The Accounting Podcast

Can one accountant really do tax prep five times faster with AI? Blake and David talk with Sam Leon, founder of The Millennial CPA, about how he uses Claude projects to turn client documents into tax workpapers, speed up review, and run a solo firm built around software. They also dig into where AI still falls short, why review remains the bottleneck, and what firms can realistically automate today.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/value
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
...

What do World Cup taxes, AI-built accounting tools, and remote work have in common? In this episode, Blake and David unpack how tax rules hit global athletes and sports bettors, why Xero’s new AI products signal a shift toward accountants building their own software, and where firms still face risk with audit standards, cybersecurity, and homegrown apps. You’ll also hear what’s really happening with remote work and a listener correction on Trump accounts.

Sponsors
Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
The Value Builde...

What if one tax break could give your child a head start or hand them a pile of money at 18? Blake and David unpack the new Trump accounts, who should use them, and why advisors are split. They also dig into Australia’s latest Big Four scandal, worsening IRS service, AI’s growing role in tax and training, and what these shifts mean for accountants, firms, and clients.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/value
Cloud Acco...

Are fake AI receipts becoming the next big headache for finance teams? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack the surge in AI-generated expense fraud, why tax pros are rapidly adopting AI research tools, and how firms are using AI to automate month-end close and revenue recognition. They also cover NASBA’s response to criticism, Intuit’s renewed focus on accountants, and the implications of private equity and a shifting work culture for the future of accounting firms.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.prom...

Can AI really clean up messy bookkeeping—and what happens when firms trust it too much? Blake and David break down KPMG’s error-filled AI report, the Pentagon’s new “Agentic Auditor,” and State Farm’s move to tie agent pay to AI. Blake also shares how he used Claude to complete two years of write-up work in hours, with practical lessons on where AI helps, where it fails, and why human review still matters.

Sponsors
Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/value
OnPay - http://acc...

Will AI really automate most accounting work by 2040? Blake and David unpack what they heard at AICPA Engage, from deterministic AI agents and rising accounting enrollment to private equity’s growing influence on firms. Plus, Blake shares an exclusive interview with FICPA CEO Shelly Weir on Florida’s fight to protect CPA licensure. Listen to understand where the profession is heading—and what accountants may need to do next.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Savant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savant
R.E. Cost S...

Can AI now do bookkeeping better than humans? Blake and David dig into new data showing major AI models outperforming outsourced accountants on basic transaction coding, then explore what that means for firms, finance teams, and the future of audit. They also cover a one-person finance team powered by AI agents, KPMG’s scramble to keep up, and why the accounting talent shortage still isn’t going away.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/value
R.E. Cost Seg - http://accountingpodcast.prom...

Is private equity betting on the wrong accounting firms? Blake and David break down CBIZ’s stock slide, why investors may be losing faith in the traditional firm model, and how AI could help smaller firms compete far above their size. They also cover Starbucks ditching AI inventory counts, Microsoft reining in AI tool costs, and what all of it means for accountants navigating automation, pricing, and the future of firm growth.

Sponsors
Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
C&R Consulting - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cn...

Is AI about to break the billable hour? Blake and David unpack what they heard at a major AI tax summit, where new tools promise to prepare complex returns in minutes instead of hours. They also debate Intuit’s stock slide, Trump’s extraordinary IRS settlement, and what shrinking oversight at the PCAOB could mean. You’ll hear where AI is already changing accounting—and where humans still matter most.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/value
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/on...

Is AI really the next Google—or are investors repeating the last tech bubble? Blake and David dig into OpenAI’s legal win, the accounting mechanics behind soaring AI valuations, and why cloud credits and paper gains may be inflating the market. They also explore what could make AI tools actually sticky for businesses, from workflow automation to personal finance and small-business use cases, and what all of this means for accountants.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
R.E. Cost Seg - http://accountingpodcast.promo/recostseg
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.prom...

Could public companies stop reporting every quarter? Blake and David break down the SEC’s push toward optional semiannual reporting, OpenAI’s new consulting arm, and what both moves could mean for accountants. They also cover tariff refund accounting, audit lawsuits, AI outperforming doctors in diagnosis tests, and why accountants may be better positioned than ever to build software and solve higher-value problems.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
C&R Consulting - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cnr
Fishbowl - http...

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
R.E. Cost Seg - http://accountingpodcast.promo/recostseg
C&R Consulting - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cnr
Fishbowl - http://accountingpodcast.promo/fishbowl

What does it mean when Big Four partners can be demoted—and AI still gets 1 in 5 accounting tasks wrong? Blake and David unpack KPMG’s audit partner cuts, EY and KPMG’s quiet partner demotions in the UK, PwC’s return-to-office push, and why firms like Decimal are rethinking tech-driven bookkeeping. They also debate AI’s limits in accounting, explore the future of CPE after a surprising Nasba warning, and explain what these shifts mean for accountants building their careers.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpa...

Can the accounting profession grow with fewer people? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack how AI is reshaping firms, from PwC Australia’s staffing cuts and rising partner pay to new questions about performance metrics, CPA pathways, and the future of CAS. They also cover the IRS’s tax season recap, tariff refunds, Deloitte’s fake AI citations, and why firms need better ways to measure value in an AI-driven world.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Wur...

What happens when AI starts doing the audit work itself? Blake and David dig into KPMG’s prediction that routine audit testing could soon happen with almost no human auditors directly involved. They also cover the IRS’s unfinished AI projects, the end of Direct File, new tax-on-tips rules, and why firms investing more in marketing are growing faster. Press play to hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and clients.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Wurthy - http://accountingpodcast.prom...

What happens when AI starts doing more than answering questions? Blake and David dig into Perplexity’s move into tax prep and bookkeeping, the IRS testing Palantir to help select audit targets, and why many firms still aren’t seeing real ROI from AI. They also unpack the surprising success of Trump accounts and what all of this could mean for accountants, firm workflows, and the future of the profession.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
REFRAME 2026 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2026
Wurt...

Can AI really prepare a tax return without a human touching the keyboard? Blake and David dig into a wave of new accounting tools that promise exactly that, from AI tax prep and bookkeeping agents to month-end automation. They’re joined by Kenji Kuramoto of Basis to discuss what this means for firms, pricing, and jobs. Plus: the U.S. government’s worsening balance sheet, Tether’s long-awaited audit, and why token costs may become accounting’s next big metric.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/on...

Can AI really handle accounting and tax work—or is it just creating new ways to fake compliance? Blake and David dig into allegations of fraudulent SOC 2 reports, how taxpayers are actually using AI for tax prep, and why tools like Claude are creeping into finance workflows. They also cover FAA staffing risks, threats to state accountancy boards, and what listeners should watch as AI reshapes trust in the profession.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
UN...

Will AI actually take accountants’ jobs—or just change what their work looks like? Blake and David unpack the gap between AI hype and reality, from a LinkedIn challenge that found zero accountants replaced by AI to how firms like PwC and EY are shifting strategy. They also explore probabilistic audit opinions, AI agents in accounting workflows, and what professionals can do now to stay ahead.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc

What do tariffs, war, AI agents, and a collapsed accounting startup have in common? This week, Blake and David connect the dots between rising economic pressure and rapid tech change. They break down the lopsided cost of drone warfare, small businesses getting crushed by tariffs, AI tools handling tax and bookkeeping tasks, and new details on Botkeeper’s collapse. You’ll hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and the future of the profession.

Sponsors
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - ht...

Can an AI prep a partnership return on its own? Blake and David dig into Basis’s $100M unicorn claim, Intuit’s OpenAI/Anthropic tie-ups and Claude Cowork, and what it means for firms. They also cover how to capitalize on tariff refund lawsuits, the Senate’s push to regulate tax preparers, and the SEC weighing twice-a-year reporting—plus a quick warning about the fake “IRS locker” scam. You’ll learn where AI helps now, what to watch, and how to advise clients.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accou...

