Journal of Accountancy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Burnout's telltale signs and how leaders can better understand them May 19, 2022

Show notes

Burnout at work was a concern even before the COVID-19 pandemic quickly left so many people isolated. The components of burnout are heightened now, according to author Britt Andreatta, Ph.D., in a December interview.

In this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, you can hear more about burnout and how it can affect overall mental health. Stefan van Duyvendijk, Accounting Operations Evangelist with FloQast, shares data about burnout among accountants, explains why some of us struggle to see the signs of burnout, and offers advice for managers.

Why a busy-season debrief has value, and why it's not just for tax teams May 17, 2022

Show notes

How soon is too soon to have a debrief after busy season? And what should be the goal of such a debrief? Those topics are addressed in a special crossover episode with the AICPA Town Hall series. Hear three CPAs discuss the topic, how it's applicable to more than tax season, and how firm leaders of different sizes approach the debrief. The full Town Hall episode is here, and the speakers in this segment are:

Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, vice president–Firm Services at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants;
Brandon Lagarde, CPA, director of the Tax Services Group at Postlethwaite & Netterville; and
Brent Forbush, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of Forbush & Associates.

The conversation is a follow-up to an article Lagarde and Forbush co-authored in early 2020 in The Tax Adviser.

Also, learn about the IRS response to a TIGTA report that noted the IRS destroyed millions of unprocessed information returns.

A finance transformation case study, plus a news roundup May 12, 2022

Show notes

This episode of the podcast focuses on a busy week in news and a story of finance transformation in action. Janis Parthun, CPA, and Steve McKechnie, leaders in RGP's finance transformation practice, explain how a recent client engagement led to efficiencies for the client, a global food and beverage company, and lessons learned for RGP.

Also, here are links to Journal of Accountancy articles mentioned in the news roundup:

S. sanctions that include a ban on providing accounting and management consulting services to Russia.
A TIGTA report on e-filing and the IRS.
Puerto Rico residents get guidance on claiming the child tax credit.
TQAs provide guidance on auditor reporting.

Helping build a better tax system May 10, 2022

Show notes

Because of their training and experience, CPAs are rightly considered the foremost providers of tax services to taxpayers. Some CPAs also serve the taxpaying public at large — with appreciation for Congress's task to enact equitable tax laws and the IRS's job to diligently and fairly administer them — by recommending improvements to both. They can do so in many ways, but in this episode, we'll explore two paths: the AICPA's volunteer tax committees and a council directly advising the IRS's top leadership — from the experience of a longtime trailblazer, Jeff Porter, CPA.

CPA tech talk: When it comes to transformation, where do you start? May 05, 2022

Show notes

Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, is one of two accounting firm leaders presenting at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE on where to begin when it comes to starting a technology-focused advisory practice. Client advisory services (CAS) are a growing opportunity for firms, so the presentation by Shimamoto and Liz Mason, CPA, is timely.

In this episode, Shimamoto takes a look back — at how firms and CPAs in general worked to integrate technology — and a look ahead — to what advisory services could look like in the future.

Mental health matters: How asking the right questions can help May 03, 2022

Show notes

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it's the focus of this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Kari Hipsak, CPA, CGMA, senior manager–Firm Services at the AICPA, explains why mental health matters to her and shares advice for how managers and organizations can better promote mental health of their staff.

Several resources are mentioned in the episode:

Hipsak's interview about mental health on the What's Your "And"?
PCPS mental health resources.
A recent Journal of Accountancy article on companies expecting to increase pay for employees.

What CPAs should know, and ask, about NFTs Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

Sean Stein Smith, CPA, CGMA, DBA, is speaking June 7 at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE on the blockchain ecosystem. Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are a part of that ecosystem. In this podcast episode, Stein Smith explains what NFTs are and aren't, how baseball cards or other physical items can be "tokenized," and more.

Also, get an update on two recent IRS items, related to estate and gift tax proposed changes and the public input sought on prioritization of tax issues.

Resources

Here are three recent JofA articles about NFTs:

Hard at times but also rewarding: A CPA's career leap to India Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

Sandi Matthews, CPA, CGMA, was ready for a new adventure when she was hired in 2018 as an accounting manager for not-for-profit Khan Academy. It was not just a new job she accepted — it was a role in a faraway location.

Matthews helped to establish Khan Academy's subsidiary in India in its early days. She's now head of finance, and in this podcast episode, Matthews discusses the barriers she faced moving from North Carolina to New Delhi, advice for others considering an international assignment, and why she recommends visiting a new country as a resident instead of as a tourist.

The invaluable sounding board: Learning from other CFOs Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Denise Dettingmeijer, CFO of Randstad North America, is part of a panel discussion at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June in Las Vegas. In this podcast episode, she previews the theme of that session and explains why having fellow CFOs "along the same part of the journey" is helpful.

Dettingmeijer also shares advice on how professionals can get the most out of attending a conference.

Also, here are links to other JofA coverage mentioned in the episode:

Paul Bonner's coverage of progress reported in Treasury's equity action plan.
Brannon Poe, CPA, on why converting to the cloud has advantages related to a firm's exit strategy.

ENGAGE emcee: Why inflation could cause retirement U-turns Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

Jill Schlesinger, a CBS News business analyst, author, and podcast host, built her brand as a purveyor of financial advice in part through radio call-in shows. She's a seasoned speaker on all things money and the guest on this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Schlesinger is slated to be an emcee at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June in Las Vegas, where she looks forward to hearing more about how accounting and finance professionals are adapting to "accelerants" related to the economy and office work.

Schlesinger also explains more about how inflation may keep some people working or send some retirees back to work.