Journal of Accountancy Podcast

Small CPA firms play a critical role in the accounting profession, and new tools are helping them compete, innovate, and grow. In this episode of the JofA podcast, Stephanie Otero, CPA, the AICPA's vice president–Small Firm Advocate, discusses why small firms matter, how AI and automation are leveling the playing field, and where innovation thrives in smaller practices. She references real-world examples and previews the PCPS Small Firm Success Series, a free, CPE-eligible webcast series for AICPA members. The conversation also looks ahead to ENGAGE in Las Vegas and the ways AICPA resources and communities help small firm practitioners realize they do not have to go it alone. Related resources: Private Companies Practice Section firm membership. Resources for small firms. Transforming Your Business Model resources. April 20 PCPS Overview Session. Article on small firms' use of AI and automation. What you'll learn from this episode: The importance of small CPA firms to the profession and why Otero is passionate about advocating for such firms. How AI and automation can help small firms compete with larger organizations. Practical examples of practitioners using technology to build capacity. AICPA resources can help small firm leaders connect and grow.

Sarah Ference, CPA, a risk control director at CNA, joins the Journal of Accountancy podcast to discuss recent topics of the JofA's Professional Liability Spotlight column.  The conversation covers lessons learned from claims involving bankrupt clients, the importance of strong and consistent documentation, and the particular risks associated with serving high-net-worth or high-profile clients.  The episode also highlights the April column on writing effective engagement letters for client advisory services. The articles discussed in the episode: January: "Don't Let a Bankrupt Client Bankrupt You." February: "Tell a Story With Your Documentation." March: "Luxury Liabilities: Serving High-Net-Worth Clients." April: "Tips for Writing CAS Engagement Letters." What you'll learn from this episode: The reasons CPA firms can be drawn into litigation when clients face bankruptcy. How strong client acceptance and continuance practices can help firms identify and manage higher‑risk engagements before problems arise. Why documentation acts as a firm's voice in a professional liability claim — and how gaps or inconsistencies can weaken defense of a claim. Why Ference has been told that "celebrities and CPA firms don't mix." What makes high‑net‑worth and celebrity clients higher risk and why firms should avoid relaxing standard risk management protocols for them. Why for engagement letters related to CAS, Ference said: "The devil is really in the details of that engagement letter."

Wassia Kamon, CPA, returned as a guest on the Journal of Accountancy podcast to preview her sessions at the CFO Conference and ENGAGE. Kamon also discussed the growing expectations placed on today's CFOs and how those expectations helped shape one of her conference sessions. Kamon also reflected on how launching her podcast, The Diary of a CFO, has expanded her network and grown her knowledge. What you'll learn from this episode: Kamon's summary of her session with Paul Young at the CFO Conference in April. Why she says her podcast "is almost like a business card." The importance of a true reset and how a reset is different from rest. What she's most looking forward to at ENGAGE in June. Why sessions related to artificial intelligence will be particularly relevant this year.

David Stone, CPA, CFE, MBA, is the author of the most recent FVS Eye on Fraud report. In this episode, Stone, senior manager–Financial Services Practice Group at BerryDunn, shares insights from the report, which focuses on internal and external fraud risks facing financial institutions. Stone explains how long‑standing schemes — from misuse of dormant accounts to persistent check‑fraud activity — continue to evolve even as institutions strengthen their controls. Stone, a graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy, also describes emerging, technology‑driven threats such as deepfakes, more sophisticated ransomware, and the potential impact of quantum computing on systems once considered secure. Previous Eye on Fraud-focused episodes: February 2026 July 2025 March 2025 What you'll learn from this episode: David Stone's explanation of perhaps the first recorded case of bank fraud. Defining internal and external fraud, both of which are focus areas in the March Eye on Fraud report. Why dormant accounts offer opportunities for fraudsters. The fraud stat that "astounded" Stone. How deepfakes and enhanced ransomware tactics are reshaping the threat landscape for financial institutions. What quantum computing could mean for the future of fraud prevention.

