Advertise on podcast: The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe Woodard

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Dr. Sabrina Starling about how business owners can reclaim time and increase profitability by focusing on high-value work, empowering their teams, and adopting a "$10,000 hour" mindset. They explore common missteps like failing to delegate, overcomplicating services, and misunderstanding client needs, while emphasizing the importance of human connection in an AI-driven world. The conversation also highlights strategies for hiring A-players and building a business that supports life, not the other way around. About Dr. Sabrina Starling Sabrina Starling, Ph.D., PCC, BCC, The Business Psychologist, is the international bestselling author of How to Hire the Best and The 4 Week Vacation®. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, and Thrive Global. She is the founder of Tap the Potential and cohost of the Profit by Design Podcast, globally ranked in the top 5% of most popular shows by Listen Notes. Listed in The Daily Hustle's Top 50 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2022, Dr. Sabrina is on a mission to send 10,000 entrepreneurs on a 4 Week Vacation® in 10 years. Discover How To Make Your Time Worth $10,000 An Hour TEDx Talk: From Burnout to Balance: Redefining Success in Work and Life Tap the Potential LLC Connect with Dr. Sabrina on LinkedIn Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle is the next generation firm: AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual QuickBooks workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at Puzzle.io. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe talk about the rapid evolution of AI, highlighting new developments like Xero's partnership with Anthropic and the growing role of AI agents in business operations. They explore how AI is shifting from simple assistance to performing complex tasks, while emphasizing the continued need for human oversight, judgment, and ethical responsibility. The conversation also balances excitement with caution, urging professionals to adopt AI strategically while staying informed about its risks and limitations. Current events — Xero and Anthropic Team Up on AI for Small Businesses Microsoft Released a Report titled "2025: The Year the Frontier Firm is Born" TV/Movie quote of the week — The Good Place The PITT Excellent things we learned — Use artifacts to visualize and create AI apps without ever writing a line of code A World Without Work by Dr. Daniel Susskind Member spotlight — Karem Ospino of Ospino Consulting The Woodard Report article of the week — What Accounting Websites Get Wrong + What Pros Recommend Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe talk about the surge in accounting firm mergers and acquisitions alongside major industry shifts, including Microsoft entering the accounting space with AI-driven platforms. They explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping work by replacing tasks, not entire jobs, while emphasizing the growing importance of human judgment, relationships, and adaptability.  Current events — 14 Firm Acquisitions in the last 30 days (see the bottom of the show notes for a full list) Microsoft sponsors Scaling New Heights for the first time in our 17 year history TV/Movie quote of the week — The Iron Giant Avengers: Infinity War Excellent things we learned — Using the clipboard A World Without Work by Dr. Daniel Susskind Member spotlight — Lana Jo Hill of Hill Bookkeeping and Consulting The Woodard Report article of the week — Make the Case to Attend Scaling New Heights 2026 + Template Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast Full list of acquisitions mentioned by Heather: March 17, 2026: EisnerAmper and Price, Reuben, and Associates, LLP. EisnerAmper announced that the Calabasas firm joined its restaurant advisory practice. March 16, 2026: Xeinadin and Gregory Priestley & Stewart. Xeinadin announced its acquisition of GP&S, a Long Eaton accountancy and business advisory practice serving owner managed businesses across the Midlands. March 11, 2026: Doeren Mayhew and Berman Hopkins CPAs & Associates, LLP. Doeren Mayhew said it acquired the Florida based top 300 CPA firm, expanding its Central Florida footprint. March 9 and 10, 2026: TC Group and Little and Neal. TC Group announced the acquisition of Ferryhill practice Little and Neal to strengthen its North East presence. March 5, 2026: Carr, Riggs & Ingram and CFO Hub. CRI announced that San Diego based CFO Hub joined the CRI Family of Companies. March 3, 2026: Armanino and MSTiller. Armanino announced that MSTiller joined the firm, adding a Southeast focused accounting firm with offices in Georgia and New York. March 3, 2026: BK Plus and Crowther Chartered Accountants. BK Plus announced the addition of Crowther Chartered Accountants in Huddersfield, expanding its Yorkshire footprint. March 2, 2026: Xeinadin and Accountancy Cloud. Xeinadin announced it acquired London based Accountancy Cloud, a practice focused on startup and venture backed businesses. February 26, 2026: Sorren and Connected Accounting. Sorren