Accounting Voices

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today's special guest is Sean Spitzer, President and COO at Smith + Howard

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today's special guest is Andrew Argue, CEO and Founder at Instead.

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today's special guest is David Emmer, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Anchin

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today's special guest is Richard Lynch, Managing Principal at Sikich

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today’s special guest is Randy Johnston, Founder at K2 Enterprises.

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today’s special guest is Chelsea Summers, Executive Director at Inside Public Accounting.

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today’s special guest is Randy Johnston, Founder at K2 Enterprises.

The five questions:

Accounting Voices is a senior leadership platform hosted by Rob Brown that interprets the forces reshaping accounting firms across North America and beyond.

This "AI Reality Inside Firms" series brings together influential accounting leaders to answer the same five structured questions about how AI is actually landing inside firms.

No hype. No vendor narratives. Just honest leadership perspective from someone navigating AI from the inside.

Today’s special guest is Richard Kopelman, CEO at Aprio.

The five questions:

This episode is a deliberate break from the format.

Before interviewing senior accounting firm leaders, Rob Brown brings together five companies working at the centre of AI adoption inside firms.

They are building the tools, working with leadership teams and seeing how AI is being applied in practice.

The goal is not to explain AI. It is to test assumptions.

Across the discussion, the panel explores:

▸ Where AI is genuinely reshaping firm direction versus simply improving efficiency

▸ What firms are still getting wrong about AI adoption

▸...

Five episodes. Five questions. One series.

We started with the frame: 98% of firms are using AI, only 21% have a documented strategy, and that gap is where firms either differentiate or drift. We asked where AI is genuinely reshaping firm direction and what separates real transformation from surface adoption. We named four mistakes firms keep making and the strategic cost of each one. We identified three decisions that will matter most over the next two years. And in the last episode we went inside the firm and named the tensions that most leaders are managing around rather than...

This episode addresses Question 4 of the five-question series: where is AI creating the greatest internal tension inside firms? The previous episodes established what genuine reshaping looks like, what firms are getting wrong, and which decisions matter most. This episode names what happens when those forces land inside a firm with real people, real power dynamics and real stakes. Three tensions are examined: the generational tension between partners who built their authority through the old model and staff who are navigating a different one, the governance tension between firms moving fast on AI adoption and the absence of frameworks to...

In this episode of Accounting Voices, host Rob Brown explores one of the most critical questions facing firm leaders today: how AI is changing not just technology choices, but the structural decisions that determine whether firms move ahead or fall behind.

While 98% of accounting firms are already using AI, only 21% have a documented strategy. That gap is where competitive advantage is being created right now.

Rob breaks down three leadership decisions that matter most in the AI era:

✅ Choosing the right operating model (compliance-led vs advisory-led vs hybrid)

✅ Deciding who truly owns...

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FgS2rJttm7I

Thank you to our Season Partners for making this series possible.

Fieldguide is the AI-native platform for audit and advisory enabling human and AI collaboration to scale capacity, improve quality and transform how firms operate. fieldguide.io

Karbon is the global leader in AI-powered practice management software for accounting firms. Their research into how technology is reshaping firm performance is essential reading for anyone leading a firm in 2026. karbonhq.com

Digits is the AI-powered financial intelligence platform helping accounting firms...

AI is everywhere in accounting right now. Vendors claim transformation. Conferences promise disruption. Firms report adoption. But how much of this is real strategic change and how much is just efficiency improvement dressed up as transformation? In this episode, Rob Brown explores a critical leadership question: Where is AI genuinely reshaping accounting firm direction? This episode separates true structural change from surface-level productivity gains, helping firm leaders diagnose whether their AI adoption is strategic or accidental.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nTC9Bk9Wf7M

Thank you to our Season...

In this episode, we explore what’s actually happening inside firms right now as artificial intelligence begins to change strategy, talent models, partnerships, operating structures, and decision-making at every level. While nearly 98% of accounting firms are already using AI in some form, only about 1 in 5 have a documented AI strategy. That gap is where the biggest risks and opportunities exist. This conversation kicks off a powerful leadership series built around five critical questions senior partners and executives must answer today if they want their firms to remain relevant in the next decade.

Watch this episode on YouTube: ht...

There’s a deeper tension shaping the future of accounting firms and most leaders aren’t talking about it openly.

In this episode of the Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob Brown dives into one of the most critical strategic questions facing firm leaders today:

👉 Are you building short-term partner income… or long-term enterprise value?

As AI, private equity, and industry consolidation reshape the profession, traditional partnership models are being challenged like never before. This episode explores the hidden forces behind these changes and what they mean for firm owners, leaders, and rising professionals.

In this...

There’s a deeper tension shaping the future of accounting firms and most leaders aren’t talking about it openly.

In this episode of the Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob Brown dives into one of the most critical strategic questions facing firm leaders today:

👉 Are you building short-term partner income… or long-term enterprise value?

As AI, private equity, and industry consolidation reshape the profession, traditional partnership models are being challenged like never before. This episode explores the hidden forces behind these changes and what they mean for firm owners, leaders, and rising professionals.

