The Accounting Podcast

Should your AI agent have the same bank access you do? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack banks’ concerns about AI agents and explain why separate logins and limited permissions matter. They also explore practical email automation, Blake’s ballooning token costs, and why firm-wide AI gains require standardized workflows. Plus, they examine Oxford Economics’ warning that U.S. growth could look recessionary without AI investment—and what that means for the pressure to deliver real returns.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsNumeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeralOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - Recession With AI Boost (00:47) - TurboTax Storefront Mystery (04:37) - CCH Conference AI Preview (06:21) - Banks Block AI Agents (10:03) - Stripe Treasury Agents Rise (12:41) - Permissioned Access Fix (18:43) - Zapier MCP Lawyer Workflow (24:36) - Token Spend Spirals (28:13) - Shared AI Orchestration Layers (29:40) - AI Layer Missed (30:46) - Standardize vs Customize (35:03) - Memory Costs Tokens (37:17) - Inbox Automation Wins (40:01) - Scaling Past Demos (41:33) - Firm AI vs Personal (45:07) - PE Rollup AI Bet (50:32) - AI Native Firm Risks (51:16) - Recession Minus AI (54:47) - ROI Reality Check (57:25) - Chicago Head Tax (58:43) - Wrap Up and CPE  Show NotesTurboTax Stores and Expert Offices in Santa Monicahttps://turbotax.intuit.com/local-tax-offices/ca/santa-monica/Banks Are Blocking External AI Agents. Is This Sustainable?https://americanbanker.com/news/banks-are-blocking-external-ai-agents-is-this-sustainableIntroducing Stripe Treasury for Agentshttps://stripe.com/newsroom/news/treasury-for-agentsStripe Agrees to Acquire OpenRouter to Help Businesses Optimize Token Routing and Usagehttps://stripe.com/newsroom/news/stripe-agrees-to-acquire-openrouterWhat Happens to a Lawyer’s Business Model When AI Makes Him 5x Fasterhttps://zapier.com/blog/damian-guzman-fte-legal-mcp/Introducing Glasshttps://ramp.com/blog/introducing-glassMeridian Launches Meridian Starter, a Shared AI Workspace for Accounting Firmshttps://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384755/0/en/meridian-launches-meridian-starter-a-shared-ai-workspace-for-accounting-firms.htmlPlatform Accounting Group Secures $355 Million Investmenthttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/?p=192093Exclusive: Gradient Raises $4M for AI-Native Startup Accounting Firmhttps://techfundingnews.com/exclusive-gradient-raises-4m-ai-native-accounting-firm-us-startups/Minus AI Investments, the US Edges Toward Recessionhttps://www.cfo.com/news/minus-ai-investments-the-us-edges-toward-recession/833461/Mayor Johnson Renews Fight for His Failed Corporate Head Taxhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/10/20/mayor-brandon-johnson-failed-corporate-head-tax-resurrected-proposed-budgetNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifieds ProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

AI outperformed 12 CPAs on a month-end close benchmark, but that doesn’t mean it can replace them. Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack the study’s limits and why adding AI to existing workflows may not save time. They also explore survey findings that accounting budgets triple when businesses hit $1 million in revenue, plus why most firms are invisible in AI searches. Learn what these shifts mean for your firm’s processes, pricing, and marketing.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayFinance Accounting Technology Expo - http://accountingpodcast.promo/fateSavantLabs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantChapters(00:00) - AI Search Visibility Crisis (00:24) - Show Intro and Headlines (02:38) - Livestream Shoutouts (03:18) - AI Beats CPAs Study (05:40) - Charts Speed and Accuracy (08:27) - Why Humans Lag Context (10:31) - When AI Plus Human Fails (20:00) - AI Native Workflow Shift (26:52) - Sams List Client Budgets (29:48) - Small Biz Client Focus (30:36) - What Clients Actually Want (31:35) - Pricing Reality Check (34:06) - Startup Budget Mindset (36:34) - New Studio Chat (37:59) - AI Progress Story (43:29) - Ramp Glass Orchestration (47:26) - AI Search Disrupts SEO (50:41) - How To Get Recommended (53:13) - Niche Beats Location SEO (55:21) - Wrap Up And CPE  Show NotesHuman Baselines for Benchmarks: AI Now Outperforms Junior Accountantshttps://www.mercor.com/blog/human-baselines-for-benchmarks-ai-now-outperforms-junior-accountants/Clients Spend $5K a Year on Accountant Until Revenue Passes $1Mhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/clients-spend-5k-a-year-on-accountant-until-revenue-passes-1mMeta