said Connected Accounting joined the firm, giving it a California presence and broader technology driven accounting capabilities. February 25, 2026: UHY and Larson Tax Partners. UHY announced the acquisition of St. Louis based Larson Tax Partners to expand its Midwest and national tax capabilities. February 23, 2026: Doeren Mayhew and Dent Moses, plus Impact Technology Group. Doeren Mayhew announced its acquisition of Birmingham based CPA firm Dent Moses and its affiliate Impact Technology Group, expanding into Alabama. February 20, 2026: UHY and CMJ LLP. UHY announced the addition of Queensbury, New York CPA firm CMJ LLP, expanding in New York's Capital Region. February 19, 2026: Pinion and TCA. Pinion announced its intent to merge with TCA, with the proposed combination expected to take effect April 1, 2026. February 19, 2026: Haefele Flanagan and Mig Murphy Sistrom, CPA, PC. Haefele Flanagan announced it acquired the Durham, North Carolina nonprofit accounting and advisory firm.

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe talk about recent developments in AI-powered audit tools, shifting software strategies, and what these changes mean for accounting firms of all sizes. They also explore lessons from pop culture on leadership and workplace culture, emphasizing the importance of aligning actions with stated values. The conversation rounds out with insights on emerging AI protocols and how firms can better structure both their work and client relationships for long-term success. Current events — Auvenir separates from Deloitte Intuit launches Construction ERP as part of Enterprise ES TV/Movie quote of the week — Bugonia Age of Ultron Excellent things we learned — MCP stands for Model Context Protocol The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy Member spotlight — Mercury Business Associates The Woodard Report article of the week — The Art of Truly Not Working Thank you to our show sponsor, Zoho! Zoho is a unique and powerful software suite to transform the way you work, designed for businesses of all sizes, built by a company that values your privacy. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with April Rinne about how our early life experiences shape our relationship with change and how fear versus hope influences how we respond to uncertainty. They explore April's concept of a "flux mindset," including practical strategies like embracing a portfolio career and learning to "run slower" to navigate today's fast-paced, AI-driven world. The conversation highlights how accounting professionals can build resilience and adaptability by reframing change as an opportunity for growth. About April Rinne April Rinne is a change navigator: she helps individuals and organizations rethink and reshape their relationships with change and uncertainty. She's a trusted advisor, speaker, investor, lawyer, global development executive, adventurer (100+ countries) and insatiable handstander. She is ranked one of the 50 leading female futurists in the world and is a Harvard Law School graduate, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, a member of the Silicon Guild and Thinkers50 Radar, and author of the international bestseller Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change. Learn more about April Rinne Connect with April on LinkedIn Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle is the next generation firm: AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual QuickBooks workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at Puzzle.io. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe discuss the growing threat of AI-powered financial scams and practical steps firms can take to protect themselves and their clients. They also explore major shifts in the accounting technology space, including platform-driven CAS models, AI misconceptions, and evolving firm strategies. Current events — Financial scams on the rise and they are getting better. How can we protect ourselves? Xendoo to purchase the Infinite platform from Botkeeper TV/Movie quote of the week — Portlandia A Knight of the 7 Kingdoms Excellent things we learned — More than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy Member spotlight — Melissa Honan, Profitable Painter CPA The Woodard Report article of the week — Inside Intuit's Career Pipeline Program for Accountants Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community, and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources, and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe discuss new research on global AI adoption and what it means for accounting firms, highlighting how early adopters are gaining strategic advantages while others risk falling behind. They explore recent funding surges in AI-powered accounting tools, practical considerations for implementing AI within firms, and the importance of governance, strategy, and financial independence in adapting to rapid technological change.  