The Accounting Podcast

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When Financial Reports Used to Be Cool & AI's Microwave Moment Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Will AI replace accountants—or finally ease the profession’s talent shortage? Blake and David unpack why AI-exposed accounting roles are seeing pay rise, not fall; how EY cut audit deficiencies from 28% to under 5%; and why firms must give AI agents limited access and auditable logins. They also explore the coming firm structure: fewer staff, more AI agents, and partners focused on judgment, review, and client relationships.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
Numeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeral
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Veltrix - http://accountingpodcast.promo/veltrix

Chapters

(00:00) - Staff Are Gone
(01:52) - Doctor Note AI Warning
(03:33) - AI Access Controls Lesson
(06:05) - Annual Reports Design
(07:59) - Taxing AI Debate
(13:08) - Audit Judgment Future
(19:11) - EY Audit Quality Surge
(23:05) - Meta Muse Microwave Moment
(29:52) - Apps Handing Off To Claude
(31:58) - AI As The Interface
(32:58) - LLMs Become The New OS
(34:15) - Where AI Captures Value
(35:29) - Platform Cloning Threats
(36:26) - Regulation Protects Fintech
(37:02) - Orchestrating Accounting Agents
(39:10) - One Universal Business Brain
(41:53) - Big Four Future In AI
(46:32) - KPMG Incubator Career Play
(49:52) - America Solopreneur Boom
(52:53) - Are Business Filings Real
(53:53) - Spotify Lessons For Firms
(58:18) - Accountant Turned Top DJ
(01:01:13) - Shakira Tax Residency Fight
(01:02:35) - Wrap Up And CPE Plug

Show Notes

The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical.

https://www.gatesnotes.com/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-make

US jobs paradox: AI-exposed roles see 46% pay surge even as AI-linked layoffs rise

https://businesstoday.in/technology/story/us-jobs-paradox-ai-exposed-roles-see-46-pay-surge-even-as-ai-linked-layoffs-rise-556730-2026-09-21

PCAOB's Logothetis: AI can only do part of an auditor's job

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaobs-logothetis-ai-can-only-do-part-of-an-auditors-job

EY reports improved audit quality

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-reports-improved-audit-quality

Introducing Muse: The World's First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyone

https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/

Expensify Becomes One of the First Expense Management Tools Available in Claude for Small Business

https://finviz.com/news/392305/expensify-becomes-one-of-the-first-expense-management-tools-available-in-claude-for-small-business

Xero Wherever You Work: Real-Time Financial Intelligence in Claude for Small Business and ChatGPT

https://blog.xero.com/product-updates/claude-for-small-business-chatgpt-ai-integrations-launch/

Avalara launches Aviator AI hub for tax compliance

https://itbrief.co.uk/story/avalara-launches-aviator-ai-hub-for-tax-compliance

Clients now expect some projects to happen twice as fast, PwC partner says

https://www.indiaipo.in/news/detail/clients-now-expect-some-projects-to-happen-twice-as-fast-pwc-partner

KPMG Announces Client Technology & Innovation Group to Build AI-Native Businesses

https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-announces-client-technology-innovation-group.html

America has become an entrepreneur's paradise

https://thenightly.com.au/business/the-economist-america-has-become-an-entrepreneurs-paradise-c-22636515

What accounting firms can learn from the music industry

https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/what-accounting-firms-can-learn-from-the-music-industry

John Summit Saved $20,000 and Quit His Accounting Job to Become a DJ. Now He's Building an Entertainment Empire

https://www.entrepreneur.com/building-a-business/john-summit-saved-20000-and-quit-his-accounting-job-to-become-a-dj-now-hes-building-an-entertainment-empire

Shakira takes Spain stage as court reviews $63M tax claim

https://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/shakira-takes-spain-stage-as-court-reviews-63m-tax-claim

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Tips to Roll Out AI In Your Firm, AI Squeezing Audit Fees Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Could AI make a one-person audit firm possible—and what happens if the data-center boom slows down first? Blake and David examine the AI economy’s circular debt, the construction ripple effects of a pullback, and practical ways firms can document workflows before automating them. They also cover AI-powered continuous audits, Mercury’s new general ledger, and tax evasion headlines.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Chapters