SCOTUS just struck down Trump’s global tariffs—so who gets the $133B back, and how can firms capture advisory fees helping clients claim refunds? Blake and David unpack importer-of-record refunds, contingency-fee questions, and why “that’s pure profit.” Plus: taxpayers’ trust in AI tax prep is falling, creators’ $205B economy is a prime niche, TurboTax’s Uber-to-the-office play, Big Law’s $3,400/hour AI squeeze, and Dawn Brolin’s nonprofit sending first-timers to conferences you can support.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accou...

Which accounting firms really deliver sane hours and happy teams? Dom Piscopo (Big Four Transparency) reveals this year’s best—and worst—by job satisfaction and hours, including surprising outliers. Blake and David also unpack how AI startups are carving up PwC-style services, why Hazel AI rattled wealth managers and Intuit/Xero stocks, and where GLs still hold a moat. Plus, a practical way to use AI for W‑4/withholding—and an accountant’s take on Carvana’s too-good-to-be-true margins.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc
FutureViews...

What happens when AI starts cutting audit bills? Blake and David unpack KPMG’s push for a 14% fee cut from Grant Thornton, Botkeeper’s shutdown versus Pilot’s “AI accountant,” and how agents like Claude are already doing real client work. You’ll hear why entry-level roles are vanishing, what tax pros need to know about the IRS’s new e-payment push and Tax Pro Account upgrades, plus a fun detour: DJ John Summit’s Tax Day album.

Sponsors
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staff...

Could AI wipe out half of entry-level accounting roles? Blake and David recount a brazen “courier scam” on David’s porch to unpack how deepfakes and spoofed calls fuel today’s fraud (“less than 10% can tell AI video from real”). You’ll learn practical controls—family code words, approval workflows—plus hands-on AI updates: Claude’s Excel plugin and desktop agent, Gusto payroll in ChatGPT, and a prompt that forces AI to ask clarifying questions and wait for “go.”

Sponsors
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc
EarmarkCPE - http://accountingpodcast.promo/earmark
OnPay - http://accountin...

Are you accidentally breaking CPA rules across state lines? Guest Lindsay Patterson, CPA CIA breaks down the new mobility landscape after alternative licensure paths—and the surprising data firms must track to avoid fines, failed peer reviews, and redoing audits. Plus: Congress’s Fiscal State of the Nation bill, Deloitte’s PR storm, QuickBooks’ AI reconciliation, and what’s driving a rebound in accounting majors. Walk away knowing where to get licensed, what triggers penalties, and how to protect your firm.

Sponsors
TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits
Earmark - http://accountingpodcast.promo/earmark

Carla McCall shares insights on the challenges faced by the accounting profession, including workload, work-life balance, and the AICPA's role. She addresses misconceptions about the responsibilities of the AICPA, discusses her firm's approach to managing work hours and culture transformation, and highlights the need for creative solutions to attract new talent. The discussion also explores the systemic issue of overwork in large accounting firms and the potential measures that could alleviate these pressures.

Meet Our Guest, Carla McCall

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamccallaaf/

Need CPE?

Get CPE...

Are we causing our own busy-season chaos? Blake and David break down a simple scheduling system that spreads tax work, trains clients, and slashes extensions. They debate Congress’s barcode bill vs. e-filing, unpack a poll showing GOP support for a millionaire’s tax, and ask what AI really changes when managers still have to review the bots. Plus: IRS CI’s latest wins, whistleblower e-filing, and a Britney tax fight.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits
UNC - http...

Raids replaced audits, and guns replaced spreadsheets. Blake and David connect the dots from Minnesota's sprawling public-assistance fraud to a decade of IRS budget cuts and ICE crackdowns. You'll learn why enforcement shifted from prevention to raids, what California's one-time billionaire tax really proposes, how new AICPA rules could hit PE-backed firms, and why a botched audit didn't cost PwC its client, plus one pro tip to level up your Excel game.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc

Think AI will free you from ‘mundane bookkeeping’ so you can do advisory? Blake and David say it’s the opposite. Hear how owners already use AI as a de facto CFO, why drafting narratives—not matching bank feeds—is the real win, what the ‘AI premium’ means in a billable-hour world, and the two numbers firm owners should track in 2026: monthly recurring revenue and bottom-line profit.

