Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE Blake Oliver, CPA
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This show is brought to you by Earmark, your source for podcast-based continuing education for accounting and tax professionals. You can earn CPE by listening to the episodes on this podcast and more! Sign up for our mobile app to earn free CPE whenever you want, wherever you go. Learn more at https://earmarkcpe.com.
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Hollywood Accounting: A CPA's Journey Into Entertainment
Blake’s conversation with Kendale King, CPA, gives an insider’s view into the intriguing world of entertainment finance. Kendale shares his transition from Big Four auditor to accounting for multi-million dollar studio deals. You’ll see a new side of accounting blending creativity with business strategy. Gain insight into entertainment studios’ complex “Hollywood Accounting” practices around profit participation and residuals. Understand Kendale’s integral role as crypto assets shape future accounting standards. Appreciate his vision to directly integrate CPA abilities into AI applications. If you want to hear an unconventional accounting journey and glimpse the opportunities for accountants to impact media and emerging technologies, join us for Kendale’s exclusive look behind the scenes.
Chapters
(00:45) - Welcome Kendale to the Show
(01:38) - Favorite Gigs and the Impact of DreamCon
(06:11) - The Transition from Deloitte to the Entertainment Industry
(08:18) - Making the Leap to LA: From Audit to Entertainment Accounting
(13:59) - Deep Dive into Entertainment Accounting with Netflix
(16:14) - Understanding the Complexities of Content Accounting
(22:22) - Why do Studios Shelve Finished Films?
(26:36) - The Intricacies of Hollywood Accounting Explained
(34:25) - The Evolution of Kendale's Own Firm: KCK
(40:01) - The Pricing Puzzle: How KCK CPA Approaches Client Engagements
(42:58) - How Can Accountants Learn the Entertainment Business?
(46:25) - How Did Kendale Get into the Crypto Space?
(49:12) - How Did You Get Invovled with FASB?
(55:35) - Exploring AI in Accounting: The Future is Now
(57:38) - Where to Reach Kendale
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload 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, Kendale King
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendale-king-cpa-90916721/
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/ -
The Future of QuickBooks
(Originally recorded on February 15, 2024 on Earmark Webinars+)
Hector and Blake recount a brief history of QuickBooks Desktop vs QuickBooks Online through the end of 2023, the state of Intuit’s current offers and posturing in the market, and where they think QuickBooks is moving into for 2024 and beyond.
Chapters
(01:11) - Hector's Journey: From Tax Practice to Tech Innovator
(03:16) - A Deep Dive into QuickBooks' Evolution
(07:12) - The Shift to QuickBooks Online and Its Ecosystem
(11:41) - Predicting the Future: QuickBooks Desktop's Demise
(12:08) - QuickBooks Online: Aiming for Total Workflow Control
(14:03) - The Role of AI in Shaping QuickBooks' Future
(16:08) - Intuit's Strategy: Moving Beyond Desktop Versions
(25:21) - The Controversy Around QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping and Tax Services
(30:15) - The Impact of QuickBooks on Accounting Professionals
(31:16) - QuickBooks' Strategy for Tax Services
(33:07) - The Evolution of QuickBooks Live and Assisted Services
(35:14) - The Challenges of Running a Service Business vs. Software Company
(37:22) - Intuit's Strategic Shift Towards Assisted Services
(42:08) - The Future of Accounting: AI and Automation
(48:02) - Listener Questions and Insights on QuickBooks Features
(54:37) - Exploring TurboTax Verified Pro and Its Implications
(57:08) - Closing Remarks and Resources
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comEarn CPE for this episode
https://app.earmarkcpe.com/?course_id=8b2e537a-e5f6-4c4d-a94f-c93b44000eba
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, Hector Garcia, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hectormgarciacpa/Website: http://www.hectorgarcia.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/qbkaccounting
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/ -
How AI is Transforming and Disrupting Audit
Rob Valdez joins Blake to discuss how artificial intelligence and generative chatbots like ChatGPT could automate routine audit tasks. They also explore the potential to train staff more effectively, save significant time on substantive testing, draft higher quality work, and some challenges around adopting these tools, such as security fears, poor system integration, and partners resistant to change.
SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile
Chapters(00:53) - Rob Valdez Joins the Show to Talk About AI
(02:27) - What Does Rob Do and What Is His Background?
(03:35) - State of Artificial Intelligence in Audit
(05:21) - Exploring the Use of AI Chatbots
(08:55) - Potential of AI in Drafting Financial Statements
(12:16) - The Future of AI with Audit
(23:41) - Implications of AI on Audit Staff Roles
(29:14) - The Power of Automation and Teamwork
(31:00) - Challenges in Adopting AI in Firms
(33:36) - The Inefficiencies of Current Data Management
(35:53) - The Need for Integrated Systems
(39:40) - What Will Motivate Aduit Firms To Adapt?
(49:04) - The Possibility of Private Equity Getting Involved
(53:30) - The Importance of Self-Disruption
(54:59) - Thanks For Listening and How To Reach Rob
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload 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, Rob ValdezLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rob-valdezTwitter: https://twitter.com/robvaldezcpa
Learn more about Novogradac
Website: https://www.novoco.com/
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/ -
Solving Accounts Payable Pain Points with MakersHub
Phong Ngo and Charley Howe join Blake to discuss how their accounts payable automation software is helping small and mid-sized manufacturers, construction companies, and other businesses capture detailed invoice data to enable precise job costing and reporting without expensive ERP implementations. Learn how starting with solving the accounts payable data entry pain point allows them to streamline workflows while accounting firms and their clients gain efficiency. They also highlight the benefits of the MakersHub partner program for accountants.
SponsorMakersHub - https://earmarkcpe.promo/makershub
Chapters(00:00) - Solving Accounts Payable Pain Points with MakersHub
(00:55) - Welcome Charley and Phong from MakersHub to the show
(01:16) - What makes MakersHub different from other AP solutions?
(05:18) - The power of MakersHub's proprietary technology
(06:20) - Phong's journey from engineering to business
(09:16) - The limitations of solutions already on the market
(12:15) - The vision for MakersHub
(15:00) - Charley's journey from banking to startups
(20:24) - The evolution of MakersHub
(26:47) - Solving at the build level first
(34:40) - Which accountants and bookkeepers is MakersHub For?
(39:05) - Creating a product that creates value for accounting firms
(44:32) - How does an accountant or firm get started with MakersHub?
(47:00) - Thanks for listening and please reach out to learn more
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload 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:
Charley Howe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-howe-7a9816118Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakersHub.aiOfficial/Phong Ngo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phong-ngo
Learn more about MakersHub
Website: http://www.discover.makershub.ai/
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/ -
From Public Accounting to Tech Unicorn IPOs With Brandt Kucharski
Blake chats with Brandt Kucharski, former chief accounting officer at GrubHub and current CAO at Ethos Life, about his career journey from public accounting to leading startups through IPOs. They discuss Brandt's pivotal role in taking GrubHub public as one of the first "unicorn" startups, the process of scaling accounting teams and controls, nonprofit work with the Holiday Heroes Foundation, and thoughts on increasing accounting talent amid growing complexity.
SponsorShareFile - https://earmarkcpe.promo/sharefile
Chapters(01:06) - Welcome Brandt Kurcharski to the show
(02:37) - Early Career and Joining GrubHub
(05:07) - What was the first thing you did at GrubHub?
(05:41) - The Journey to IPO
(09:51) - What advice would you give a young controller going through an IPO
(11:29) - Let's talk about GrubHub's tech stack at the time
(15:26) - Building the Accounting Team at GrubHub
(18:03) - The smartest thing you did at GrubHub
(23:56) - Reflection on GrubHub's Success
(25:21) - Biggest mistake you made at GrubHub
(26:47) - Size of Your Accounting Team
(29:03) - The Merger with Seamless and Going Public Again
(31:09) - Let's talk Sarbanes-Oxley
(34:47) - The Journey of Grubhub's Second Public Listing
(35:54) - The Challenges of Merging and Going Public Again
(37:53) - The Role of Charity in Personal Growth
(41:04) - Accounting Challenges For a Charity
(43:19) - The Journey from Grubhub to Ethos Life
(47:35) - Accounting at Ethos vs GrubHub
(49:14) - The Impact of Accounting Standards on Business
(55:13) - The Accounting Talent Crisis and Possible Solutions
(01:01:11) - Thanks for Listening and Remember to Subscribe
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload 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, Brandt Kucharski
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandtkucharski/
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/ -
Harness the Power of AI: Practical Uses for Accountants
On this bonus episode Blake explores how artificial intelligence will transform the accounting profession. You'll learn how leading AI tools and chatbots can help automate routine tasks, freeing you up to focus on more strategic, higher-value services. He'll also walk through real-world examples of using AI for document analysis, tax research, correspondence, transcript review, drafting/editing, and more. Whether you're a sole practitioner or work in a large firm, this episode will equip you with actionable tactics to drive efficiency with existing clients and expand your advisory services. Don't let AI disrupt accounting without you!
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction and Overview of AI Chatbots
(01:11) - Potential of AI in Automating Accounting
(02:43) - How AI Can Improve Communication in Accounting
(03:19) - Current Usage of AI in Accounting
(04:17) - Exploring Leading AI Chatbots
(04:32) - Introduction to ChatGPT
(06:22) - Introduction to Claude by Anthropic
(07:03) - Introduction to BARD and Grammarly
(08:19) - Using Bing Chat for Web Search
(16:42) - Document Analysis with Claude
(23:48) - Explaining Accounting Concepts with AI
(31:12) - Exploring ChatGPT's Web Search Feature
(31:41) - Answering Audience Questions: Data Protection in Microsoft Copilot
(33:27) - Demonstrating ChatGPT's Response Generation
(36:08) - Using AI for Client Questions and Voicemail Transcripts
(41:36) - Drafting Policies and Procedures with AI
(41:45) - Responding to IRS Notices with AI
(46:48) - Summarizing Meeting Transcripts with AI
(54:21) - Q&A and Closing Remarks
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comDownload 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 Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/
Customer Reviews
👂🏼☑️ … 2021’s podcast of the Ear!
Earning CPE by listening to podcasts in the USA was just a dream back in 2020… now it’s a reality, keep up the great work, l👀king forward to the app ☑️