(00:00) - OnlyFans Tax Evasion
(00:27) - Podcast Welcome Halloween
(04:02) - News Lineup
(06:34) - AI Bubble Warning
(14:14) - AI Adjusted EBITDA
(18:07) - SOP Marathon For AI
(21:19) - AI SOP Workflow Tip
(26:41) - Christina Ho AI Audits
(29:22) - Audit Fees Under AI
(29:55) - Audit Fees Surge
(30:57) - AI Disrupts Audits
(33:56) - Solo CPA Audit Firm
(35:26) - Who Wins and Loses
(35:52) - Audit Demand Explained
(36:40) - Tech Enables New Entrants
(38:26) - Audit Like Cloud Accounting
(42:00) - ‌
(43:03) - IRS Refund Nightmare
(44:33) - OnlyFans Tax Evasion
(46:51) - Punishing Financial Crime
(49:59) - Mercury Launches Books
(52:22) - Can Banks Compete
(54:33) - Is Mercury Enough
(56:44) - Wrap Up and CPE

Show Notes

NRF: Halloween spending to remain strong, reach $13.5B

https://chainstoreage.com/nrf-halloween-spending-remain-strong-reach-135b

Too interconnected to fail? New paper connects the AI dots

https://www.axios.com/2026/09/21/ai-finance-credit-circular

The AI gold rush has a dress code: steel-toe boots

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/ai-gold-rush-dress-code-233725771.html

40% of Small Businesses Lack Cash Reserves to Survive a Month of Late Client Payments

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/09/21/40-of-small-businesses-lack-cash-reserves-to-survive-a-month-of-late-client-payments/190371/

AI Future Savings Is Latest Ebitda Tweak to Jolt Debt Investors

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-17/ai-future-savings-is-latest-ebitda-tweak-to-jolt-debt-investors

How to run a SOPathon: The missing first step in every AI strategy

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/community/industry-insights/how-to-run-a-sopathon-the-missing-first-step-in-every-ai-strategy

The 3-phase roadmap every accounting firm needs before AI delivers

https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/the-3-phase-roadmap-every-accounting-firm-needs-before-ai-delivers

Process Street MCP Server

https://www.process.st/help/docs/mcp-server/

Christina Ho's next act

https://www.cfobrew.com/stories/christina-hos-next-act

AI sounds the death knell for audit fee inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/80d02797-9a54-47e0-8bc3-a7144354da93

Tennessee Farmer Tried to Return $20,000 to IRS. Years Later, He's Still Fighting

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/23/tennessee-farmer-tried-to-return-20000-to-irs-years-later-hes-still-fighting/187281/

OnlyFans content creator pleads guilty to tax evasion

https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/onlyfans-content-creator-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasion

Mercury Launches Intelligent Accounting with Mercury Books

https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260916850195/mercury-launches-intelligent-accounting-with-mercury-books

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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

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Subscribe

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Feds Target KPMG Polymarket Insider Trading, ComplYant Founder Charged with Wire Fraud Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Is AI the real threat to accounting firms, or is it the client experience? Blake and David unpack a KPMG-linked Polymarket insider-trading investigation, AI-powered fraud, Xero’s influencer backlash, and a tax startup founder charged with defrauding investors. They also share their own experiments using Claude and ChatGPT to prepare tax returns, making the case that firms must eliminate frustrating back-and-forth if they want to keep clients.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
Savant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savant

Chapters

(00:00) - Client Experience Threat
(00:30) - Podcast Welcome Banter
(02:05) - Week's News Rundown
(04:17) - KPMG Polymarket Probe
(11:46) - KPMG TaxSim Training
(13:40) - KPMG OpenAI Headless UI
(17:13) - Deepfake Defense Stakes
(18:31) - Revolut Social Engineering
(20:33) - Compliant CEO Fraud Case
(25:31) - Xero Influencer Backlash
(25:41) - Xero Claude Ad Backlash
(28:57) - Apology and AI Framing
(29:59) - DIY Taxes With AI
(34:05) - Client Experience Problem
(40:15) - IRS AI Fee Guidance
(43:00) - PwC Leaves Downtown LA
(44:48) - Wrap Up and CPE

