The Accounting Leads Now Podcast

James Donovan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The accounting industry has a growth problem. This podcast is the solution.The ALN Podcast is the premier show for firm owners and financial professionals who are serious about building something significant. Hosted by James Donovan, this is where the most successful operators in the industry stop gatekeeping and hand you exactly what's driving their growth.Every episode is built to be the most valuable 30-60 minutes of your week. Solo episodes deliver James's unfiltered analysis, field-tested frameworks, and the insights most people in this industry never get access to. Interview episodes go deep with elite firm owners, industry vendors, and the professionals quietly reshaping what modern accounting looks like, giving you a front-row seat to the conversations that used to happen behind closed doors.Lead generation. Client acquisition. Sales strategy. Pricing. Marketing that actually works. The real numbers behind fast-growing firms.If it moves the needle for ambitious accounting professionals, we cover it.This isn't background noise. This is the podcast you pause, rewind, and take notes on. Subscribe now and get an insider edge on the industry's most important conversations, before your competitors do. 

  1. The Real Reason Prospects Say “I Need to Think About It" And How to Fix it, With Brian Mayoral

    2D AGO

    The Real Reason Prospects Say “I Need to Think About It" And How to Fix it, With Brian Mayoral

    Most accounting firms don’t lose deals because of price. They lose them because they explain too much. In this episode, Brian Merrill breaks down why prospects say “I need to think about it” and what’s actually happening on your sales calls. Key takeaways: why too much information kills dealshow to simplify your offer so prospects say yes fasterhow to control the sales conversation without sounding pushywhat top-performing firms do differently when sellingIf your calls are turning into long explanations instead of closed deals, this episode shows you exactly what to fix. Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    33 min
  2. Why We Burned Down 70 Episodes and Started Over

    3D AGO

    Why We Burned Down 70 Episodes and Started Over

    We recorded 70+ episodes of CFO Chronicles. Incredible guests. Great conversations. And we still hit pause. Not because we ran out of ideas, because something wasn't working. So we scrapped the name, retooled the format, and came back with one rule: if you can't apply it by Monday morning, it doesn't make the show. Welcome to the Accounting Leads Now Podcast. In this episode, we break down exactly what's changing, what we're doubling down on, and what you can expect from here. Less theory. More leads. More clients. More episodes you can actually use. We also want to hear from you, who should we bring on the show? What topics matter most to your firm right now? Drop a comment or send us a message.  Send us Fan Mail Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    8 min
  3. This Accountant Built His Own Payroll Software, Because No One Else Would - With Brian Clare

    JAN 15

    This Accountant Built His Own Payroll Software, Because No One Else Would - With Brian Clare

    Most accountants talk about innovation. Brian Clare actually builds it. From killing time tracking to launching his own payroll software for Canadian accountants, Brian isn't just running a firm, he’s engineering the next wave of how firms work. In this episode: Why hourly billing is killing your marginsHow turning down the wrong clients changed everythingThe cost of hiring late and why he hired ops before he needed toBehind the scenes of building a brand-new payroll tool from scratchHow he manages two companies without burning out🔍 Whether you’re stuck in legacy pricing or flirting with product dev, this is a masterclass in firm design, ops delegation, and bold decisions. 📍 Learn more: https://www.xyblueprint.com 📱 Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangclare/ Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    32 min
  4. Miss This Window and You'll Regret It: Why He's Buying Firms in 2026 - With Nik Watson

    JAN 8

    Miss This Window and You'll Regret It: Why He's Buying Firms in 2026 - With Nik Watson

    What if you could own a thriving accounting firm without a CPA, EA, or even industry experience? Nik Watson did just that at 23 years old. After four failed startups and zero accounting background, he landed his first acquisition using a personalized pitch deck and the grit most people avoid. In this episode, Nik shares:  • Why value-based pricing and 3-tier offers aren’t optional in 2025  • The exact tools and AI stack he’s using to stay lean  • The mistake most buyers make that kills the deal  • His transition from marketing agency to tax firm owner This episode is for anyone who’s looking at M&A, firm expansion, or just done billing by the hour. 🔗 Connect with Nik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nik-watson/ 🎧 Listen now. You'll walk away with ideas you can actually apply. Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    34 min
  5. I Almost Shut It All Down in July. Here’s Why I Didn’t.

    JAN 1

    I Almost Shut It All Down in July. Here’s Why I Didn’t.

