On The Books

Intuit Connect is almost here (Oct. 26-28 in Las Vegas), and hosts Amanda Thompson and Jessica walk through how to get the most out of the week. They cover the new Intuit Presents roadmap sessions, the expanded booth and theater experience, the return of Brain Dates, and the main stage lineup. They also share a few Vegas food tips. Not making the trip? Tune in as Amanda and Jessica let you know how you can watch the main stage sessions live from your home or office. On the Books is taking a short break after Connect. There won’t be an episode in early November. The show returns later in November. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this episode of On the Books, host Jessica McCracken welcomes Kim Blascoe, Lead of Client Advisory Services (CAS) and Advisory Professional Services at CPA.com. Together, they explore the power of curiosity in accounting and how asking better, open-ended questions can elevate technical accountants into trusted advisors. Kim shares her practical, three-stage question framework, offers tips for coaching team members to think differently, and explains how leveraging AI-driven insights can serve as the ultimate launching pad for deeper client conversations. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this episode of On the Books, host Jessica McCracken welcomes Matthew May, known online as the tech CPA and now head of the client advisory services (CAS) at Sorren to talk about his firm’s year-long journey to move entrenched QuickBook Desktop Clients to QuickBooks Online. Matthew shares the real story behind scaling a firm through rapid M&A, hunting down QuickBooks Desktop files scattered across dozens of systems, consolidating more than 400 realms, and building a client migration plan ahead of the QuickBooks Desktop sunset. He also gets candid about his unglamorous approach to AI, why he treats technology providers as partners instead of vendors, and how his firm learned to simplify big technology decisions for overwhelmed clients. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

Chris Ortega has spent more than 20 years in accounting, finance, FP&A, and CFO leadership, including guiding a $150 million, 2,700 person company through an acquisition by SAP. Five years ago he founded Fresh FP&A, a fractional CFO and advisory firm for small and mid sized businesses. In this conversation with Jessica, Chris breaks down why the CFO role has shifted from scorekeeper to strategic partner, how to turn financial data into a story people actually care about, and why trust and emotional intelligence matter more than being the smartest person in the room. He also shares a simple, repeatable habit any finance professional can use to build stronger relationships across the business. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

Tailor Hartman, Founder and CEO of Celerity Accounting flips the script this episode, stepping into the host chair to interview Intuit's Simon Williams and Jessica McCracken about where the accounting profession is headed and how Intuit is responding to industry needs. The conversation covers the shift from compliance to advisory work, the pain points accountants are feeling around trust, overdigitization, and control, and a candid look back at the promises Intuit made over the past year. The episode closes with a preview of Intuit Connect in Las Vegas, including what Tailor, Simon, and Jessica each hope to hear from attendees. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com