Show Notes

Polymarket Trader Won 41 of 42 Earnings Bets on Companies KPMG Audits

https://www.financemagnates.com/forex/polymarket-trader-won-41-of-42-earnings-bets-on-companies-kpmg-audits/

SEC Charges Startup Founder with Fraud (Shiloh Luckey / ComplYant)

https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26424

KPMG Is Testing a New AI-Powered Tax Simulation Tool

https://goodfest.westfield.com/2026/05/kpmg-is-testing-a-new-ai-powered-tax-simulation-tool/

KPMG working with OpenAI to advance new "headless" enterprise tech model

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/kpmg-working-with-openai-to-advance-new-headless-enterprise-tech-model

KPMG LLP Takes Minority Stake in Deepfake Detection Leader Reality Defender

https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-llp-takes-minority-stake-in-deepfake-detection-leader-reality-defender.html

Cybercriminals using AI for fraud are making far more profit, Interpol claims

https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/cybercriminals-using-ai-for-fraud-are-making-4-5x-more-profit-interpol-says

Revolut confirms customer data breach after fake government requests

https://fstech.co.uk/fst/Revolut_Confirms_Customer_Data_Breach_After_Fake_Government_Requests.php

Xero issues new apology to accountants, days after controversial social media post

https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=344586

To our accountant and bookkeeper community

https://blog.xero.com/uk/accountants-bookkeepers/to-our-accountant-and-bookkeeper-community/

AICPA seeks IRS clarity on AI guidelines, CPA fees

https://www.thetaxadviser.com/news/2026/sep/aicpa-seeks-irs-clarity-on-ai-guidelines-cpa-fees/

Downtown L.A. Fixture PwC Will Move to Century City

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/08/downtown-l-a-fixture-pwc-will-move-to-century-city/186368/

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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

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Need Accounting Conference Info?

Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com

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TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

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EY to Bonus Staff $100M, Deloitte Pays $21M to Settle DEI Case Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Can AI prepare a tax return—and catch errors the software misses? Blake shares how Claude Cowork reconciled books, built workpapers, and completed two business returns, while David examines EY’s bonuses for human judgment, Deloitte’s $21 million DEI settlement, and PwC’s Evergrande exposure. Plus, Cloud Accountant Staffing’s Jordan Sublette explains why onshoring is joining offshore hiring strategies for accounting firms.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
Savant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savant
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Chapters

(00:00) - Ethics And Job Security
(00:18) - Show Intro And Headlines
(02:34) - Livestream Shoutouts
(03:03) - Claude CoWork Tax Prep
(06:54) - AI Catches TaxAct Errors
(11:26) - Accrual Buys Puzzle
(18:19) - EY Human Skills Bonuses
(20:33) - Deloitte DEI Settlement
(27:43) - Salaries And Big Four Fallout
(31:22) - PwC Evergrande Liability
(35:03) - Grant Thornton Buys CBIZ
(36:25) - CBIZ Returns Reality Check
(37:23) - Marcum Deal And Partner Payouts
(38:34) - IRS Revenue Hits Record
(40:50) - Chat Reactions And AI Ledgers
(44:03) - AI Cost Seg Pitfalls
(53:00) - Jordan Joins And Origin Story
(55:06) - Jason Staats Partnership Explained
(59:37) - Onshoring Portal And Pricing
(01:04:58) - Candidate Vetting And Training
(01:09:37) - Meetups And CPE Wrap Up

Show Notes

Accrual to Acquire Puzzle to Expand Into Client Accounting Services

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/09/02/accrual-takes-the-leap-into-cas-by-acquiring-puzzle/189565/

EY Rewards Employees' Human Skills With $100M

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-rewards-employees-human-skills-with-100m

Deloitte to Pay $21.5M to Settle Claims Its DEI Programs Violated Federal Civil Rights Law

https://www.cfo.com/news/deloitte-to-pay-215m-to-settle-claims-its-dei-programs-violated-federal-c/828948/

Accounting Firm Salaries Rose Slightly This Year

https://www.cfobrew.com/stories/accounting-firm-salaries-rose-slightly-this-year

KPMG Australia to Axe 5% of Workforce

https://www.cfo.com/news/kpmg-australia-to-axe-5-of-workforce-John-Sams/828636/

PwC International Can't Exit Evergrande Case, HK Court Rules

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-26/pwc-international-can-t-exit-evergrande-case-hk-court-rules

CBIZ Told Grant Thornton No, No, No, Before Saying Yes

https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/09/01/cbiz-told-grant-thornton-no-no-no-before-saying-yes/

IRS Enforcement Activity Fell Despite Record Tax Collections, TIGTA Says

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/aug/irs-enforcement-activity-fell-despite-record-tax-collections-tigta-says/

Cost Segregation in the Age of AI: What the IRS Audit Technique Guidelines Reveal

https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/cost-segregation-in-the-age-of-ai-what-the-irs-audit-technique-guidelines-reveal

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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

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TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

Subscribe

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Transcripts

Th...

TurboTax Losing Customers Over Price, Thomson Reuters Builds Own AI Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Can AI make tax prep cheaper without replacing the experts behind it? Hector Garcia joins Blake and David to unpack Intuit’s TurboTax pricing pressure, QuickBooks’ push into the mid-market, and whether AI-powered services are a bridge to automation. They also examine Thomson Reuters’ proprietary tax-and-legal AI model, Relate’s $100 million raise, and a student’s unusual path onto the New Mexico Board of Accountancy.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Savant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savant

Chapters

(00:00) - TAP 503
(02:47) - Intuit earnings overview
(03:52) - Meet Hector Garcia
(04:40) - Intuit stock and AI fears
(07:57) - TurboTax pricing pressure
(11:34) - TurboTax Live strategy shift
(16:12) - TurboTax Live vs firms
(19:47) - AI plus human bridge
(22:13) - QuickBooks Free and Light
(25:54) - Thomson Reuters builds LLM
(30:29) - Trust security and ownership
(34:16) - Vertical models disrupt giants
(35:18) - Copilot partnership pitch
(36:51) - Bulk AI Adoption
(38:59) - Rillet Unicorn News
(39:21) - Workday Buyout Math
(40:50) - Switching Costs Reality
(43:12) - Intuit Versus Rillet
(45:26) - How Rillet Wins
(48:18) - AI Spend Line Item
(51:15) - Stripe Buys OpenRouter
(53:22) - Reframe Conference Pitch
(56:01) - Pablo Pledgebar Cautionary
(57:08) - Britton Joins Board
(01:01:37) - Student View On PE
(01:04:57) - Education And AI Concerns
(01:09:33) - Board Dynamics Explained
(01:12:12) - Regulation Priorities
(01:15:13) - Wrap Up And CPE

Show Notes

Intuit Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2026 Results; Sets Fiscal 2027 Guidance

https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1320/intuit-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-fiscal-2026-results-sets-fiscal-2027-guidance

Thomson Reuters Leverages its World-Class Data Assets to Launch Its Own Frontier Model

https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/press-releases/2026/august/thomson-reuters-leverages-its-world-class-data-assets-to-launch-its-own-frontier-model

Rillet Raises $100 Million Series C at $1 Billion Valuation, Becomes Unicorn

https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/rillet-raises-100m-series-c-at-1b-valuation-2-years-after-emerging-from-stealth/

Silver Lake Eyes $51 Billion Workday Take-Private in Mega Software Deal

https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/silver-lake-workday-take-private

Stripe Agrees to Acquire OpenRouter to Help Businesses Optimize Token Routing and Usage

https://stripe.com/newsroom/news/stripe-agrees-to-acquire-openrouter

From Accounting Major and Frat Brother to Suspected of Being Penn State's Largest Drug Dealer

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/penn-state-agostino-abbatiello-drug-scheme-rcna593041

Accounting Student Appointed to the New Mexico Public Accountancy Board

https://news.unm.edu/news/accounting-student-appointed-to-the-new-mexico-public-accountancy-board

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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

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TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

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Transcripts

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the to...

Rogue AI Agents, Off-Balance-Sheet AI Financing & Xerocon 2026 Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

AI agents are going rogue — deleting bookings, sending unauthorized emails, and lying about it — and Blake and David trace the trend into the $3 trillion of off-balance-sheet AI commitments hiding in Big Tech's footnotes (and why accountants will get blamed when the bubble pops). They also recap what stood out at XeroCon 2026. Then Hoover Institution fellow Ben Jaros runs the real numbers on California's Prop 40 billionaire wealth tax — why the $100 billion estimate is closer to $40 billion, and whether taxing 200 people is even constitutional.

