Humans in Accounting

South Offices

Behind every balance sheet, there’s a human story. Humans in Accounting is a podcast about the people redefining what it means to work in finance and accounting today. Hosted by Alex Roman of South Offices, each episode features honest, unfiltered conversations with accountants, firm owners, and financial leaders who are building businesses on their own terms—remote, niche, value-driven, and unapologetically human. Whether you're a solo accountant, a fractional CFO, or just curious about what it’s really like behind the spreadsheets, this podcast will inspire you to do things differently.

  1. 4d ago

    Building a Business That Evolves With You - Eman Abdur-Rahman

    Building a business isn't about following a perfect plan. It's about building one that evolves as your life does. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Eman Abdur-Rahman, Founder & CEO of Your Virtual Keeper, to discuss her journey from business operations to building a successful virtual accounting firm. Eman shares how she found her niche, built a remote team, created systems that scale, and why documenting processes became one of the biggest turning points in her business. She also opens up about balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and running a family farm while continuing to grow her firm. Whether you're starting your own accounting firm or looking to build a business that supports the life you want, this conversation is full of practical lessons on leadership, systems, and intentional growth. 🎯 What You'll Learn • How Eman transitioned from operations into accounting • Building a virtual accounting firm from scratch • Why documented systems are essential for growth • How to build and lead a successful remote team • The importance of onboarding and repeatable processes • Balancing entrepreneurship, family, and business ownership • Why your business should evolve as your life changes Topics Covered • From operations to entrepreneurship • Starting a virtual bookkeeping firm • Finding your niche • Hiring and onboarding remote teams • Building systems that scale • Delegation and leadership • Entrepreneurship and motherhood • Adapting your business through different seasons of life 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led Nearshore Team Specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

  2. Aug 5

    Building an Accounting Firm From Scratch - Mike Payne

    Building an accounting firm takes more than technical expertise. It takes confidence, relationships, a clear business model, and the willingness to bet on yourself. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Mike Payne, Chief Growth Officer at Haga Kommer, to discuss his journey from the Big Four to building his own accounting and law firm from scratch. Mike shares the lessons he learned from starting with zero clients, why accountants consistently undervalue themselves, how strong client relationships become your greatest competitive advantage, and what every future firm owner should think about before taking the leap. Whether you're planning to launch your own firm or looking to grow the one you already have, this conversation is full of practical advice from someone who's been through every stage of the journey. 🎯 What You'll Learn • Why Mike left the Big Four to build his own firm • How he landed his first clients • Why accountants often undervalue themselves • The importance of choosing the right business model • What aspiring firm owners should plan before getting started • How client relationships become your biggest competitive advantage • Lessons learned from building, scaling, and selling a firm Topics Covered • Mike's journey from the Big Four to entrepreneurship • Building an accounting and law firm • Landing the first clients • Choosing a business model • Pricing and understanding your value • Why the accounting community is different • Client relationships and trust • Lessons for future firm owners 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

  3. Jul 29

    Building, Scaling & Selling an Accounting Firm - Sharrin Fuller

    Building an accounting firm is one challenge. Scaling it—and eventually selling it—is another. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Sharrin Fuller, founder of Glass Wallet Ventures and Clone & Conquer Hub, to discuss the lessons she learned from building multiple accounting businesses, documenting systems, overcoming self-doubt, and creating firms that can grow beyond their founders. Sharrin shares her unconventional path into accounting, why doing things right the first time saves years of frustration, and how strong systems became the foundation for every business she built. Whether you're starting your first firm or thinking about scaling the one you already have, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who's done both. 🎯 What you'll learn • How Sharrin built and sold accounting firms • Why systems are the foundation of growth • Doing things right the first time • Overcoming self-doubt as a business owner • Why documentation matters • Building a firm without a traditional accounting path • Lessons for firm owners at every stage Topics Covered • Buying her first business • Entering the accounting profession • Building multiple accounting firms • Scaling through systems • Selling accounting firms • The importance of documentation • Overcoming self-doubt • Advice for firm owners 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

  4. Jul 22

    Build Systems, Not Burnout - Karen McConomy

    What if the biggest milestone in your accounting firm wasn't adding another client, but taking a 17-day vacation? In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Karen McConomy, Founder of Your Numbers Person, to discuss building systems that allow business owners to step away without everything falling apart. Karen shares how she went from starting her firm on Upwork to leading a growing remote team, why saying "no" is sometimes the best way to help clients, and how mentors accelerated her growth as a firm owner. If you're building an accounting firm that supports your life, not the other way around, this episode is for you. 🎯 What you'll learn • How systems create work-life balance • Why saying "no" can improve client relationships • Building a remote accounting firm • The importance of mentors • Avoiding scope creep • Creating processes that empower your team • How to step away from day-to-day operations Topics Covered • Starting a firm on Upwork • Building Your Numbers Person • Finding a niche • Systems for work-life balance • The problem with scope creep • Learning to say no • Mentorship in accounting • Favorite food 🍴 • Advice for new firm owners 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

  5. Jul 15

    AI Won't Replace Great Accountants - Miguel Centeno

    Will AI replace accountants? Miguel Centeno doesn't think so. He believes the firms that thrive won't be the ones avoiding AI—they'll be the ones learning how to use it better than everyone else. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Miguel Centeno, Managing Partner at Centurion Firm and host of Beyond the Bottom Line, to discuss building an accounting firm, finding the right clients, pricing based on value, and why AI is changing the profession without replacing it. Miguel also shares how he left PwC, landed his first clients, built a niche, and the mindset that helped him grow a successful firm. If you're building an accounting firm—or wondering how AI will reshape the profession—this episode is for you. 🎯 What you'll learn • Why AI won't replace great accountants • How to leave a Big Four firm • Finding your ideal client profile • Pricing based on value instead of hours • Why niching down accelerates growth • Patience vs growth as a firm owner • Building a modern accounting practice Topics Covered • Miguel's journey from PwC • Starting Centurion Firm • Landing the first clients • Biggest early mistakes • Finding a niche • AI in accounting • Value-based pricing • Favorite food 🍴 • Advice for firm owners 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices

  6. Jul 8

    Why Every CPA Needs a Mentor - Nancy Benet

    Every successful CPA has technical skills. Not every CPA has a mentor. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Nancy Benet, CPA, entrepreneur, and CEO of Fix It Accounting, to discuss the lessons she learned from building her firm after multiple failed businesses, crushing debt, and starting over from scratch. Nancy shares why mentorship completely changed the trajectory of her business, how she built a recognizable accounting brand, and why helping the next generation of firm owners has become one of her biggest missions. They also discuss leadership, recurring revenue, advisory services, hiring, delegating, and creating a firm that can operate without the owner being involved every day. 🎯 What you'll learn • Why every CPA should have a mentor • Lessons from five failed businesses • Building a recognizable accounting brand • How to create recurring revenue • Delegating and stepping out of day-to-day operations • Hiring great people and building culture • Advice for firm owners starting today 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices Topics Covered• Nancy's career journey • Five failed businesses before accounting • Starting Fix It Accounting • Building an online accounting brand • Mentoring firm owners • Franchise model explained • Pulling herself out of operations • Hiring and leadership lessons • Why mentorship matters • Advice for new firm owners

  7. Jul 1

    Why Great Companies Put People First - Monica Siciliano

    Most business owners think payroll is their biggest expense. Monica Siciliano sees it differently. She believes people are a company's greatest opportunity. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Monica Siciliano, Partner at De Novo HR Consulting and Zinman & Company, to discuss leadership, business advisory, human resources, and what really drives long-term business success. Monica shares how she transitioned from business operations into HR consulting, why accounting and human capital naturally overlap, and what entrepreneurs often underestimate when building a company. They also discuss career changes, generational leadership, company culture, and why fulfillment matters just as much as financial success. If you're building an accounting firm—or any business—this conversation offers practical lessons that go far beyond accounting. 🎯 What you'll learn • Why payroll is more than just an expense • The overlap between HR and accounting • What entrepreneurs underestimate about hiring • Why career changes aren't failures • Managing different generations in the workplace • Balancing fulfillment, enjoyment and financial success • Advice for firm owners and business leaders 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices Topics Covered• Monica's path into HR consulting • Becoming partner at Zinman & Company • Why people drive business performance • Working with entrepreneurs • Young professionals and credibility • Generational leadership • Challenges every growing business faces • Advice for founders • Career fulfillment vs financial success

  8. Jun 24

    How to Grow an Accounting Firm Through Referrals and Relationship - Seth Kamens

    Most accounting firm owners focus on technical expertise. Seth Kamens believes that's the wrong place to start. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Seth Kamens, founder of Kamens & Associates, to discuss how he grew a firm from a handful of clients into a practice serving more than 2,000 clients across the world. Seth shares why he left corporate accounting, what he learned from Big Four culture, and how listening became one of the most valuable skills in his career. They discuss building trust with clients, growing through networking, scaling a firm organically, and why the best accountants aren't necessarily the smartest people in the room. Along the way, Seth shares stories about his first major client, receiving a call from a client who received a billion-dollar acquisition offer, and how accounting relationships often become much more than vendor relationships. If you're building an accounting firm—or simply want to become a better advisor—this episode is packed with practical lessons. 🎯 What You'll Learn • Why Seth left corporate accounting • Building a firm from 15 clients to 2,500+ • The networking strategy that grew his practice • Why listening is more important than selling • How to build long-term client trust • Lessons from scaling a boutique firm • Why relationships matter more than expertise • Advice for accountants starting a firm today 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices Topics Covered• Leaving Deloitte and corporate accounting • Starting a firm from scratch • Growing through networking and referrals • The difference between Big Four and boutique firms • Why clients hire accountants they trust • From 15 clients to thousands • The billion-dollar client story • Sales without selling • Advice for future firm owners

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About

Behind every balance sheet, there’s a human story. Humans in Accounting is a podcast about the people redefining what it means to work in finance and accounting today. Hosted by Alex Roman of South Offices, each episode features honest, unfiltered conversations with accountants, firm owners, and financial leaders who are building businesses on their own terms—remote, niche, value-driven, and unapologetically human. Whether you're a solo accountant, a fractional CFO, or just curious about what it’s really like behind the spreadsheets, this podcast will inspire you to do things differently.

Information

  • Creator
    South Offices
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 South Offices
  • Show Website
    Humans in Accounting