Is Back in the AI Race. Muse Wonder Just Ranked #2 for Accountinghttps://www.dualentry.com/blog/muse-wonder-just-ranked-2-for-accountingRamp’s $1.5 Million Week of Spending Leads to Glass AI Toolhttps://www.pymnts.com/?p=4306638Ramp Glasshttps://ramp.com/glassAI Recommendations Favoring Narrow Band of Big Firmshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ai-recommendations-favoring-narrow-band-of-big-firmsNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifieds ProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Could AI replace your CFO or simply make their job more exhausting? Blake and David debate automation’s limits, unpack an enrolled agent’s log of 188 IRS calls, and explore proposed reforms to taxpayer service. They also examine why AI is putting pressure on billable hours, gaps in AI safety audit requirements, and a romance scam victim’s $225,000 tax bill. Learn what these developments could mean for your firm, clients, and workload.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayNumeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeralSavantLabs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - TAP 508 (02:40) - Can AI replace executives (03:38) - Survey results and divides (06:03) - Why AI can't lead yet (12:18) - EA tracks IRS call hell (13:54) - IRS chatbots and america.gov (15:50) - IRS and ICE data sharing (17:42) - IRS modernization bill highlights (22:45) - Tax fraud and complexity costs (25:53) - Influencer deductions in tax court (28:00) - Influencer Expenses Denied (28:45) - Accountant With Bad Records (29:38) - Romance Scam Tax Bill (31:25) - ‌ (33:01) - AI Agents Breach Systems (42:13) - Big Law Versus AI Billing (47:44) - Illinois AI Audit Mandate (52:07) - Meta Muse Integrations (52:31) - Wrap Up And Events  Show NotesCould AI replace CFOs and other top executives?https://www.cfo.com/news/could-ai-replace-cfos-and-other-top-executives-watch-chest-ai-/827098/IRS Hold Times in 2026: What 188 Timed Calls to the IRS Actually Showedhttps://claritytaxrelief.com/blog/irs-hold-times-study-188-calls/Appeals court blocks IRS from sharing taxpayer info with ICEhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/appeals-court-blocks-irs-from-sharing-taxpayer-info-with-iceSenate unanimously passes TAS Acthttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/senate-unanimously-passes-tas-actCongress approves funding bill that maintains IRS budgethttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/sep/congress-approves-funding-bill-that-maintains-irs-budget/GAO tax fraud estimate puts annual losses at up to $304 billionhttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/sep/gao-tax-fraud-estimate-puts-annual-losses-at-up-to-304-billion/Tax Complexity Now Costs the US Economy over $544 Billion Annuallyhttps://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/irs-tax-complexity-costs-us-economy-over-544-billion-annually/Paying For Clout Isn't A Business Expense: Tax Court Lessons For Social Media Creatorshttps://abovethelaw.com/2026/08/paying-for-clout-isnt-a-business-expense-tax-court-lessons-for-social-media-creators/A North Carolina Woman Lost $600,000 to a Scam. Then an Unexpected IRS Bill Arrivedhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/?p=190730EY staffers accused of accessing Australia PM's bank accounthttps://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/ey-staffers-accused-of-accessing-australia-pms-bank-account'Extreme concern' over first known AI hack of a government systemhttps://www.cnn.com/2026/09/23/business/australia-openai-agent-hack-intl-hnkOpenAI alerts more than 100 groups about rogue AI agent activityhttps://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2026/10/02/openai-alerts-more-than-100-groups-about-rogue-ai-agent-activityOpenAI says its AI agents probed federal websites without the company's knowledgehttps://www.whro.org/2026-09-26/openai-says-its-ai-agents-probed-federal-websites-without-the-companys-knowledgeAs A.I. Makes Law Firms More Efficient, Clients Ask: 'Where's My Discount?'https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/business/dealbook/ai-law-discount-billable-hour.htmlSorren launches law firmhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/sorren-launches-sorren-lawColumn: Illinois Ordered an Audit of AI Developers. Who Will Do It?https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/28/column-illinois-ordered-an-audit-of-ai-developers-who-will-do-it/187458/Meta is expanding its AI agent Muse to small businesseshttps://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/meta-is-expanding-its-ai-agent-muse-to-small-businesses/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? F...