In this...

This is Part 3 of the Leadership Under Pressure series on Accounting Voices.

For more than a decade the accounting profession has repeated the same message. Advisory services represent the future.

But AI and automation are now forcing a deeper question

Is advisory truly embedded in accounting firm operating models or is it still aspirational.

In this episode Rob explores:

1. Why advisory is not simply another service line

2. The metrics contradiction facing accounting firms

3. The identity shift required for advisory leadership

4. The forty million...

AI transforming accounting firms… or quietly breaking their leadership pipeline?

In this first episode of a 5-part leadership series, Rob Brown explores a critical issue facing the profession:

AI is not just improving productivity in accounting firms. It is stress-testing leadership models.

If AI removes the grind, what replaces the apprenticeship? Drawing insights from conversations on the Inside Public Accounting podcast with Chelsea Summers, this episode goes beyond margin, leverage, and production capacity.

Instead, it asks a deeper question: 👉 If machines are drafting the work… who is doing the learning?

You c...

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown discusses key predictions for the accounting profession in 2026 based on insights from 48 industry leaders. The conversation covers themes of automation, revenue shifts from compliance to advisory, the integration of AI in accounting practices, talent sustainability, and the ongoing trend of consolidation within the industry. The episode emphasizes the need for firms to adapt to rapid changes and prepare for future challenges, particularly during busy seasons.

Takeaways

The month-end close process will be automated by 2026.

Audits will be completed in under five hours.

Advisory...

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown discusses the evolving landscape of leadership in the accounting profession. He emphasizes that technical excellence is no longer sufficient for leaders, who must now embrace emotional literacy, adaptability, and strategic thinking to navigate the complexities of modern business. The conversation highlights the importance of trustworthiness, effective people management, and the need for leaders to develop AI skills to stay relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

Takeaways

Technical excellence is the price of entry for accountants.

Leaders must transition from technical experts to enterprise leaders.

In this episode of Accounting Voices, we continue our Reflections 2025 series with a different kind of question:

What moment actually changed how leaders think about the accounting profession?

Across 48 conversations, a clear pattern emerged.

2025 became the year the profession was forced to look in the mirror — and many leaders didn’t like what they saw.

This episode explores the assumptions that quietly collapsed:

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown shares the most honest reflections yet from 48 industry leaders, partners, and practitioners. After asking one tough question, “What disappointed you in 2025?”, a clear pattern emerged.

The problem wasn’t a lack of technology.

It wasn’t AI.

And it wasn’t ambition.

It was execution.

From shiny new tools layered onto broken processes, to decision paralysis, vendor overpromising, outdated partner models, and firms mistaking activity for progress, this episode breaks down why the profession feels stuck despite unprecedented opportunity.

You’ll hea...

In this powerful episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown reveals the findings from an ambitious project: interviewing 48 senior leaders across the accounting profession and asking them the same five questions about the year that changed everything.

This episode focuses on Question 1: What defined 2025? And the answer is uncomfortable but critical: 2025 was not a year of progress. It was a year of separation.

You’ll hear how:

AI stopped being “innovation” and became baseline infrastructure.

Private equity permanently changed the profession’s operating model.

Legacy processes collided with modern technology.

Tal...

In this episode, Rob Brown discusses the evolving landscape of accounting firms, emphasizing the importance of understanding the type of firm one wants to become amidst rapid changes driven by technology and market dynamics. He highlights five key signals affecting leadership and firm relevance, including the discomfort surrounding AI, the challenges of the partnership model, and the pressures faced by mid-tier firms. Brown offers takeaways for current and aspiring leaders, focusing on the need for clarity, interpretation of information, and the importance of relevance over tenure in leadership roles.

You can watch this on YouTube here: https...

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown discusses the critical choices accounting firms must make as they navigate the evolving landscape of the profession. He emphasizes the importance of making intentional decisions regarding automation, client relationships, and specialization, highlighting the trade-offs that come with each choice. The conversation explores the four dominant strategic positions firms can adopt and the implications of these choices for their future success.

You can watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/42pAfXia5LwFuture Accounting Firm Models 2026 | The Strategic Trade-Offs Leaders Must Face

Come and join our Accounting Voices...

2026 is not a reset year for accounting firms.It is a sorting year.

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown explains why the accounting profession is splitting and why firms will be forced to choose a direction.

Four fault lines are reshaping the profession:

1. How firms adopt AI

2. How client expectations are changing

3. Whether the next generation wants ownership

4. Which business models survive consolidation

Some firms will gain clarity, margin and confidence. Others will stay busy and quietly fall behind. This episode is not...

In this episode, Rob Brown reflects on the significant changes and challenges faced in the accounting and finance sectors over the past year. He discusses the impact of private equity, AI, and shifting workplace dynamics on professionals' mental health and job satisfaction. Rob emphasizes the importance of recognizing these changes, reassessing career paths, and building personal brands to ensure stability and relevance in the evolving job market. He encourages listeners to reflect on their experiences and consider what they want to carry forward into the next year.

Takeaways

This year has brought...

