Journal of Accountancy Podcast

Hear from CPAs Maxene Bardwell and Jim Bourke in this week's episode. Bardwell, the subject of The Last Word in the November issue of the Journal of Accountancy, shares more about her career path, why there's value in volunteering and mentoring, how she brings her authentic self to work, and why there's candy at her desk. Bourke, a speaker at the Digital CPA Conference, shares insight for firms on two of his conference topics, robotic process automation and emerging advisory opportunities.

Ed Karl, CPA, CGMA, the AICPA's vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, has followed infrastructure legislation closely. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed by the House on Nov. 5 and is now scheduled to be signed by President Joe Biden. But that version is different than the version approved by the Senate in August, and there remains a companion reconciliation bill to be negotiated. Karl shares analysis on the end of the employee retention credit, the future of corporate tax rates, preparer regulation, SALT caps, and more.

Companies are still trying to find their way about 20 months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their enterprise risk management (ERM) efforts were tested, as some risks were amplified and others emerged. Now, entities are trying to apply some of the lessons they learned along the way. CPAs Mark Beasley and Paul Walker, professors who each direct ERM-focused centers at universities, discuss how risk management is changing, what organizations are worried about today, and how they can better manage risks moving forward. Also, get updates on the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board and these Journal of Accountancy headlines: How Investors Can Protect Against Inflation FASB Addresses Contract Assets, Liabilities Acquired in a Business Combination FASB Proposal Would Amend Interim Disclosure Requirements

The Journal of Accountancy's October cover story shares how one firm approaches succession planning. REDW is a top 200 firm with offices in Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Edmond, Okla. Christina Roderick, CPA, CGMA, is the head of REDW's tax practice, a role she assumed in July 2020. She talks about her succession journey, REDW's approach to identifying succession candidates early, and more. Also, stay up to date on news related to FASB and the IRS, and get a primer on a CPA Insider feature on a topic certain to generate discussion: Taking a nap during the workday.

Staff who aren't a good fit for your firm's culture aren't likely to stay long. In this second part of a two-part podcast, Guy Gage, founder of consulting firm PartnersCoach, talks about interview questions to ask that can determine whether a job candidate will integrate well to your culture, and other key aspects of hiring for culture.

Client advisory services (CAS) practices are growing rapidly, and Kalil Merhib, the vice president of Sales and Client Services for CPA.com, has details. Merhib discusses the recent CPA.com & AICPA PCPS Client Advisory Services Benchmark Survey along with the opportunities for firms interested in starting or growing CAS practices. Also, get a preview of the upcoming AICPA & CIMA Corporate Finance and Controllers Conference and an article on a conference session about building an anti-fraud wall, and stay up to date on news related to Social Security, the IRS, and the PCAOB.

Having a good grasp of your organizational culture can help you hire the right people and adopt the right approach to change. But determining what type of culture your firm has isn't always easy. In this first part of a two-part podcast, Guy Gage, founder of consulting firm PartnersCoach, discusses the three types of culture he sees most often in CPA firms, and ways you can tell which predominates in your firm.

Stephanie Palmertree, CPA, CGMA, saw a need for better continuing professional education at the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. The speakers were the same every year, and the issues weren't necessarily the ones faced by staff at her agency. So, CPE offerings were revamped, becoming more meaningful and targeted. Palmertree explains the why and how of those changes, along with reasons for enjoying the Harry Potter book series and how she relies on her favorite tech tool. Also, listeners can get caught up on recent news related to a new auditing standard and new PCAOB guidance on audit evidence.

Transforming the auditing practice to be more digital requires more than just new tools. It also means a shift in mindset for firms serious about taking a digital-first approach. On this episode, the third in a series on audit evolution, Alan Langelli, CPA, lead partner of the technology industry services group at Aronson LLC, shares three key reasons that adopting a digital mindset is important.

The AICPA Peer Review Board recently issued an exposure draft that includes proposed changes to AICPA standards for reporting on and performing peer reviews. Brad Coffey, CPA, an AICPA manager, explains more about the exposure draft and what the proposed changes are designed to accomplish.