Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE

What really happens after private equity buys your CPA firm? ParkerGale partner Devin Mathews joins Blake to unpack why partners cheer while staff chafe, how PE drives returns (bill rates, utilization, acquisitions), and what managers should demand: a clear value‑creation plan and a path to upside. They also dig into AI’s true impact—raising the ceiling, squeezing entry‑level work—and why this might be your cue to start an AI‑first firm. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Devin Mathews LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinmathews Learn more about ParkerGale https://www.parkergale.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

AI won’t replace accountants—but AI-enabled firms will outcompete them. Blake Oliver sits down with Thomson Reuters’ Elizabeth Beastrom and Kirat Sekhon to map the end-to-end tax workflow, from document intake and auto-population (SurePrep) to delivery and e-sign (SafeSend), and into year-round advisory with CoCounsel and Ready to Advise. Learn how to “kill the questionnaire,” free staff from data entry, build an open tech stack, and turn tax prep into subscription advisory. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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 Elizabeth Beastrom https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-beastrom/ Kirat Sekhon https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirat-sekhon-2172022/ Learn more about Thomson Reuters http://thomsonreuters.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

You open Excel daily, but are you using AI to make it work for you? While 58% of professionals have tried AI, only 17% use it regularly—a missed opportunity. Join CPA Kyle Ashcraft in this hands-on webinar to learn vibe coding—a no-programming approach using Cursor AI to automate repetitive Excel tasks. Watch Kyle transform messy spreadsheets, organize GL data, and reconcile transactions with simple AI prompts while keeping data secure. You'll get three ready-to-use scripts plus a framework to automate countless tasks and reclaim hours weekly. (Originally recorded on October 20, 2025, on Earmark Webinars+) Chapters Earn CPE for this episode: https://www.earmark.app/c/2854Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ Download 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 Resources Intro to Cursor PDF Guide - https://mcusercontent.com/02dbcae4a3e3f15021db25a0c/files/deff5647-e0a3-51d7-4225-cf8b3a48532d/Cursor_AI_Quick_Guide.pdf Webinar presentation - https://ai.maxwellstudy.com/ Connect with Our Guest, Kyle Ashcraft, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-ashcraft-cpa-7638a42a Learn more about Maxwell CPA Review https://maxwellcpareview.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Are you auditing at the speed of risk? Richard Chambers—50-year internal audit veteran and AuditBoard advisor—joins Blake to map the path forward. Hear why AI now ranks as risk #1, how to build continuous risk monitoring, and what “independence, not isolation” means for the three-lines model. Learn where CAEs should start with AI (risk assessment, analysis, reporting), how to audit culture and AI governance, and how to earn audit committee trust with no surprises. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Richard Chambers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-chambers-a5108914/ Twitter: https://x.com/rfchambers Website: https://auditboard.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Live from Boston on the final stop of the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with James Irving from Fathom and Chris Macksey from Prefix Accounting to explore what advisory services really mean beyond bookkeeping and compliance. Chris shares how his firm requires advisory for all restaurant clients, using industry expertise and operational metrics to guide decisions on everything from menu pricing to expansion timing. The conversation covers the difference between delivering information versus being integral to decision-making, with insights on forecasting, benchmarking, and why visual KPIs help clients with low financial literacy understand their business performance. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: James Erving LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameserving/ Learn more about Fathom Official website: http://fathomhq.com Chris Macksey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmacksey/ Learn more about Prix Fixe Accounting Official website: https://prixfixe.accountants/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