Two AICPA tax experts from the Washington, D.C., office joined the JofA podcast to discuss a recent Government Accountability Office report on paid tax return preparers and why its findings matter during a busy filing season. Melanie Lauridsen, vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, and Todd Sloves, director–Congressional & Political Affairs, break down bipartisan legislation in Congress — including the TAS Act — and explain how its provisions could strengthen oversight and modernize IRS processes. The conversation also highlights the SAFE Act and its aim to simplify the task of filing extensions for taxpayers and practitioners.  The Q&A also outlines where broad consensus exists in the tax community and why this moment could be pivotal for long‑awaited tax administration reforms. What you'll learn from this episode: What the statistics in a GAO report on paid tax return preparers show. How minimum professional standards could strengthen IRS oversight, and why the AICPA supports establishing competency and regulatory guardrails for all preparers. Provisions in the TAS Act recently introduced in the Senate, including reforms shaped by bipartisan work and those aimed at improving taxpayer service. Lauridsen's explanation of how the SAFE Act would simplify filing extensions, reducing the need for complex estimates. A reminder of the particulars of the "mailbox rule." The factors Sloves cites in his belief that the discussed legislation has a path to passage.

Optimism among U.S. CPA decision-makers in February improved when compared with the outlook in November, but overall sentiment remains guarded. That's one conversation topic in the latest Journal of Accountancy podcast episode. In the episode, Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, associate director–Management Accounting Research & Development for the AICPA and CIMA, break down the sentiment about the domestic economy, the global economy, and respondents' companies. The discussion also touches on top challenges, hiring plans, and recession expectations. What you'll learn from this episode: The increase in own‑company optimism from the previous quarter. The reasons that both optimists and pessimists cite for their views. The "dance" that inflation and domestic economic conditions have done on the survey's list of top challenges. Projected revenue and profit growth in the coming 12 months.

At several points over the past six years, employee retention has ebbed and flowed. In part, workforce trends have been tied to the COVID-19 pandemic hastening the predominance of remote and hybrid work. And, more recently, economic uncertainty has contributed to employee sentiment. On this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, two Robert Half executives discuss general hiring trends and the outlook for accounting and finance roles. Additionally, they examine the dynamics of promoting from within versus hiring externally. And, in case you missed it, news dropped on publication day that even a Hollywood director might have found interesting: ENGAGE keynote speakers were announced. What you'll learn from this episode: Why nearly 40% of employees say they plan to look for a new job in 2026 and how that compares with recent trends such as "the big stay." Some of the factors employees are considering in their decision to find work elsewhere. Steve Saah's reminder that the demand for accounting and finance professionals remains strong even as hiring managers say it's becoming more challenging to find skilled candidates. Kathy Burton's explanation for why companies should move away from thinking about "diminishing" skillsets. The importance of upskilling and reskilling and why "courageous curiosity" is a valued trait.

Early this month, the AICPA launched its Profession Ready Initiative. In this episode of the JofA podcast, Carl Mayes, CPA, the AICPA's vice president–CPA Candidate Quality and Competency, explained more about the initiative and why a rapidly changing workplace demands new skills from emerging and early-career CPAs.  He discussed how automation, AI, and offshoring are reshaping entry-level work — and how Rise2040 research is informing the initiative.  Listeners will learn how to get involved, what's planned for ENGAGE, and how the effort benefits both early-career professionals and experienced CPAs. What you'll learn from this episode: Why the AICPA launched the Profession Ready Initiative. How Rise2040 research informed the approach to improving entry-level CPA skills. The ways automation, AI, and offshoring are reshaping the first years of CPA careers — and what new competencies employers say they need as a result. The initiative's multifaceted approach, including research, new learning solutions, academic collaboration, and state-level engagement. Ways that CPAs, educators, and firms can participate. How the effort will benefit both early-career professionals and experienced CPAs.

Tammy Thomas, CPA/CFF, CGMA, is a co-author of the most recent FVS Eye on Fraud report, focused on the importance of internal controls preventing employee embezzlement. In this episode, Thomas breaks down how failures in segregation of duties allowed two major embezzlement schemes to persist for years. She explains how small control gaps and role consolidation can quietly erode an organization's defenses. Thomas also outlines how deadline pressure and resource constraints can unintentionally weaken internal control environments. Also, hear the previous Eye on Fraud podcast discussion, about the role of company culture, from July 2025. What you'll learn from this episode: A definition of internal controls and why they function best as a dynamic, ongoing process. How weak internal controls and poor segregation of duties can create openings for employee embezzlement. Why deadline pressure around the month‑end or year‑end close can weaken internal control effectiveness. Practical steps organizations can take to strengthen internal controls, improve oversight, and reduce fraud risk. Why Thomas said it was important to remember that "internal control is not a checklist."

