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Rob Valdez joins Blake to discuss how artificial intelligence and generative chatbots like ChatGPT could automate routine audit tasks. They also explore the potential to train staff more effectively, save significant time on substantive testing, draft higher quality work, and some challenges around adopting these tools, such as security fears, poor system integration, and partners resistant to change. SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile Chapters(00:53) - Rob Valdez Joins the Show to Talk About AI (02:27) - What Does Rob Do and What Is His Background? (03:35) - State of Artificial Intelligence in Audit (05:21) - Exploring the Use of AI Chatbots (08:55) - Potential of AI in Drafting Financial Statements (12:16) - The Future of AI with Audit (23:41) - Implications of AI on Audit Staff Roles (29:14) - The Power of Automation and Teamwork (31:00) - Challenges in Adopting AI in Firms (33:36) - The Inefficiencies of Current Data Management (35:53) - The Need for Integrated Systems (39:40) - What Will Motivate Aduit Firms To Adapt? (49:04) - The Possibility of Private Equity Getting Involved (53:30) - The Importance of Self-Disruption (54:59) - Thanks For Listening and How To Reach Rob Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Rob ValdezLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rob-valdezTwitter: https://twitter.com/robvaldezcpa Learn more about Novogradac Website: https://www.novoco.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Phong Ngo and Charley Howe join Blake to discuss how their accounts payable automation software is helping small and mid-sized manufacturers, construction companies, and other businesses capture detailed invoice data to enable precise job costing and reporting without expensive ERP implementations. Learn how starting with solving the accounts payable data entry pain point allows them to streamline workflows while accounting firms and their clients gain efficiency. They also highlight the benefits of the MakersHub partner program for accountants. SponsorMakersHub - https://earmarkcpe.promo/makershub Chapters(00:00) - Solving Accounts Payable Pain Points with MakersHub (00:55) - Welcome Charley and Phong from MakersHub to the show (01:16) - What makes MakersHub different from other AP solutions? (05:18) - The power of MakersHub's proprietary technology (06:20) - Phong's journey from engineering to business (09:16) - The limitations of solutions already on the market (12:15) - The vision for MakersHub (15:00) - Charley's journey from banking to startups (20:24) - The evolution of MakersHub (26:47) - Solving at the build level first (34:40) - Which accountants and bookkeepers is MakersHub For? (39:05) - Creating a product that creates value for accounting firms (44:32) - How does an accountant or firm get started with MakersHub? (47:00) - Thanks for listening and please reach out to learn more Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guests: Charley Howe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-howe-7a9816118Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakersHub.aiOfficial/Phong Ngo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phong-ngo Learn more about MakersHub Website: http://www.discover.makershub.ai/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Blake chats with Brandt Kucharski, former chief accounting officer at GrubHub and current CAO at Ethos Life, about his career journey from public accounting to leading startups through IPOs. They discuss Brandt's pivotal role in taking GrubHub public as one of the first "unicorn" startups, the process of scaling accounting teams and controls, nonprofit work with the Holiday Heroes Foundation, and thoughts on increasing accounting talent amid growing complexity. SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile Chapters(01:06) - Welcome Brandt Kurcharski to the show (02:37) - Early Career and Joining GrubHub (05:07) - What was the first thing you did at GrubHub? (05:41) - The Journey to IPO (09:51) - What advice would you give a young controller going through an IPO (11:29) - Let's talk about GrubHub's tech stack at the time (15:26) - Building the Accounting Team at GrubHub (18:03) - The smartest thing you did at GrubHub (23:56) - Reflection on GrubHub's Success (25:21) - Biggest mistake you made at GrubHub (26:47) - Size of Your Accounting Team (29:03) - The Merger with Seamless and Going Public Again (31:09) - Let's talk Sarbanes-Oxley (34:47) - The Journey of Grubhub's Second Public Listing (35:54) - The Challenges of Merging and Going Public Again (37:53) - The Role of Charity in Personal Growth (41:04) - Accounting Challenges For a Charity (43:19) - The Journey from Grubhub to Ethos Life (47:35) - Accounting at Ethos vs GrubHub (49:14) - The Impact of Accounting Standards on Business (55:13) - The Accounting Talent Crisis and Possible Solutions (01:01:11) - Thanks for Listening and Remember to Subscribe Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Brandt Kucharski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandtkucharski/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