In the final part of this mini series Rob Brown explains how professionals and leaders should act when firm change is officially announced. From mergers to ownership shifts this episode shows why coping with uncertainty is now a career defining skill.

Key takeaways

You can watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/YnwCVRqWdO0

Come and join our Accounting Voices Collective on Linkedin to find out more about our shows and virtual networking events: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accounting-voices

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The Accounting Voices Podcast serves accou...

Accounting firms send signals long before announcing mergers restructures leadership changes or new ownership. In this episode Rob Brown explains the early warning signs that professionals notice first and how to read them so you stay informed relevant and secure during uncertainty.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Leaders change language before they change structure

Partner behaviour reveals direction

Hiring patterns predict strategy

Tech spend is the earliest indicator

Visibility protects your career during uncertainty

You can watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/WXUNtQOLv0...

Accounting firms everywhere are changing. Private equity takeovers. Mergers. Leadership shifts. Advisory growth. Partner exits. New models. Staff feel unstable confused and worried. In this episode Rob Brown explains why firms feel unpredictable right now and what you can do to stay relevant visible and secure during this major transition.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Firms are changing for real structural reasons

Instability does not mean your career is at risk

Visibility matters during uncertainty

Relevance beats hierarchy

Your future is shaped by your choices not your firm

<...

Public accounting is intense and many professionals are questioning whether they should stay. In this episode Rob Brown breaks down the real reasons people want to leave public accounting and the key differences between the profession and the environment. You will learn how to assess burnout learning and the future of your career. This episode gives you a clear framework for deciding whether to stay in public accounting or move into industry or finance with confidence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Public accounting and accounting are not the same

Leaving public accounting is not leaving the...

In this pivotal episode Rob Brown explains the truth about the future of accounting.From AI disruption to collapsing entry level pathways to the rise of visibility and influence, this episode is a wake up call for accountants who want to stay relevant. Learn how to build fluency, clarity and credibility in a changing profession.

Key Takeaways

* Visibility is the new career advantage

* AI replaces tasks not trust

* Younger accountants want clarity not grind culture

* Standing out is safer than blending in

* Judgment communication and influence are...

In the final episode of the Big Four AI mini-series, Rob Brown explains how to stay credible and competitive as AI reshapes accounting. Learn why visibility is credibility, how to become the translator between humans and machines, and how to build fluency that turns fear into confidence.

Key Takeaways

You can watch this on YouT...

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown breaks down what the Big Four are doing with AI and how smaller firms can use those ideas to stay credible and competitive. Learn how to publish an AI policy, choose the right use cases, train for judgment and build trust through visibility.

Key Takeaways -

Smaller firms can borrow Big Four discipline without their budgets.

Transparency and training build trust faster than tech.

Choose three AI use cases and master them.

Judgment is the new career currency.

<...

AI has moved from pilots to playbooks. In this episode Rob Brown breaks down the Big Four AI race and turns it into a practical plan for firms of any size. Learn where automation is helping, where human judgment must stay in charge, and how to build a simple policy clients will trust. You will leave with four moves to compete without the hype.

Key Takeaways

- AI is the main event in audit, tax and advisory

- Leaders treat AI like a system with policy and training

- Accountability rises...

Artificial Intelligence is creating a talent shock in accounting. Firms are hiring fewer graduates while demand for advisory skills skyrockets. AI is doing the routine work, leaving humans to handle judgment, strategy and communication. Rob Brown breaks down what this means for firm leaders, finance professionals and the next generation of accountants. He shares the mindset and actions needed to stay visible, valuable and employable in an AI-driven profession.

Key Takeaways -

*AI is reducing entry level roles but increasing demand for strategic and advisory skills

*Big Four firms are cutting graduate intake...

Artificial intelligence is transforming accounting but not always for the better. Rob Brown explores real-world AI controversies that have shaken trust in the profession. From Deloitte’s fabricated government report and Google Bard’s false scandals to Xero’s chatbot misfires these stories reveal the danger of blind automation.

You will learn how to audit your AI use verify data and lead with transparency in an age where machines make confident mistakes.

Key Takeaways

- AI can create confident mistakes that destroy credibility

- Big Four firms have already learned costly lesson...

In this episode of Accounting Voices, Rob Brown discusses the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the accounting profession. He emphasizes that AI is not a threat to jobs but rather to specific tasks, urging professionals to adapt and embrace AI to remain relevant. The conversation covers the slow adoption of AI in accounting firms, the implications for workforce dynamics, and the necessity for leadership to engage with AI strategically. Brown also provides practical steps for accountants to integrate AI into their work and enhance their careers.

Takeaways -

AI is changing how accounting...

In this episode of The Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob Brown talks with Ian Gregory, CTO of AdvanceTrack Outsourcing, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the accounting profession. They explore where to start with AI, how to protect client data, what skills accountants need for the future, and why process excellence must come before automation. Ian’s insights bridge technology, talent and trust essential listening for firm leaders planning the next phase of change.

Key Takeaways:

- AI adoption starts small and practical, not theoretical.

- Security and trust are top priorities before automation.