Will AI replace accountants—or finally ease the profession’s talent shortage? Blake and David unpack why AI-exposed accounting roles are seeing pay rise, not fall; how EY cut audit deficiencies from 28% to under 5%; and why firms must give AI agents limited access and auditable logins. They also explore the coming firm structure: fewer staff, more AI agents, and partners focused on judgment, review, and client relationships.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casNumeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeralOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayVeltrix - http://accountingpodcast.promo/veltrixChapters(00:00) - Staff Are Gone (01:52) - Doctor Note AI Warning (03:33) - AI Access Controls Lesson (06:05) - Annual Reports Design (07:59) - Taxing AI Debate (13:08) - Audit Judgment Future (19:11) - EY Audit Quality Surge (23:05) - Meta Muse Microwave Moment (29:52) - Apps Handing Off To Claude (31:58) - AI As The Interface (32:58) - LLMs Become The New OS (34:15) - Where AI Captures Value (35:29) - Platform Cloning Threats (36:26) - Regulation Protects Fintech (37:02) - Orchestrating Accounting Agents (39:10) - One Universal Business Brain (41:53) - Big Four Future In AI (46:32) - KPMG Incubator Career Play (49:52) - America Solopreneur Boom (52:53) - Are Business Filings Real (53:53) - Spotify Lessons For Firms (58:18) - Accountant Turned Top DJ (01:01:13) - Shakira Tax Residency Fight (01:02:35) - Wrap Up And CPE Plug  Show NotesThe turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical.https://www.gatesnotes.com/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-makeUS jobs paradox: AI-exposed roles see 46% pay surge even as AI-linked layoffs risehttps://businesstoday.in/technology/story/us-jobs-paradox-ai-exposed-roles-see-46-pay-surge-even-as-ai-linked-layoffs-rise-556730-2026-09-21PCAOB's Logothetis: AI can only do part of an auditor's jobhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaobs-logothetis-ai-can-only-do-part-of-an-auditors-jobEY reports improved audit qualityhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-reports-improved-audit-qualityIntroducing Muse: The World's First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyonehttps://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/Expensify Becomes One of the First Expense Management Tools Available in Claude for Small Businesshttps://finviz.com/news/392305/expensify-becomes-one-of-the-first-expense-management-tools-available-in-claude-for-small-businessXero Wherever You Work: Real-Time Financial Intelligence in Claude for Small Business and ChatGPThttps://blog.xero.com/product-updates/claude-for-small-business-chatgpt-ai-integrations-launch/Avalara launches Aviator AI hub for tax compliancehttps://itbrief.co.uk/story/avalara-launches-aviator-ai-hub-for-tax-complianceClients now expect some projects to happen twice as fast, PwC partner sayshttps://www.indiaipo.in/news/detail/clients-now-expect-some-projects-to-happen-twice-as-fast-pwc-partnerKPMG Announces Client Technology & Innovation Group to Build AI-Native Businesseshttps://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-announces-client-technology-innovation-group.htmlAmerica has become an entrepreneur's paradisehttps://thenightly.com.au/business/the-economist-america-has-become-an-entrepreneurs-paradise-c-22636515What accounting firms can learn from the music industryhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/what-accounting-firms-can-learn-from-the-music-industryJohn Summit Saved $20,000 and Quit His Accounting Job to Become a DJ. Now He's Building an Entertainment Empirehttps://www.entrepreneur.com/building-a-business/john-summit-saved-20000-and-quit-his-accounting-job-to-become-a-dj-now-hes-building-an-entertainment-empireShakira takes Spain stage as court reviews $63M tax claimhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/shakira-takes-spain-stage-as-court-reviews-63m-tax-claimNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other neces...