Current events — AICPA CIMA Survey Shows Growing AI Adoption Gap Basis is the first stand alone AI enablement platform to reach unicorn status TV/Movie quote of the week — Blue Moon Billions Excellent things we learned — Copilot allows you to switch between all OpenAI and Anthropic models The average American adult watches 3 hours and 43 minutes of television every day Member spotlight — Lisa Crawford, Owner of Crawford Financial Solutions The Woodard Report article of the week — Explore the AI Track at Scaling New Heights 2026 Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle, the next generation firm, AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual quickbooks workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at puzzle.io.  Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe discuss new research on AI adoption in the workplace, highlighting the growing wage and opportunity gap between AI-fluent professionals and those who are not. They also explore major shifts in the accounting tech landscape, including month-end automation, evolving pricing strategies, and competitive convergence among software platforms. Current events — Only 5% of workers are AI fluent - according to Google study The "pile on" around month end automation TV/Movie quote of the week — The Breakfast Club Titans: The Rise of Wallstreeet Excellent things we learned — Undergraduate enrollment in accounting continues to rise Member spotlight — Dave Eshbach of CleanSlate Financial Services The Woodard Report article of the week — Canopy Bookkeeping Launches to Streamline Month-End Close Thank you to our show sponsor, Digits! Digits is the world's first agent general ledger, accounting software that works for you. Built from the ground up for the AI era, Digits automates bookkeeping in month and shifting your team from data entry to review and advisory. Visit Digits.com to get started today.  Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe discuss the launch of the AI Native Accounting Foundation (including its first award at Scaling New Heights) and what BotKeeper's abrupt shutdown signals about the rise and fall of "tech-driven bookkeeping" first movers. They explore why the future is "human-first, AI-enabled," arguing firms must shift from selling bookkeeping/tax prep to building advisory skills and wisdom-driven judgment that AI can't replace. Current events — AI Native Accounting Foundation launches to cut AI hype Botkeeper Shuts Down TV/Movie quote of the week — Victoria Landman Excellent things we learned — To Thrive in the AI Era, Companies Need Agent Managers Member spotlight — Julie Healy of Clear Cents Bookkeeping The Woodard Report article of the week — My Daughter Went to a TurboTax Store and Here's What Happened Thank you to our show sponsor, Zoho! Zoho is a unique and powerful software suite to transform the way you work, designed for businesses of all sizes, built by a company that values your privacy. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with Amanda Aguillard about her path from discovering accounting at 16 to building a cloud-based firm, launching the peer-driven Accounting Salon community, and becoming COO at Padgett. They discuss how Padgett helps firms implement standardized systems to reduce decision paralysis and build a business that isn't dependent on the owner.  About Amanda Aguillard, CPA Amanda Aguillard was only 16 years old when she realized she wanted to become a CPA, and she's used that passion to encourage innovation in the industry she loves. That commitment lives on through her work as the Chief Operating Officer of Padgett, one of North America's largest accounting service and business consulting providers. Amanda oversees operational and logistical guidance for the company's network of firms. This includes identifying and incorporating the latest cloud technologies into the Padgett operating model. She also is focused on developing and facilitating the necessary trainings to ensure these platforms and tools are successfully implemented by Padgett firms. Amanda, who is a past Top 50 Women in Accounting, is the author of Xero: A Comprehensive Guide for Accountants and Bookkeepers. She was the Xero Evangelist of the Year in 2016, and used her experience as a Xero Certification instructor to co-found Elefant, a continuing education company for accountants and bookkeepers. She has written numerous articles for industry publications, including the Journal of Accountancy. Prior to joining the executive team at Padgett, she ran Aguillard Accounting LLC, focusing her efforts on providing unparalleled client support service through a cloud-based practice that could be done anywhere in the world. Amanda also is the founder of Accounting Salon, a thinktank of cloud accounting experts, and its virtual offshoot, SALONv. Amanda, who holds a Master's Degree in Taxation from the University of Denver, regularly speaks at state CPA societies and industry technology conferences, including Accountex, AICPA Engage, Scaling New Heights, Clio Cloud Conference and Xerocon. When she's not advocating for her industry, she spends her time cooking for her two children, reading historical fiction and backcountry hiking. Learn more about Amanda Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Learn more about Padgett Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle is the next generation firm: AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual QuickBooks workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at Puzzle.io. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with David Leary about the biggest shifts shaping the accounting profession such as the rollback of the 150-hour CPA requirement and how alternative pathways are already boosting the pipeline of new accounting graduates. They also dig into what AI is actually good for (and where it still fails without strong firm processes and human oversight), plus why private equity in accounting can create serious conflicts of interest, particularly for assurance-related work. About David Leary David Leary is the Co-Founder and COO of Earmark. He is an innovative and influential force in the small business accounting world with over 22 years of QuickBooks experience. Learn more about Earmark Connect with David on LinkedIn Thank you to our show sponsor, Zoho! Zoho is a unique and powerful software suite to transform the way you work, designed for businesses of all sizes, built by a company that values your privacy. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe speaks with Tanya Hilts about how bookkeepers can move from compliance work into true advisory by leading with better questions, leaning into collaboration, and building confidence through real-time financial conversations. Tanya shares how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can help generate smarter client questions and speed up analysis, while emphasizing that the real "threat" isn't AI itself, but professionals who learn to use it well.  About Tanya Hilts Tanya Hilts, CPB, FCPB is an award-winning accounting pro helping firms adopt practical AI, tighten processes, and grow profit-focused advisory. Connect with Tanya on YouTube and learn more about her "AI in Action" series Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about major January updates in the accounting space, including the IRS's Free File program and why Joe prefers a subsidized third-party prep model over direct IRS filing. They also dig into how large firms like RSM are rolling out tightly governed generative AI tools (like "Ask Luca"), and what that teaches smaller firms about AI quality being driven by both model capability and data control. Current events — IRS got rid of Direct File and is promoting Free File RSM lauched its own Generative AI Tool caled AskLuca TV/Movie quote of the week — Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Your Honor Excellent things we learned — In the Room Where It Happens: Generative AI Policy Creation in Higher Education The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision Member spotlight — Jennifer Scott of HireEffect The Woodard Report article of the week — The Competitive Advantage of AI Training for Accounting Professionals Thank you to our show sponsor, Canopy! Unclunk your firm with Canopy, the fully integrated practice management that helps accountants build the firm they always wanted. The suite includes client and document management, workflow, time and billing, engagements and proposals, and more. Check out getcanopy.com. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Joe and Heather speak about early-2026 accounting and tech happenings, including new CPE training for Intuit Enterprise Suite, and why leaning into AI skills can create outsized professional value.  Current events — Introduction to Intuit Enterprise Suite Training Rapid AI adoption with growing AI skills requirements TV/Movie quote of the week — Victoria House of David Excellent things we learned — Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results Member spotlight — Jodi Plett of Flexkeeper The Woodard Report article of the week — The Competitive Advantage of AI Training for Accounting Professionals Thank you to our show sponsor, CorpNet! CorpNet is the trusted leader in business formation and compliance services, offering one of the best tools for accountants, CPAs and tax professionals nationwide. The CorpNet Partner Program can 10X your firms revenue by helping clients form a business, register for payroll taxes, maintain compliance and more. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather speaks with Nancy McClelland, CPA about her journey as the "Dancing Accountant" and how embracing authenticity, community connection, and people skills has shaped her firm and career. They explore the importance of trust, niching, and collaboration between bookkeepers and tax professionals. About Nancy McClelland, CPA Nancy The Dancing Accountant is a CPA on a lifelong mission to educate the professionals who support small businesses and their communities. She runs 'Ask a CPA', a Q&A membership for bookkeepers who want to learn to prepare "tax-ready" books; co-hosts "She Counts" (the real-talk podcast for women in accounting); was named Top CAS ProAdvisor; Top 50 Women in Accounting; Bridging the Gap Mentor of the Year; ToPS Speaker of the Year; and AICPA Global Women to Watch – you can check out her award-winning MSN column at thedancingaccountant.com. Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast