The Accounting Podcast

Blake Oliver & David Leary
  • 4.4 (321)
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Accounting Podcast

The Accounting Podcast (formerly the Cloud Accounting Podcast) is the world's #1 accounting, bookkeeping, and tax podcast! Join us weekly for a roundup of accounting news, analysis, and interviews. Plus, earn free NASBA-approved CPE credits for listening with the Earmark app. Learn more at https://earmarkcpe.com.

  1. The Losers of AI & What CPAs Need to Know About OBBBA

    6H AGO

    The Losers of AI & What CPAs Need to Know About OBBBA

    Why is AI failing at basic accounting tasks while claiming to outsmart PhD students? Blake and David dive into the stark reality of AI implementation in accounting, from Ramp's promising new expense management agents to QuickBooks' baffling suggestion to credit and debit the same account. You'll discover the critical security vulnerabilities in AI systems and learn why clients are increasingly using AI to fact-check their accountants' advice. Plus, get a comprehensive breakdown of the top 10 tax planning opportunities in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act—from permanent 100% bonus depreciation to Trump accounts for children. The hosts also explore which companies will be AI's biggest losers and why the future of accounting lies in financial management, not advisory services. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters(00:30) - The Big Beautiful Bill: Tax Provisions Overview (01:53) - AI in Accounting: RAMP's New AI Agents (02:56) - QuickBooks AI Agents: Frustrations and Feedback (06:05) - RAMP's AI Agents: Features and Benefits (14:38) - AI's Impact on Employment: Winners and Losers (20:54) - Grok 4: The Future of AI in Accounting (36:53) - Juno and Tax Prep Automation (37:52) - The Rise of AI in Cyber Attacks (38:26) - Social Engineering and AI (39:18) - Hidden AI Prompts in Academic Papers (41:25) - AI Security Risks and Internal Controls (45:45) - The Accountant's Labor Shortage (46:59) - Tax Planning Opportunities in the New Bill (56:29) - The Impact of the New Tax Bill (01:00:45) - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up   Show Notes Ramp agents: Let finance teams do finance https://ramp.com/blog/ramp-agents-announcement Microsoft shares $500M in AI savings internally days after cutting 9,000 jobshttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/microsoft-shares-500m-in-ai-savings-internally-days-after-cutting-9000-jobs/ Indeed, Glassdoor to lay off 1300 staff amid AI pushhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/11/indeed-glassdoor-to-lay-off-1300-staff/ Workday Stock Takes A Hit After Piper Sandler Survey Flags AI-Driven Headwinds, But Retail's Optimistic https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/workday-stock-takes-a-hit-after-piper-sandler-survey-flags-ai-driven-headwinds/ch8GfqaR5kY Elon Musk's xAI launches Grok 4 alongside a $300 monthly subscription https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/elon-musks-xai-launches-grok-4-alongside-a-300-monthly-subscription/ Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/04/japan/ai-research-prompt-injection/ Tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/jun/tax-changes-in-senate-budget-reconciliation-bill/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast ClassifiedsREFRAME 2025 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2025 Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

    1h 15m
  2. When AI Decides Who Gets Promoted & Who's Going to Tax Prom?

    JUL 10

    When AI Decides Who Gets Promoted & Who's Going to Tax Prom?