Could AI make a one-person audit firm possible—and what happens if the data-center boom slows down first? Blake and David examine the AI economy’s circular debt, the construction ripple effects of a pullback, and practical ways firms can document workflows before automating them. They also cover AI-powered continuous audits, Mercury’s new general ledger, and tax evasion headlines.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsThomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomationOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - OnlyFans Tax Evasion (00:27) - Podcast Welcome Halloween (04:02) - News Lineup (06:34) - AI Bubble Warning (14:14) - AI Adjusted EBITDA (18:07) - SOP Marathon For AI (21:19) - AI SOP Workflow Tip (26:41) - Christina Ho AI Audits (29:22) - Audit Fees Under AI (29:55) - Audit Fees Surge (30:57) - AI Disrupts Audits (33:56) - Solo CPA Audit Firm (35:26) - Who Wins and Loses (35:52) - Audit Demand Explained (36:40) - Tech Enables New Entrants (38:26) - Audit Like Cloud Accounting (42:00) - ‌ (43:03) - IRS Refund Nightmare (44:33) - OnlyFans Tax Evasion (46:51) - Punishing Financial Crime (49:59) - Mercury Launches Books (52:22) - Can Banks Compete (54:33) - Is Mercury Enough (56:44) - Wrap Up and CPE  Show NotesNRF: Halloween spending to remain strong, reach $13.5Bhttps://chainstoreage.com/nrf-halloween-spending-remain-strong-reach-135bToo interconnected to fail? New paper connects the AI dotshttps://www.axios.com/2026/09/21/ai-finance-credit-circularThe AI gold rush has a dress code: steel-toe bootshttps://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/ai-gold-rush-dress-code-233725771.html40% of Small Businesses Lack Cash Reserves to Survive a Month of Late Client Paymentshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/09/21/40-of-small-businesses-lack-cash-reserves-to-survive-a-month-of-late-client-payments/190371/AI Future Savings Is Latest Ebitda Tweak to Jolt Debt Investorshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-17/ai-future-savings-is-latest-ebitda-tweak-to-jolt-debt-investorsHow to run a SOPathon: The missing first step in every AI strategyhttps://www.accountingweb.co.uk/community/industry-insights/how-to-run-a-sopathon-the-missing-first-step-in-every-ai-strategyThe 3-phase roadmap every accounting firm needs before AI delivershttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/the-3-phase-roadmap-every-accounting-firm-needs-before-ai-deliversProcess Street MCP Serverhttps://www.process.st/help/docs/mcp-server/Christina Ho's next acthttps://www.cfobrew.com/stories/christina-hos-next-actAI sounds the death knell for audit fee inflationhttps://www.ft.com/content/80d02797-9a54-47e0-8bc3-a7144354da93Tennessee Farmer Tried to Return $20,000 to IRS. Years Later, He's Still Fightinghttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/23/tennessee-farmer-tried-to-return-20000-to-irs-years-later-hes-still-fighting/187281/OnlyFans content creator pleads guilty to tax evasionhttps://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/onlyfans-content-creator-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasionMercury Launches Intelligent Accounting with Mercury Bookshttps://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260916850195/mercury-launches-intelligent-accounting-with-mercury-booksNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpo...