key topics include the necessity of diverse perspectives, better client experiences, and strategic changes to enhance the profession's appeal and sustainability.

In this enlightening conversation, Carl Peterson, the former VP of Small Firm Interests at AICPA, emphasizes agility and succession planning as essential for CPA firms. He reflects on the transformational impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the profession, highlighting the importance of visionary leadership. Peterson also discusses the shift to hybrid work models and the challenges small firms face with technology and compliance. He calls for the next generation of CPA leaders to embrace change and foster a collaborative culture, ensuring sustainable growth in a competitive landscape.