    What happens when AI decides who gets promoted and who gets fired? Blake and David dive into the shocking reality that 60% of managers now use AI for HR decisions, with over 20% letting algorithms make final calls without human oversight. They explore a Stanford study revealing that tax preparers are the #1 profession seeking automation, but only for basic calendar scheduling. Plus, discover why young Americans now rank health over wealth as their top measure of success, and how this generational shift is reshaping talent recruitment in accounting. SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casKeeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeper Chapters(01:27) - Tax Prom: The Must-Attend Event (04:15) - AI in HR: Promotions and Firings (08:48) - AI in the Workplace: Automation and Worker Preferences (13:32) - AI Adoption and Security Concerns (18:21) - AI Training and Education in Firms (24:01) - Armanino's New AI-Powered Data Warehouse (33:07) - The Annoying Know-It-All Employee (33:18) - The Perfect AI Assistant (35:48) - Young People's Values on Success (38:55) - Global Perspectives on Success (41:23) - The Talent Shortage in Accounting (43:10) - Unlimited PTO and Burnout (46:53) - Tariffs Update (50:42) - The Big Beautiful Bill (01:03:52) - IRS Staffing Cuts and Refund Delays (01:08:26) - Conclusion and CPE Information   Show Notes   Half of Managers Use AI To Determine Who Gets Promoted and Fired https://www.resumebuilder.com/half-of-managers-use-ai-to-determine-who-gets-promoted-and-fired/ Future of Work with AI Agentshttps://futureofwork.saltlab.stanford.edu/ Future of Work with AI Agents: Auditing Automation and Augmentation Potential across the U.S. Workforce https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.06576 What workers really want from artificial intelligence https://hai.stanford.edu/news/what-workers-really-want-from-artificial-intelligence Big 4 Firm Discovers That Bragging About AI Efficiencies Leads Clients to Expect a Discounthttps://www.goingconcern.com/big-4-firm-discovers-that-bragging-about-ai-efficiencies-leads-clients-to-expect-a-discount/ Monday Morning Accounting News Brief: PwC Clients Ask For an AI Discount; Big 4 Firms Losing Hundreds of Partners https://www.goingconcern.com/monday-morning-accounting-news-brief-pwc-clients-ask-for-an-ai-discount-big-4-firms-losing-hundreds-of-partners-6-30-25/ Armanino planning data warehouse service, used AI for development https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/armanino-planning-data-warehouse-service-used-ai-to-help-development Bolt’s millennial founder has just ‘killed’ its unlimited PTO perk because it was actually causing burnout https://fortune.com/2025/07/02/bolt-millennial-founder-ceo-ryan-breslow-killed-unlimited-pto-burnout-mandatory-four-weeks-paid-vacation-fintech-startup/ Agentic Misalignment: AI Agents in Corporate Environmentshttps://www.anthropic.com/research/agentic-misalignment Relationships, health and financial stability are the defining priorities for Gen Z, according to new EY survey https://www.ey.com/en_gl/newsroom/2025/05/relationships-health-and-financial-stability-are-the-defining-priorities-for-gen-z-according-to-new-ey-survey 2025 Technology Perceptions Survey https://www.intapp.com/2025-tech-perceptions-survey/ Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/trust-attitudes-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence.html Tax Foundation Tax Prom 2025 https://taxprom.com Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast ClassifiedsREFRAME 2025 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2025 Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebo...

    1h 11m
  3. Xero Buys Melio, QuickBooks AI Agents Are Here, More Big Four Cheating