On this bonus episode Blake explores how artificial intelligence will transform the accounting profession. You'll learn how leading AI tools and chatbots can help automate routine tasks, freeing you up to focus on more strategic, higher-value services. He'll also walk through real-world examples of using AI for document analysis, tax research, correspondence, transcript review, drafting/editing, and more. Whether you're a sole practitioner or work in a large firm, this episode will equip you with actionable tactics to drive efficiency with existing clients and expand your advisory services. Don't let AI disrupt accounting without you! Chapters (00:00) - Introduction and Overview of AI Chatbots (00:53) - Potential of AI in Automating Accounting (02:25) - How AI Can Improve Communication in Accounting (03:01) - Current Usage of AI in Accounting (03:59) - Exploring Leading AI Chatbots (04:14) - Introduction to ChatGPT (06:04) - Introduction to Claude by Anthropic (06:45) - Introduction to BARD and Grammarly (08:01) - Using Bing Chat for Web Search (16:24) - Document Analysis with Claude (23:30) - Explaining Accounting Concepts with AI (30:54) - Exploring ChatGPT's Web Search Feature (31:23) - Answering Audience Questions: Data Protection in Microsoft Copilot (33:09) - Demonstrating ChatGPT's Response Generation (35:50) - Using AI for Client Questions and Voicemail Transcripts (41:18) - Drafting Policies and Procedures with AI (41:27) - Responding to IRS Notices with AI (46:30) - Summarizing Meeting Transcripts with AI (54:03) - Q&A and Closing Remarks Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Hitendra R. Patil joins Blake for an insightful conversation about the staffing shortage in the accounting profession, identifying overwork and lack of work-life balance as key issues causing high burnout rates. They explore potential solutions like dropping the billable hour model, measuring impact rather than hours worked, outsourcing certain tasks, and focusing on specific value-added services. Patil also describes how his company helps accounting firms efficiently leverage offshore talent. SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile Chapters(00:47) - Hitendra Patil joins the show (03:24) - Let's talk about CAS (04:43) - What do you see firms call their communication with clients? (12:19) - National Association of Tax Professionals 2023 study (13:27) - CAS is vague and firms need to figure out what they want to offer from it (14:17) - What is causing the accounting shortage? (20:35) - How big of problems are the overwork and pay? (25:01) - More and more firms are offshoring work (29:34) - How long is offshoring a viable option? (32:52) - What are the accounting student numbers in India? (35:03) - Korn Ferry study on future shortages of working professionals (40:13) - What is the real underlying cause of the talent shortage (41:52) - Hourly timesheets and billing (44:01) - How can accountants measure impact on clients? (51:13) - Datamatics Business Solutions Inc. (58:07) - Thanks for listening and remember to earn your free CPE on Earmark Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Hitendra R. Patil LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hitendrapatil/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HitendraRPatilFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HitendraRPatil/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accountaneur/ Learn more about Datamatics Business Solutions, Inc. (DBSI) Website: https://datamaticscpa.com/accounting-bookkeeping-outsourcing-for-usa-cpas/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Blake is joined by two "Young" CPAs, Hannah Hood, and Joey Kinney, both virtual CFOs with Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. Among the topics of discussion are challenges for young accountants including low starting salaries, lack of flexibility and career path at traditional firms, the value of remote work, and the need for more women leaders and work-life balance in the accounting industry. Hannah and Joey also promote changing the accounting profession to be more adaptable and inclusive. SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile Chapters(00:49) - Welcome Hannah and Joey to the show (04:47) - Where are Hannah and Joey located? (07:12) - Hannah, what is it like being a virtual CFO? (09:16) - What kind of clients do you work with? (10:04) - Joey what is different about your job and clients? (13:30) - How did you learn to do forecasting (16:05) - Are accountants leaving the profession because of boredom? (19:49) - Joey can you tell us about how you set your own schedule with hours (22:14) - How is your pay determined? (29:46) - Summit allows you to work fully remote (33:43) - What do you think holds back most firms from making these types of shifts? (41:15) - How do we get higher starting salaries in accounting? (42:16) - How Hannah and Joey each got their 30 extra semester hours for CPA licensure (49:10) - Is the old promise of the accounting dream gone? (55:54) - What's one thing you would change about the accounting profession if you could change anything? (01:01:28) - Wrap up and how to listen to The Young CPA Success Show Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guests Hannah HoodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-hood-7a4740b2 Joey Kinney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-kinney-cpa-60658188/ Learn more about Summit Virtual CFO by Anders Website: https://www.summitcpa.net Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Rising CPA star Logan Graf joins Blake to discuss his success in growing a profitable firm in just three years. Logan shares his unique transparent approach, how he rapidly increases his pricing year over year, and how he structures productized service packages to maximize profits. Blake and Logan talk about automating the client onboarding process, and key strategies around requiring upfront payments. This eye-opening episode is full of actionable advice to help CPAs accelerate firm growth and build their dream practice. SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile Chapters(07:40) - How Logan spends his time making content (10:41) - What type of services do you offer at your firm? (17:12) - How do you reevaluate pricing and implement higher pricing? (26:25) - Do you have any tips to raise prices without making clients angry? (29:48) - Getting clients to pay you upfront (35:55) - Have you started sending out proposals for next year yet? (49:03) - Tell me about your package offerings on your website (55:29) - How do you track projects and thoughts on practice management software? (01:03:14) - Blake demonstrates the ChatGPT CapCut integration (01:08:30) - Thanks for listening and remember to subscribe Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Logan GrafLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logangraf/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoganGrafTaxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2X_OgakltGGp-r5AJNsPQ Learn more about The Graf Tax Co. PLLChttps://www.graftaxco.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Jody Grunden, the founder of Summit CPA Group, was a trailblazer in establishing one of the first CPA firms specializing in virtual CFO services. They recently achieved an impressive $10 million in revenue. What propelled Jody's success? The key lies in his commitment to regular client meetings. In this enlightening discussion, Jody unveils his strategy of revolutionizing client relationships by transitioning from traditional monthly engagements to weekly touchpoints. Tune in now to unlock the potential of this simple yet transformative shift, enabling you to enhance your advisory services and propel your firm's growth to new heights. SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile Chapters(00:00) - Welcome To The Earmark Podcast (01:24) - What inspired Jody to start his firm, and how did he start doing CFO work and not just compliance? (06:10) - Jody wanted to find what his firm could change from the traditional model (13:09) - Automatically charging clients for your services (20:00) - What do you do for a typical client? (32:02) - The importance of having a dynamic forecast (35:14) - Where did you learn to do this driver based modeling? (37:04) - How do you staff these engagements? (42:57) - Only do tax returns for clients you do the books for (44:11) - How did you get into doing remote work? (51:12) - Jody has always invested in marketing and now content (55:02) - What made you choose Anders over other firm merger possibilities? (58:12) - Jody's 5 requirements for selling or merging his firm (01:06:09) - Wrap up and where people can learn about Summit and find Jody online Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest,  Jody Grundon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrunden Website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

David Toth of Winding River Consulting joins Blake to examine how digital marketing and AI are disrupting accounting firm marketing. They also look at how innovative firms use marketing automation, CRMs, and content marketing to generate leads and close deals from their websites. Sponsor Check out our Sponsor LiveFlow — Advanced Financial Reporting on Autopilot Chapters(00:51) - Earn Free CPE credit (01:28) - David Toth joins the show to talk about marketing for accounting firms (04:49) - How marketing fits into accounting firm's strategic growth (06:58) - What has changed in digital marketing over the last few years? (09:28) - How can a firm move from the old model to the new one? (11:45) - What are successful firms doing differently? (13:31) - Who is using HubSpot? (22:12) - Introhive and other data scraping tools (24:59) - What's the best practice for setting up these teams for success? (34:08) - What's your favorite digital marketing activity? (36:27) - Using LinkedIn correctly (38:59) - Have you seen any top 400 firms leveraging short form video content for social media? (43:24) - Having a plan and making priorities (47:24) - How do you see AI changing accounting marketing? (50:14) - Wrap up and where to reach David Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, David Toth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmtothWebsite: https://windingriverconsulting.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Mike Manalac, AKA "Mike from Accounting," joins the show to share his inspiring career journey and unconventional path from public accounting to a dream role at Google. Despite accounting stereotypes, Mike crafted his adventurous route to his ideal job. He opens up about hustling into big tech, regrouping after rejection, taking calculated risks, and breaking out of the "lazy river" career approach. Mike dishes creative tips for personal branding, nailing interviews, and landing your dream accounting job. His story proves that with grit and imagination, accountants can forge exciting careers beyond the stereotypes. Sponsor Check out our Sponsor LiveFlow — Advanced Financial Reporting on Autopilot Chapters(01:07) - Mike Manalac joins the show (05:00) - Can can AI help with rev rec in the future? (07:02) - Are you allowed to use Excel at Google? (09:00) - Mike started out in public accounting as an auditor (14:44) - How do we help accountants be happier in their jobs? (18:29) - How did you transition from public accounting to private industry? (24:21) - Starting from scratch in San Francisco (29:48) - How many interviews did it take? (37:32) - How to get through the phone screen (43:19) - Tips for in-person interviews (51:25) - Why Mike wrote "No Flux Given" (56:34) - How to reach Mike and get his book Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Mike Manalac LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemanalacWebsite: https://www.mikefromaccounting.com Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO USA, joins Blake and guest host, David Leary, to discuss BDO's recent transition to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), making it the first major accounting firm to implement an ESOP structure. They discuss how the ESOP aims to attract and retain talent in the accounting profession and provide employees at all levels with an ownership stake in the firm. Chapters (00:44) - Why do an Employee Stock Ownership Plan(ESOP) now? (09:06) - BDO borrowed $1.3 billion - what is that money for? (14:52) - How will ESOP benefit staff? (19:06) - Is there a way to pull money out of the ESOP without leaving? (29:15) - How do you become a partner at BDO? (31:25) - What are my options when I'm a partner at BDO? (35:54) - What are your thoughts on the talent shortage and the 150-hour rule? (47:47) - What advice do you have for other firms thinking of becoming an ESOP? Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Wayne Berson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayneberson/ Learn more about BDO Website: https://www.bdo.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Blake is joined by Twyla Verhelst, Head of Accountant Channel at FreshBooks, to discuss a groundbreaking concept in advisory known as "Collaborative Accounting." This innovative approach aims to enhance collaboration between accountants and clients by providing a platform for efficient financial management. They delve into various aspects of this new approach, including FreshBooks' certification program, dedicated support for accounting partners, and a community for accountants to exchange best practices and insights. Prepare to be inspired by the transformative power of Collaborative Accounting! SponsorFreshBooks - https://earmarkcpe.promo/freshbooks To learn more about Collaborative Accounting and join the FreshBooks partner program, visit https://freshbooks.com/accountantsChapters (00:19) - Earn Free CPE (01:02) - Welcome Twyla Verhelst to the show (08:02) - How do you make advisory services efficient? (11:54) - What is "collaborative accounting"? (14:10) - Who are we collaborating with? (19:28) - Can you give us an example of this? (24:13) - How do we make the time for this when we're so busy helping with clients with other problems? (35:54) - Why clients are seeking financial advice elsewhere (39:36) - What is FreshBooks doing to help make collaborative advisory possible? (45:08) - FreshBooks has top-notch support (46:01) - Community partnership is a huge part of this (47:10) - Wrap up and where to learn more about FreshBooks (50:32) - Remember to Earn Free CPE by listening to this Episode Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app Connect with Our Guest, Twyla Verhelst LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylav/?originalSubdomain=caTwitter: https://twitter.com/TwylaVerhelstInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwylagirl/?hl=en Learn more about FreshBooks: Website: https://www.freshbooks.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/