In this episode, Wesley Hartman, co‑author of the Journal of Accountancy's Technology Q&A column, discusses how AI is reshaping work for accounting firms. He explains the difference between generative and agentic AI and why both matter for firm workflows. Hartman also outlines the most pressing AI risks for CPAs, including hallucinations and emerging deepfake‑driven scams, which he wrote about in the February Tech Q&A. He closes the conversation with practical guidance for adopting AI tools methodically while avoiding common pitfalls. Also, here are a few Technology Q&A columns related to the discussion: "How CPAs Can Combat the Rising Threat of Deepfake Fraud," May 1, 2025 "AI-Powered Hacking in Accounting: 'No One Is Safe'," Oct. 1, 2025 "Creating an AI Agent in ChatGPT," Nov. 1, 2025 What you'll learn from this episode: The ways Hartman uses AI in his own work. The difference between agentic and generative AI. Why "confidently wrong" AI responses can present risks for firms. How inaction or "wait‑and‑see" thinking can create its own form of AI risk.

A new episode of the JofA podcast breaks down the AICPA's updated criteria for stablecoin controls, explaining what issuers and practitioners need to know as regulatory expectations evolve. This episode explores how revised AICPA stablecoin criteria support more consistent reporting, disclosure, and control assessments across a rapidly developing digital asset landscape. What you'll learn from this episode: Why the AICPA developed updated criteria for stablecoin controls and how they complement existing presentation and disclosure criteria. How the criteria help issuers and auditors evaluate controls over tokens in circulation and the related reserve assets. How the guidance aligns with regulation, including federal guidelines in the GENIUS Act. Who can use the criteria and how practitioners can apply them in assurance engagements involving stablecoins. What work the AICPA Attestation Subgroup is planning for digital asset-related controls and auditing guidance.

In this episode, former AICPA Chair Bill Reeb, CPA/CITP, CGMA, reflects on more than 40 years in the profession and why he believes accountability is the starting point for a successful leadership effort.  Reeb, speaking from the Digital CPA Conference in December, discusses how momentum, clarity of direction, and facing fear help leaders navigate today's rapid pace of change. He also addresses technological shifts including the rise of artificial intelligence and explains why a book he wrote about succession planning was not predominantly about succession. What you'll learn from this episode: Reeb's view of CPAs' unlimited career possibilities. What he and his wife learned on a shopping trip about 40 years ago. Why momentum, facing fear, and embracing change are essential elements of strong leadership. How accountability supports effective change management and keeps teams aligned on strategy. How rapid technological shifts have created higher standards but not necessarily time savings. Why the answer to "What is Bill Reeb's succession plan?" is complicated.

On this episode of the JofA podcast, an AICPA executive and regular guest discussed trends from discussions with numerous finance professionals, delving into how AI and hybrid work might affect accounting this year and beyond. "Now we're going to be talking about managing AI agents in finance and accounting," Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, said. "That's going to be a whole different world, and it's going to be exponential in what we can do with it." Hood, the AICPA's executive vice president–Business Engagement and Growth, also explained why CFOs are cautiously optimistic about growth and how the Rise2040 project is helping the profession prepare for long-term change. What you'll learn from this episode: How AI is shifting from simple productivity tools to powerful finance agents — and what that means for accounting professionals. Practical strategies for making hybrid work more effective, including purposeful in-office collaboration. Why CFOs and finance leaders are cautiously optimistic about growth in 2026 despite economic uncertainty. How anticipatory thinking and hard-trend analysis can help accountants prepare for long-term change and disruption. Why trust and integrity remain core accounting values.

Samantha Bowling, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of GWCPA, shares how her firm eliminated busy season, limited hours, and improved morale while still meeting client needs. She also explained how thoughtful use of AI can support advisory services, boost efficiency, and help small firms get "unstuck." This episode of the JofA podcast was recorded at Digital CPA in National Harbor, Md., in December 2025. What you'll learn from this episode: The steps Bowling's firm took to eliminate traditional busy season. How productivity and morale were affected by limiting hours and weekend work. The value the firm has found in "Foresight Fridays." Practical ways AI tools can speed tax research while managing regulatory concerns. How custom AI bots can support internal efficiency. Why clearer communication and accountability helped the firm solve problems it didn't know it had.

Sarah Ference, CPA, an author of the JofA's Professional Liability Spotlight column, returns to the JofA podcast to discuss recent column topics and the advice CPAs can gain from them. In particular, Ference details data security preparedness, the value of engagement letters for tax-compliance services, common audit claims and defenses, and more. Editor's note: This episode is the JofA podcast's last until Jan. 8. n  October: Are You Prepared for the Cost of a Data Security Incident? n  November: Blocking and Tackling: Engagement Letters for Tax Compliance Services n  December: Common Audit Claims and Defenses What you'll learn from this episode: Advice for CPA firms to guard against data security incidents. The ways engagement letters can prevent costly client disputes. The factors that often make audit claims the most expensive type of claims for firms. How to protect your firm when a client faces bankruptcy.

Melanie Lauridsen, the AICPA's vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, joined the JofA podcast on Tuesday from the Digital CPA Conference, offering context on the most recent government shutdown and on how a potential shutdown early in 2026 could affect IRS services. The interview was conducted one day after the IRS released guidance for health savings accounts. Guidance related to H.R. 1, P.L. 119-21, the law commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was also part of the conversation. In the Q&A, Lauridsen touched on the AICPA's areas of advocacy focus for the new year and why 2025 and 2026 are big tax years. Resources: n  The October discussion with Lauridsen n  The January discussion with Lauridsen What you'll learn from this episode: Lauridsen's analysis of IRS guidance on new tax provisions in H.R. 1. The impact of the 43-day government shutdown on IRS operations. Concerns about taxpayer service and staffing as the filing season approaches. AICPA advocacy priorities for the year ahead.

What's the view of finance executives about the U.S. economy and their own businesses? And what's the latest from the IRS on new Trump accounts? Find out more in this quick-hitting episode that summarizes several topics, including the December digital edition of the magazine. What you'll learn from this episode: A summary of CPA decision-makers' sentiment about the economy and their own businesses. The planned publication schedule for JofA podcast episodes in December and early January. A mention of recent IRS news in the JofA. The future-focused look at the profession and other content in the JofA's December digital edition.

In this Journal of Accountancy branded podcast episode, Clint Costa, CPA, J.D., LL.M., a senior wealth strategist at Choreo, talks with Matt Gotlin, Choreo's chief investment officer, on trends in investment management and tips for CPAs to advise clients.

This episode of the JofA podcast explores Accounting Opportunities Experience month, a growing nationwide program to inspire students to pursue accounting careers.   Liz Burkhalter, the AICPA's vice president–CPA Pipeline, shares how CPAs and volunteers are working to reach 50,000 students through classroom visits and events. She also mentioned resources that can help listeners who want to volunteer. n  Specific CPA Pipeline resources for student outreach n  This Way To CPA home page n  Burkhalter's June appearance on the JofA podcast n  The Next Stop: CPA podcast Scott Spiegel, CPA/CITP, CGMA, the chief operating officer of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, discusses his return to Rutgers University and why real-world stories can expose students to the diverse opportunities in the profession.  What you'll learn from this episode: The history and growth of Accounting Opportunities Experience month. Burkhalter's summary of participation numbers last year and goals for this year. Resources for accountants interested in speaking to students. Spiegel's motivation for making campus visits. The common questions and misconceptions he hears when talking to students. The importance of in-person outreach and storytelling.

Andrea Millar, CPA/PFS, thought she knew what really mattered. Getting good grades in school and going above and beyond at work were part of her being. But she came to the realization that work was consuming her life, at the expense of other things she cared about. Millar wrote about that experience, and some of the changes she made to create a more fulfilling life, in a recent JofA article. She also joined the JofA podcast to discuss the topic. What you'll learn from this episode: An explanation of how work can "unconsciously" take over our lives. Understanding the "default state" of being and how it can explain why we might overwork. How a shift to the "experiencing stage" allows us to align time and energy differently. Why Millar stresses self-awareness as an important first step of changing habits. The award that Millar's article won in a recent media and publishing competition.