On the fifth stop of the Advisory Amplified tour in Atlanta, Blake sits down with Lisa Gilreath of Acuity and Valerie Heckman of OnPay to discuss what empathetic leadership actually looks like in an industry notorious for long hours and tight deadlines. The conversation covers everything from recognizing when team members are struggling to handling toxic high performers, with real talk about building slack into capacity planning and why unused PTO is a red flag. Lisa and Valerie share concrete steps for creating a culture where people feel supported enough to lean in when it matters most. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: Valerie Heckman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieheckman/ Learn more about OnPay Official website: https://onpay.com Lisa Gilreath LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-gilreath-2ba506a/ Learn more about Sorren Official website: https://sorren.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Live from Austin on the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with Madeline Reeves of Fearless Foundry and Wesley McDonald of Relay to explore what it truly means to be a renegade in accounting: firms that lead clients to somewhere new rather than settle for "the way things have always been done." The conversation explores why top firms aren't afraid to say no to the wrong clients, how transparency in compensation and career pathways can address the talent crisis, and the hard-won lessons learned about building cultures of collaboration over competition. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: Madeline Reeves LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinefearless/ Learn more about Fearless Foundry Official website: http://www.fearlessfoundry.com Wesley McDonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmcdonald48/?originalSubdomain=ca Learn more about Relay Official website: https://relayfi.com Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Blake sits down with Mary Delaney, CEO of Karbon, and Kenji Kuramoto, co-founder of Acuity, to explore how standardizing workflows can unlock growth without sacrificing the artistry of advisory work. They discuss Karbon's acquisition of Aider, the power of time studies to identify automation opportunities, and why getting senior advisors to embrace process requires framing workflow as empowerment rather than micromanagement. Kenji shares lessons from building Acuity's advisory practice and why workflow due diligence became critical during their 14-firm merger with Sorren. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: Mary Delaney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marywdelaney/ Learn more about Karbon Official website: http://karbonhq.com Kenji Kuramoto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/ Learn more about Acuity Official website: https://acuity.co Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Most accounting firms are dramatically underpricing their services, but the fear of losing clients keeps them stuck. Marie Greene and Ryan Embry join Blake for a live conversation in LA about spotting underpricing, having the repricing conversation, and why your worst clients are often the most price-insensitive. Plus, a live role-play demonstration of how to navigate a difficult pricing conversation. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ Download 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: Ryan Embree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-embree-9463b286/ Learn more about Ignition http://ignitionapp.com Marie Greene, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariegreene/ Learn more about Connected Accounting http://connectedaccounting.co Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Recorded live in Seattle at the first stop of the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with Madeline Reeves (Fearless Foundry) and Lynette O'Connell (Burnout Bestie) to discuss the hard truths about burnout in accounting. Madeline shares how losing half her agency's revenue in 30 days forced her to stop trying to be likable and start building the business she actually wanted, while Lynette explains why nobody was coming to save her after scheduling overnight work shifts to keep up. They break down the three categories of burnout symptoms most accountants miss, why this profession attracts people whose love language is acts of service, and how to stop being the glue holding everything together. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: Madeline Reeves LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinefearless/ Learn more about Fearless Foundry Official website: http://www.fearlessfoundry.com Lynette Oss Connell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell-cpa/ Learn more about Burnout Bestie Official website: https://www.burnoutbestie.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Can an AI‑native general ledger really automate the monthly close without losing control? Blake talks with Digits CEO Jeff Seibert about an “autonomous GL” built on a vector graph model, AI agents that research unknown transactions and auto‑reconcile to pixel‑matched statements, and human‑in‑the‑loop safeguards. Learn where Digits fits best today, how to pilot it with clients, price AI‑powered CAS, and keep trust with audit trails, object‑level permissions, and deterministic reporting. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Jeff Seibert Website: https://jeffseibert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jseibert/ Learn more about Digits Website: https://digits.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Still running every meeting and answering every Slack ping? Blake Oliver talks with Chase Damiano of Human at Scale about escaping founder bottlenecks. Learn a six-part delegation framework (responsibility, purpose, success, process, resources, decisions), turn 1:1s into leadership labs, build a team responsibility inventory and a delegation roadmap, and see why great prompts mirror great delegation. Leave with practical steps to hand off meetings, elevate decision-making, and reclaim time for strategy and growth. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Chase Damiano LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedamiano/ Learn more about Human at Scale https://humanatscale.com/ https://humanatscale.com/assessment Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Why do so many accounting firms struggle to bridge the gap between their stated values and actual workplace culture? In this episode, Blake Oliver sits down with Erin Daiber, founder of Well Balanced Accountants, to explore how firms can move beyond culture theory to real operational change. You'll discover why "we've always done it this way" thinking kills retention, learn specific strategies for showing appreciation without micromanaging, and understand how being too busy prevents the culture improvements you need most. Erin shares her framework for defining your current culture honestly, creating accountability structures that stick, and making small changes that build significant cultural shifts over time. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Erin Daiber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cpacoacherin/ Learn more about Well Balanced Accountants Website: https://www.wellbalancedaccountants.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

What should you tell clients when tariffs increase and hiring slows? Blake Oliver discusses with Gusto senior economist Nicholas Tremper the effects on small businesses of high tariffs, reduced job growth, and a tighter labor market influenced by immigration policy. Find out how advising on cash flow and employee benefits can help your clients identify opportunities in a post-pandemic startup boom driven by artificial intelligence. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Nich Tremper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nichtremper Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Please note: This episode was recorded before changes were made to the Big Beautiful Bill, which eliminated the removal of the PCAOB. What happens when AI agents start doing your journal entries and reconciliations? Mike Whitmire, founder and CEO of Floqast, explains why accounting AI is fundamentally different from other business applications—and why auditability creates unique challenges that many companies will struggle to overcome. In this conversation, you'll learn how Floqast Transform enables accountants to build AI agents using simple narrative descriptions, thereby creating comprehensive audit trails while automating repetitive tasks. Mike walks through real-world examples, from benefit allocation journal entries to variance analysis, demonstrating how the "human-in-the-loop" approach handles exceptions and ensures compliance. Plus, hear his vision for the future accounting professional as an "accounting cyborg" who manages AI agents rather than junior staff. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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 Whitmire LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcwhitmire/ Learn more about FloQast http://www.floqast.com Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

What happens when a homeless 21-year-old musician transforms into a financial leader negotiating $20 billion deals at Google? Devon Coombs shares his remarkable journey from living in his car after his recording studio failed to becoming an ASC 606 revenue recognition expert who helped shape multibillion-dollar cloud contracts. You'll discover how he leveraged technical accounting expertise to leapfrog traditional career paths, why he cold-called a thousand controllers as a first-year auditor, and his predictions for how AI will transform accountants into "orchestrators" rather than individual contributors. Plus, learn why he's leaving Google to build a consulting practice focused on helping the profession adapt to an AI-driven future. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Devon Coombs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devoncoombs/ Website: https://www.devoncoombs.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Small businesses offering 401(k) plans see 40% lower employee turnover in the first year, yet only 10% receive benefits guidance from their accountants. Justin Kurn explains how Dark Horse CPAs identifies the right triggers, such as growing staff or high turnover, to initiate benefits conversations. Meanwhile, Julia Miller from Gusto breaks down how accountants can help clients navigate the cost and complexity of offering health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits. The conversation reveals how positioning yourself as a benefits advisor can double or triple your fees while helping clients attract better talent and reduce costly employee churn. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: Julia Miller LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-g-miller Justin Kurn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinkurn Website: https://darkhorse.cpa/justin-kurn-cro/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

What if the foundation of financial accounting is fundamentally flawed? Tom Selling, author of The Accounting Onion blog, argues that historical cost accounting creates a "truth in labeling problem" that allows management to manipulate earnings while failing to capture economic reality. Through compelling examples from oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and subscription businesses, he explains why value creation often occurs years before GAAP recognizes a single dollar of revenue. You'll discover how a $2 change in expected cash flows can trigger a $400,000 impairment loss, why the FASB shifted focus from earnings to balance sheets, and how current corporate governance essentially lets management "grade their own papers." This conversation challenges core assumptions about what accounting should measure and offers a provocative vision for reform. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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, Tom Selling The Accounting Onion: http://accountingonion.com Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

What happens when Congress votes to eliminate the watchdog that's overseen public company audits for two decades? In this episode, Blake Oliver sits down with three leading accounting academics—Maureen McNichols from Stanford, Nemit Shroff from MIT, and Daniel Aobdia from Penn State—to examine the research behind the PCAOB's effectiveness and what elimination could mean for audit quality. You'll discover why companies with clean audit inspections can raise capital more easily, how the infamous "40% deficiency rate" actually works, and why these researchers believe dismantling the PCAOB could undermine trust in U.S. capital markets. The conversation reveals the hidden economics of audit oversight and explains why there hasn't been a major public company fraud since Enron and WorldCom. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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: Maureen McNichols https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/maureen-mcnichols Nemit Shroff https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/nemit-shroff Daniel Aobdia https://directory.smeal.psu.edu/dza5396 Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

What if private equity could transform accounting firms without sacrificing their independence? David Wurtzbacher, founder of Ascend, shares how his "anti-rollup" model allows firms to maintain their identities while accessing enterprise-level resources. Discover why transitioning firm leaders from client work to true CEO roles unlocks explosive growth, and how employee equity ownership creates alignment across organizations. With CPAs needing to be 2.7 times more productive by 2035, David reveals practical strategies for talent acquisition, business development, and technology that are helping mid-sized firms not just survive but thrive in an increasingly complex profession. Chapters Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/Download 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 Wurtzbacher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwurtzbacher/ Learn more about Ascend Website: https://www.ascendtogether.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/