Sponsors
UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits

How does $95 million go missing at a bank—and still get a clean audit? Blake and David unpack the Evolve Bank/Synapse meltdown, what auditors missed, and how SOC reports fall short. Plus: the penny shortage pushing cash rounding at the register, the shocking stat that even 29% of partners don’t know partner pay, and the case for semiannual reporting. Walk away with practical takeaways for clients, staff, and your own firm.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay

Is private equity turning firms into a 'dumpster fire'? Blake and David unpack Accounting Today's survey showing partners are upbeat while staff are sour on PE. They hit Andersen's $176M IPO, why Big Four ties to Big Tech raise independence questions, and how AI could finally kill the billable hour. Plus, what tax pros really charge in 2025 - and the wild 'Middle Finger Ranch' fraud.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay

Will IRS agents have to watch OnlyFans to police the new “no tax on tips” deduction? Blake and David unpack the wild twist: a study showing that women-led audit teams deliver higher-quality work at lower fees, and why AI could finally kill the billable hour. They hit PCAOB’s AI/PE crackdown, KPMG’s AI exam cheating, AI‑written financial reports, Meta’s off‑balance‑sheet data center, the IRS Math Act, and new child investment accounts. Walk away with policy context and practical tech takeaways.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
ACFE - http://ac...

Are accountants no longer “professionals”? We unpack the DOE proposal that could slash grad loan limits—and what AICPA/NASBA plans to do about it. Plus: Deloitte’s AI-made citations, EY’s audit turnaround, PwC’s end‑to‑end AI audit ambitions, and OpenAI’s circular investment into accounting rollups. We also cover Xero’s new auto‑reconcile, Intuit’s small‑biz data ad play, and two practical wins: Google’s shared inboxes and unexpected networking tactics for landing that first job.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
ACFE - http://accountingpodcast.pro...

Do money talks make your family squirm more than politics? In this Thanksgiving mailbag, Blake and David dig into a Bankrate survey on taboo money chats, the grim 2026 grad job market, and the maze of CPA experience sign-offs after NASBA’s program vanished. You’ll hear practical career advice (big firm vs. small, starting bookkeeping), what AI can and can’t do for accountants today, plus news on audit partners’ outlook and tariff shifts hitting grocery bills.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Blake breaks down how AI can help with cost segregation and explains why AI currently works best on tasks that take humans 2-5 minutes. Michael Burry is betting against AI companies, claiming they're manipulating earnings by stretching server depreciation from 3-4 years to 5-6 years, adding billions to their bottom lines. Also covered: Intuit's $100 million annual OpenAI deal to integrate QuickBooks and TurboTax into ChatGPT, new bank evidence in the Rippling corporate espionage case, and a survey showing 10% of adults are acting on AI tax advice despite error rates up to 50%.

Sponsors
OnPay...

Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast:

Live from Boston on the final stop of the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with James Erving from Fathom and Chris Macksey from Prix Fixe Accounting to explore what advisory services really mean beyond bookkeeping and compliance. Chris shares how his firm requires advisory for all restaurant clients, using industry expertise and operational metrics to guide decisions on everything from menu pricing to expansion timing. The conversation covers the difference between delivering information versus being integral to decision-making, with insights on forecasting, benchmarking, and why visual KPIs...

Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast:

On the fifth stop of the Advisory Amplified tour in Atlanta, Blake sits down with Lisa Gilreath of Acuity and Valerie Heckman of OnPay to discuss what empathetic leadership actually looks like in an industry notorious for long hours and tight deadlines. The conversation covers everything from recognizing when team members are struggling to handling toxic high performers, with real talk about building slack into capacity planning and why unused PTO is a red flag. Lisa and Valerie share concrete steps for creating a culture where people feel...

Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast:

Live from Austin on the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with Madeline Reeves of Fearless Foundry and Wesley McDonald of Relay to explore what it truly means to be a renegade in accounting: firms that lead clients to somewhere new rather than settle for "the way things have always been done." The conversation explores why top firms aren't afraid to say no to the wrong clients, how transparency in compensation and career pathways can address the talent crisis, and the hard-won lessons learned about building cultures of...