    2025 nearly broke me. Clients dropped. Revenue cratered. My dream car? Totaled by a dump truck, with no one inside. At our lowest, we were bleeding over $12,000/month. But we didn’t quit. And by November, we closed 10 new clients in a month and had our first $15K cash day. In this special New Year’s edition, I walk through the real story behind the posts: the burnouts, breakthroughs, and the shift that brought us back. What I cover: The exact moment I considered shutting it all downWhy discounting for quick cash nearly wrecked usThe “Mexico Meltdown” that set off the chaosThe daily habits that pulled me out3 muscles I had to build to survive the yearIf you're in a tough season… listen to this. You're not behind. You're not broken. You're being forged. 👉 Subscribe, share, and message me if this hits. Let’s make 2026 the comeback year, together. Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    28 min
  6. You’re Losing Clients in Every Meeting and Don’t Know It - With Jordan Vickery

    12/25/2025

    You’re Losing Clients in Every Meeting and Don’t Know It - With Jordan Vickery

    Most firms treat meetings like a checkbox. Talk. Wrap. Move on. But what if the way you run and follow up on meetings is quietly costing you hours each week and revenue you don’t realize you’re losing? Jordan Vickery, co-founder of Vinyl, joins the show to reveal how firms are reclaiming 30-40 minutes per meeting, identifying hidden sales opportunities, and coaching their teams using nothing but meeting transcripts. If you’ve ever felt buried in post-call admin, or suspect your team is missing the mark in QBRs and sales convos… this episode might change the way you work. What you’ll learn: • How to turn every client call into marketing and sales data • The “silent killer” in advisory meetings and how to catch it • Why most post-call workflows are broken • How top firms are automating 90% of their follow-up 🔗 Learn more: usevinyl.com 💬 Connect with Jordan: LinkedIn Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    34 min
  7. The Anti-Hourly Firm Model That Clients Actually Prefer - With Dylan Fabbi

    12/18/2025

    The Anti-Hourly Firm Model That Clients Actually Prefer - With Dylan Fabbi

    Hourly billing isn’t just outdated, it’s blocking your growth. In this episode, Dylan from Fabbi breaks down how his firm ditched time-based pricing, scaled past 500 clients, and became the go-to financial team for business owners who want more than just “books and taxes.” You’ll learn: Why hourly billing kills service quality and client retentionThe tech + team system that allows his firm to run 200+ WhatsApp support threadsHow Fabbi replaced Facebook ad flops with a smarter, higher-converting client funnelReal-world tax strategies saving clients $25K+ annuallyThe mindset shift that helped Dylan stop doing “cheap accounting” and build a scalable, premium service firm🔗 Connect with Dylan: 📍LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moshe-fabbi-11013a162/ 🌐 Website: https://www.fabbi.co/ Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    37 min
  8. The Business Model You’re Using Is Outdated (Here's How to Fix It) - with Michael Ly

    12/11/2025

    The Business Model You’re Using Is Outdated (Here's How to Fix It) - with Michael Ly

    Still billing by the hour and afraid to raise prices? That’s exactly why you’re stuck. Michael Ly, founder of Reconciled, joins CFO Chronicles to dismantle outdated firm models and share the mindset shifts that helped him scale a nationally recognized cloud accounting firm. From team turnover to pricing psychology, Michael opens up about the real work it takes to grow and why value-based pricing isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the future. In this episode: ✅ Why hourly billing traps you in low-value work ✅ How to confidently raise prices (even for legacy clients) ✅ The 90-day review process Michael uses to grow recurring revenue ✅ The most overlooked threat to firm culture during rapid growth ✅ What AI won’t replace and how to double down on it If you’re tired of being underpaid and overworked, this episode will shift your perspective and give you the steps to fix it. 📍 Connect with Michael Ly 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelly Send us Fan Mail Don’t miss out! Subscribe, rate, and review CFO Chronicles to help others discover these insights. Ready to transform your growth strategy? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and book your strategy call at accountingleadsnow.com to position yourself as the advisor clients truly need. Ready to turn your firm into a lead-generating, profit-driving machine? We help Bookkeepers, Accountants & Fractional CFOs generate consistent local leads, book perfect-fit appointments, and close premium clients, without cold outreach or ad guesswork. Let’s map out your growth plan together → Book your free strategy call

    37 min
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5
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About

The accounting industry has a growth problem. This podcast is the solution.The ALN Podcast is the premier show for firm owners and financial professionals who are serious about building something significant. Hosted by James Donovan, this is where the most successful operators in the industry stop gatekeeping and hand you exactly what's driving their growth.Every episode is built to be the most valuable 30-60 minutes of your week. Solo episodes deliver James's unfiltered analysis, field-tested frameworks, and the insights most people in this industry never get access to. Interview episodes go deep with elite firm owners, industry vendors, and the professionals quietly reshaping what modern accounting looks like, giving you a front-row seat to the conversations that used to happen behind closed doors.Lead generation. Client acquisition. Sales strategy. Pricing. Marketing that actually works. The real numbers behind fast-growing firms.If it moves the needle for ambitious accounting professionals, we cover it.This isn't background noise. This is the podcast you pause, rewind, and take notes on. Subscribe now and get an insider edge on the industry's most important conversations, before your competitors do. 

Information

  • Creator
    James Donovan
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Accounting Leads Now Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Accounting Leads Now Podcast