The Accounting Podcast

Joe Woodard joins Blake and David to examine how accountants and bookkeepers can increase the value of their services in the eyes of their clients. Joe introduces the Cobb value curve, illustrating how differentiation and relative value impact pricing. He emphasizes the importance of offering unique, high-value services like controllership and financial planning to stand out from commoditized offerings and command premium prices.

Meet Our Guest, Joe Woodard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quickbooksadvisor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joewoodard

Learn more about Woodard

Website: http://www...

Blake and David dive into the concerning trend of small CPA firms conducting shoddy audits of large companies and SPACs, raking in big fees while facing minimal consequences for deficient work. They also discuss the latest accounting app funding news, the power of AI for crafting persuasive arguments, and the American Institute of CPAs' puzzling resistance to changes in CPA licensure requirements and touch on the growing importance of client accounting services for public accounting firms.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
Uncat - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncat
Earmark...

Blake and David dig through the latest accounting news, including the effectiveness of pizza parties in boosting accounting firm morale, the record number of baby boomers reaching retirement age, and the impact on Social Security, as well as the massive amount of COVID-related fraud originating in South Florida. They also take a look at audit integrity issues, the long working hours in accounting, and some of the latest app headlines.

Sponsors
LiveFlow - http://accountingpodcast.promo/liveflow
Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay
Bookkeep - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bookkeep

Blake and David meet with M&A advisor Charles Bedard about valuations for accounting firms looking to sell. Bedard explains that subscription-based "modern" firms command much higher multiples than traditional hourly billing firms. Bedard provides specific valuation ranges based on revenue and EBITDA multiples and highlights the importance of recurring revenue. He also offers actionable tips for firm owners to increase their value in preparation for an exit.

Meet Our Guest, Charles Bedard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbedard/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SolvingtheValue

Learn more about ERGO...

Blake and David look at the potential impact of AI on the accounting profession and discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT can boost productivity by automating tasks, improving communication, and assisting with problem-solving. They also examine the implications of these efficiency gains on the billable hour, predicting that firms will need to adapt their pricing strategies as a result. Finally, they review the results of a recent Accounting Today survey, which reveals accountants' perceptions and concerns about AI in the profession.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Keeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo...

Professor Ed Ketz of Penn State joins the show to discuss audits' current state and future. We delve into the relevance of audits and explore the value of unqualified opinions in making audits meaningful. The discussion also touches on the overstandardization of audit reports and how this can lead to investor misunderstandings. Professor Ketz brings a unique perspective, sparking a debate on whether the existence of the unqualified opinion creates value rather than the content within. The episode ends with a brainstorm on potential regulation improvements to improve audit quality and usefulness.

Meet Our Guest, Ed Ketz<...

Blake and David start with a discussion on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony regarding the failure of small and mid-sized banks due to exposure to the commercial real estate sector. They also get into Minnesota's CPA licensure bill for 150-hour requirement alternatives and KPMG's audit findings on the Department of Education and the cost of the federal student loan program. Rounding out the episode, they answer listener questions and comments on topics including the psychological challenges of CPA firm employment, NASBA's lack of customer service, and the high fees for taking the CPA exam internationally.

Here's a preview of Blake's recent appearance on Federal Tax Updates, where he joined host Roger Harris to unpack some of the biggest tax stories making headlines, from a federal court ruling deeming a new business reporting law unconstitutional to the staggering estimates of tax evasion by the wealthy. To hear the complete discussion, visit Federal Tax Updates: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d8c45ed9

Need CPE?

Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com
Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com

Get...

Blake and David meet up with AJ Yawn, partner at Armanino LLP, about Armanino's new tool, Audit Ally, which streamlines and automates SOC 2 audits. They discuss the growing trend of tech companies entering the audit space and commoditizing services like SOC 2 audits, and explore how Audit Ally aims to help accounting firms compete on price and quality by utilizing AI and machine learning.

Meet Our Guest, AJ Yawn
LinkedIn: https://www.armanino.com/company/people/aj-yawn

Learn about about Audit Ally

Need CPE?

Get CPE for listening to podcasts with...

We're celebrating surpassing 10,000 YouTube subscribers! Thank you! Blake and David look into H&R Block's new reality show about teaching people life skills like doing their taxes. They also talk about workflow automation challenges for accounting firms, how the IRS is contacting wealthy non-filers, and the Trump Organization CFO pleading guilty to perjury. They also break down the SEC's extensive new climate disclosure rules and the job opportunities this could create for accountants.

Sponsors
FreshBooks - http://accountingpodcast.promo/freshbooks
Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay
Webgility - http://accountingpodcast.promo/webgility<...