    JUL 3

    Xero Buys Melio, QuickBooks AI Agents Are Here, More Big Four Cheating

    What happens when AI agents promise to transform accounting but create more cognitive burden than productivity gains? Blake and David explore the reality behind the AI agent hype as QuickBooks, Digits, and Big Four firms launch their "digital teammates." They also dig into Xero's massive $2.5 billion acquisition of Melio and what it means for the payments landscape. You'll learn why managing AI agents might be like managing offshore contractors—you wake up to work that's 80% done but everyone has questions. Plus, they discuss how external investors are reshaping the profession, why traditional CPA protections might go the way of car dealership laws, and the ongoing problems with audit quality enforcement despite millions in PCAOB fines. Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Human at Scale - http://accountingpodcast.promo/human Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Welcome (00:42) - David's Return and Big News (01:01) - The Acquisition of Emilio by Xero (01:33) - Implications of the Acquisition (04:52) - David's Journey with Bill Pay Solutions (06:42) - Emilio's Unique Features and Market Impact (10:47) - Xero's New Features and Updates (20:56) - QuickBooks AI Agents: A Game Changer? (31:21) - Digits AI Agents and Their Potential (36:59) - Big Firms Investing in AI (39:48) - Managing AI Agents: The New Workforce (41:09) - Cognitive Load and Productivity Limits (42:45) - Infinite Workdays and AI's Role (44:48) - AI in Accounting: Potential and Pitfalls (46:30) - AI Spending Trends and Future Outlook (47:18) - Building AI Workflows and Multi-Agent Systems (50:40) - Big Four and AI Integration (52:11) - AI-Powered Pricing and Payment Solutions (58:06) - VC-Backed AI Rollups in Accounting (01:01:47) - Regulatory Challenges and Industry Changes (01:09:10) - Audit Quality and PCAOB Fines (01:18:51) - Conclusion and CPE Information   Show Notes Xero to acquire Melio, a leading US SMB bill pay solution, to accelerate global growth https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xero-to-acquire-melio-a-leading-us-smb-bill-pay-solution-to-accelerate-global-growth-302490268.html New Zealand's Xero to buy US fintech Melio for up to $3 billion | Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/australia-listed-xero-acquire-fintech-melio-over-25-billion-deal-2025-06-24/ Intuit Introduces Ground-Breaking Virtual Team of AI Agents to Fuel Growth for Businesses https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1258/intuit-introduces-ground-breaking-virtual-team-of-ai-agents-to-fuel-growth-for-businesses Intuit debuts AI agents for QuickBooks | Accounting Today https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/intuit-debuts-ai-agents-for-quickbooks How AI is improving accounting efficiency – without replacing jobs | Stanford Report https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/06/ai-accounting-bookkeeping-benefits-jobs AI Is Reshaping Accounting Jobs by Doing the "Boring" Stuff | Stanford Graduate School of Business https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/ai-reshaping-accounting-jobs-doing-boring-stuff PCAOB fines Deloitte, PwC, EY Netherlands member firms for exam misconduct | Accounting Todayhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-fines-deloitte-pwc-ey-netherlands-member-firms-for-exam-misconduct PCAOB Imposes Fines Totaling $8.5 Million on Netherlands Member Firms of Deloitte, PwC, and EY After Widespread Exam Misconduct https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-imposes-fines-totaling--8.5-million-on-netherlands-member-firms-of-deloitte--pwc--and-ey-after-widespread-exam-misconduct How an Accounting Change Hit Store Prices - UCLA Anderson Review https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/how-an-accounting-change-hit-store-prices Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast ClassifiedsREFRAME 2025 -

    1h 20m
  4. Tariffs, Iran, PE, CPA Pipeline, PCAOB, SEC

    JUN 25

    Tariffs, Iran, PE, CPA Pipeline, PCAOB, SEC

    What happens when 19 states simultaneously abandon the 150-hour CPA requirement while tariffs create unprecedented uncertainty for CFOs? Blake and CFO.com reporter Adam Zaki explore the rapid transformation of CPA licensure—from New York's recent changes to the coordinated state-by-state rollout that followed Barry Melancon's AICPA retirement. You'll discover how political and economic volatility is driving demand for accounting services, why the PCAOB may disappear in the Senate's tax bill, and how AI is reshaping audit teams while raising questions about the future value of CPAs. Plus, insights on navigating everything from reciprocal tariffs to the SEC's new chief accountant. Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Human at Scale - http://accountingpodcast.promo/human Chapters(01:38) - Tariffs and Their Impact on CFOs (03:19) - Supreme Court and Tariff Legalities (05:47) - Economic Impact of Tariffs and Inflation (08:09) - Geopolitical Conflicts and Economic Uncertainty (11:17) - Federal Reserve and Economic Policies (18:51) - CPA Pipeline and 150 Hour Rule Changes (33:08) - Chief Accountant at the SEC (40:11) - Smart Moves by Congress: Nonprofit Pay Scales (40:44) - The Impact of Budget Cuts on PCAOB (41:34) - Challenges in Government Oversight (42:02) - Senate's Big Bill: Key Changes and Controversies (46:25) - Tax Implications and Political Dynamics (52:42) - Business Deductions and Higher Education (55:40) - AI in Accounting: Transforming the Big Four (57:37) - The Future of Accounting Education (01:02:10) - AI's Role in Auditing and the Future Workforce (01:05:19) - The Impact of Automation on Jobs and Society (01:15:48) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook   Show Notes Supreme Court Challenge to Trump Tariffs by Toy Companies https://www.reuters.com/legal/supreme-court-trump-tariffs-toy-companies-challenge Consumer Price Index Impact of Current Tariffs https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm New York State CPA Licensure Reform Legislation https://www.nysscpa.org/news/publications/the-trusted-professional/article/new-york-cpa-licensure-reform-passes-legislature Pennsylvania CPA Pathway Bill Senate Approval https://www.picpa.org/articles/advocacy/cpa-pathway-legislation-senate-approval Maine CPA Exam Requirements Change https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/accountants/cpa-exam-requirements CFO.com State-by-State CPA Licensure Tracker https://www.cfo.com/news/cpa-licensure-changes-state-tracker-2025 Kurt Hoel Appointed SEC Chief Accountant https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2025-89 AICPA Barry Melancon Retirement Impact Analysis https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/01/melancon-retirement-cpa-pipeline-changes Senate Modifications to Big Beautiful Bill https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/actions Avalara 2025 Accountants Confidence Report https://www.avalara.com/us/en/resources/reports/2025-accountants-confidence-report PCAOB Elimination Implications Analysis https://www.pcaobus.org/oversight/inspections/implications-elimination-analysis KPMG Clara AI Audit Platform Interview https://www.cfo.com/news/kpmg-thomas-mackenzie-clara-ai-audit-interview PwC USA Tax Leader Agentic AI Implementation https://www.cfo.com/news/pwc-tax-agentic-ai-implementation-2025 Bill.com Small Business Paperless Survey 2030 https://www.bill.com/resources/small-business-paperless-2030-survey Universal Technical Institute CFO Interview https://www.cfo.com/news/uti-cfo-future-higher-education-interview Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Learn more about Adam Zaki: Website: https://www.cfo.com/editors/azaki/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamzakinyc Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://clo...

    1h 23m
  5. AICPA Doesn't Care If PCAOB Goes Away

    JUN 19

    AICPA Doesn't Care If PCAOB Goes Away

    What happens when venture capitalists spend billions on AI but need customers to buy it? In this episode, Blake and David explore how investment firms are now purchasing accounting firms to force-feed AI adoption, comparing it to Pepsi buying restaurants to sell more soda. They also dig into the massive gap between AI promises and reality, questioning bold claims that 80% of tax prep is now automated while basic bookkeeping tools still make obvious errors. You'll learn about the AICPA's surprising neutrality on eliminating the PCAOB, Billy Long's confirmation as IRS commissioner despite his controversial past, and why accountant optimism has plummeted 58 points in just four months. Plus, discover how Miley Cyrus hid drug purchases from her accountant and why audit reports get downloaded only 30 times despite millions of investors. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayRelay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay Keeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeperPayhawk - http://accountingpodcast.promo/payhawk Chapters(00:57) - Updates from AICPA Engage (01:45) - AI in Accounting: Hype vs Reality (03:38) - The Future of the PCAOB (13:52) - The Role of Technology in Accounting (29:15) - Miley Cyrus' Financial Deception (29:56) - Miley Cyrus' Vintage Clothing Purchases (30:32) - Accountant's Responsibility in Client Purchases (32:11) - Billy Long Confirmed as IRS Commissioner (33:03) - Controversial Tribal Tax Credits (36:51) - Elon Musk's Opposition to the Big Beautiful Bill (46:06) - Accounting Firms' Optimism and AI Adoption (49:29) - Conclusion and Sponsor Messages   Show Notes CPAacademy 2025 AI and Accounting Report https://www.cpaacademy.org/resources/ai-accounting-report-2025 How to Reimagine Audit Quality Beyond the PCAOB https://www.cpajournal.com/2025/01/15/reimagining-audit-quality-beyond-pcaob/ Inflow Survey: 70% of US Businesses Open to Switching Audit Firms https://www.inflowaudit.com/resources/audit-firm-switching-survey-2025 Gian Porzio LinkedIn Post on Tribal Tax Credit Investigation https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gianporzio_tribal-tax-credits-investigation-billy-long Economist-YouGov Poll on Big Beautiful Bill Public Opinion https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/06/13/americans-support-musk-criticism-trump-tax-bill CBO Analysis of Big Beautiful Bill Wealth Transfer Effects https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61234 Avalara 2025 Accountants Confidence Report https://www.avalara.com/us/en/resources/reports/2025-accountants-confidence-report.html Center for Audit Quality Audit Partner Pulse Survey https://www.thecaq.org/audit-partner-pulse-survey-2025 European Business Travel to US Drops 25% in April https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Management/European-Business-Travel-US-Drops-Tariff-Concerns Xero 2025 State of the Industry Report https://www.xero.com/us/resources/small-business-insights/state-of-industry-report-2025/ Indiana CPA Society Survey on Firm Headcount Predictions https://www.incpas.org/resources/surveys/firm-headcount-predictions-2025 BDO $1 Billion AI Strategy Investment Announcement https://www.bdo.com/insights/business-financial-advisory/technology/bdo-ai-strategy-investment RSM $1 Billion AI Investment Plan https://rsmus.com/insights/rsm-ai-investment-strategy-2025 Create Professional Alliance CPA $500 Million Investment Plan https://www.createprofessionalalliance.com/investment-strategy Thrive Capital $1 Billion OpenAI Investment Details https://www.techcrunch.com/2024/08/15/thrive-capital-openai-investment-billion General Catalyst Accrual AI Startup and Accounting Firm Acquisitions https://www.generalcatalyst.com/portfolio/accrual-ai-accounting-vertical-integration Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cl...

    58 min
  6. The Death of the Financial Close: Aaron Harris on AI's Accounting Revolution

    JUN 14 · BONUS

    The Death of the Financial Close: Aaron Harris on AI's Accounting Revolution

    Live from the Sage Future conference in Atlanta, Aaron Harris, CTO of Sage, joins Blake and David to explain why he wants to completely eliminate the financial close rather than just make it faster. Harris breaks down the three waves of AI transformation in accounting—from task-based automation to generative AI to fully autonomous agents—and reveals how Sage is building custom language models trained specifically on accounting principles with the AICPA. He also discusses the psychology of trust between CFOs and AI systems, introduces Sage's new AI transparency labels, and explains why his company is taking a more cautious approach than competitors like Intuit when deploying autonomous agents. Meet Our Guest, Aaron Harris, CTO, Sage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-harris-7407b2/ Website: https://www.sageintacct.com/leadership/aaron-harrisX: https://x.com/AaronRHarris Learn more about Sage https://www.sage.com/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

    47 min
  7. Real Life Ways Accountants Use AI, How Sage Will Eliminate the Close

    JUN 12

    Real Life Ways Accountants Use AI, How Sage Will Eliminate the Close

    Blake and David return from Sage Future 2025 with insights into how AI is reshaping accounting—from eliminating the financial close to real-world use cases. They also cover Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s public breakup, the latest in Deel’s corporate spying allegations, Deloitte’s unapologetically intense work-life balance ad, and a billion-dollar “AI” startup that turned out to be powered by humans. SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayKeeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeperTeamUp - http://accountingpodcast.promo/teamup Payhawk - http://accountingpodcast.promo/payhawk Chapters(00:00) - Welcome to The Accounting Podcast (01:02) - AI in Accounting: Real-World Examples (05:08) - Sage Intacct Roadmap and AI Innovations (12:02) - AI's Impact on Accounting Jobs (18:33) - AI in Auditing: Tools and Trends (26:54) - Internal Audit and AI Adoption (32:36) - Elon Musk and Donald Trump Fallout (35:43) - Impact of Tariffs and Political Alliances (37:03) - Rippling vs. Deel: Allegations and Legal Battles (40:45) - Deloitte's Work-Life Balance Ad Controversy (43:10) - Accounting Profession's Retention and Salary Issues (46:43) - CPA Title Removal Debate (49:23) - 150-Hour Rule and Master's Degree Debate (52:56) - Trump-Musk Fallout and Its Implications (01:01:07) - Alliant Group and IRS Commissioner Controversy (01:05:14) - AI Startup Fraud Exposed (01:07:08) - Conclusion and Announcements   Show Notes Real-life ways accountants are using AI https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2025/jun/real-life-ways-accountants-are-using-ai/ Fieldguide Introduces Industry-Leading Agentic AI for Financial Audit to Improve Quality and Efficiency https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/04/3093606/0/en/Fieldguide-Introduces-Industry-Leading-Agentic-AI-for-Financial-Audit-to-Improve-Quality-and-Efficiency.html Fieldguide launches AI agent to automate audit testing https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/fieldguide-launches-ai-agent-to-automate-audit-testing How KPMG is using AI to revamp their audit practice https://www.cfo.com/news/how-kpmg-thomas-mackenzie-is-using-clara-ai-to-revamp-their-audit-practice-/748316/ KPMG Advances AI Integration in KPMG Clara Smart Audit Platform https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-clara-smart-audit-platform.html Ex-PwC Partner Says AI Is Coming For Big 4 Jobs in a Big Way https://www.goingconcern.com/ex-pwc-partner-says-ai-is-coming-for-big-4-jobs-in-a-big-way/ PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2025/ai-linked-to-a-fourfold-increase-in-productivity-growth.html From bros to foes: how the unlikely Trump-Musk relationship imploded https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bros-foes-how-unlikely-trump-musk-relationship-imploded-2025-06-06/ Deloitte's Latest Ad Promises Clients Their People Have No Life Whatsoever and Are Always Eager to Serve https://www.goingconcern.com/deloittes-latest-ad-promises-clients-their-people-have-no-life-whatsoever-and-are-always-eager-to-serve/ Microsoft backed this $1.5 billion AI startup that was just discovered to be 700 engineers pretending to be AI https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/builder-ai-collapse-microsoft-backed-fake-ai-services Builder.ai faked AI with 700 engineers, now faces bankruptcy and probe https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/builderai-faked-ai-700-indian-engineers-files-bankruptcy-microsoft-125060401006_1.html Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds

    1h 9m

  8. JUN 10 · BONUS

    The $400 Million Question: Should Congress Eliminate the PCAOB?(From the Earmark Podcast)

    Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast:  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 (00:00) - Welcome to the Show (01:10) - Meet the Experts (02:59) - Discussion on PCAOB's Elimination (08:17) - Research Insights on PCAOB's Effectiveness (20:11) - Deficiency Rates and Audit Quality (24:50) - Economic Impact of Fraud and PCAOB's Role (25:20) - Regulatory Model of the PCAOB (25:59) - Incentive Structure and Audit Quality (26:59) - Inspection Deficiency Rates (28:54) - Restatement Rates vs. Deficiency Rates (30:23) - Auditor-Client Relationship Tensions (31:42) - Documentation Issues in Audits (35:15) - Effectiveness of PCAOB Inspections (37:49) - Impact of PCAOB on Financial Reporting Quality (40:33) - Potential Elimination of the PCAOB (44:00) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Earn CPE for this episode https://earmark.app/c/2542 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 McNicholshttps://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/maureen-mcnicholsNemit Shroffhttps://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/nemit-shroffDaniel Aobdiahttps://directory.smeal.psu.edu/dza5396 Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

    51 min
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4.4
out of 5
321 Ratings

About

The Accounting Podcast (formerly the Cloud Accounting Podcast) is the world's #1 accounting, bookkeeping, and tax podcast! Join us weekly for a roundup of accounting news, analysis, and interviews. Plus, earn free NASBA-approved CPE credits for listening with the Earmark app. Learn more at https://earmarkcpe.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Blake Oliver & David Leary
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    549
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Earmark Media LLC
  • Show Website
    The Accounting Podcast

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