Sponsors
Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Chapters

(00:00) - Welcome to The Accounting Podcast
(03:00) - Rogue AI Agents Gone Wild
(07:53) - Controlling Agent Permissions
(12:08) - Microsoft AI Receivables Surge
(14:49) - Three Trillion Off Book Commitments
(17:09) - Meta Hyperion Lease Loopholes
(21:33) - Bubble Risk and Circular Financing
(28:24) - XeroCon Highlights and AI Agents
(32:21) - Bank Reconciliation and Roadmap Gripes
(34:10) - Conference Vaporware Rant
(34:37) - Billionaire Tax Preview
(36:33) - Prop 40 Basics
(38:40) - Revenue Reality Check
(42:44) - Residency Cutoff Drama
(45:01) - Wealth Tax vs Income Tax
(45:52) - One Time Or Not
(46:34) - Healthcare Backfill Claims
(51:42) - Better Ways To Tax
(55:23) - Constitutional Challenges
(58:01) - Why Voters Oppose It
(01:02:09) - Trial Balloon And Wrap Up

Show Notes

Coming soon!

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Transcripts

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

NVIDIA AI Funding Deal Has "Shades of Enron" & EY Speeds Audits 125%+ Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Is AI creating an audit boom—or hiding the next Enron-style risk? Blake and David unpack NVIDIA’s $500 billion data-center financing plan, why Michael Burry sees warning signs, and how AI is speeding up audits while challenging existing standards. They also cover improved PCAOB inspection results, the end of BOI reporting, Tether’s long-awaited audit, QuickBooks Live’s overhaul, and practical AI workflows small firms can use today.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Chapters

(00:00) - AI Biggest Audit Shift
(01:35) - Headlines And Sponsors
(02:20) - Digits AI Ledger
(04:02) - Nvidia Deal Explained
(06:31) - Enron Echoes And SPVs
(09:46) - Bubble Risks And GAAP
(12:31) - EY Audit Efficiency Claims
(15:25) - PCAOB Reports Debate
(17:40) - OnPay Payroll Sponsor
(18:53) - FinCEN Ends BOI
(19:52) - Audit AI Adoption Stats
(21:08) - PCAOB Must Set AI Rules
(25:52) - Quarterly Reporting Comments
(29:17) - Tether Finally Audited
(33:17) - Thomson Reuters Tax Automation
(35:07) - Ancient Rome Tax Scam
(38:45) - Why Tax Fraud Meant Death
(39:18) - Clients Want AI Dashboards
(39:45) - Small Firm AI Workflows
(44:35) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing
(45:49) - AI Raises Client Demands
(46:27) - Audit Disruption Debate
(48:35) - QuickBooks Live Rebrand
(51:10) - Taiwan Receipt Lottery
(54:40) - OnPay Benefits Upgrade
(01:05:17) - Switch Payroll Midyear
(01:09:19) - Wrap Up And CPE

Show Notes

'Shades of Enron': Michael Burry shorts Nvidia as its $500 billion chip-financing deal fuels a bubble

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/nvidia-ai-push-echoes-enron-123355872.html

EY leverages AI for audit

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-leverages-ai-for-audit

In ancient Rome, tax fraud was punishable by death

https://www.popsci.com/science/tax-fraud-death-penalty-ancient-rome/

PCAOB inspection reports of largest audit firms show improvements

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-inspection-reports-of-largest-audit-firms-show-improvements

FinCEN ends beneficial ownership reporting

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/fincen-ends-beneficial-ownership-reporting

Gartner Survey Finds Audit Teams' AI Use is Common, But Most Teams are Lacking Strategic Adoption and Application

https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-08-10-gartner-survey-finds-audit-teams-ai-use-is-common-but-most

It's Time for the US Audit Board to Set Corporate AI Standards

https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/its-time-for-the-us-audit-board-to-set-corporate-ai-standards

SEC quarterly earnings proposal draws flood of public complaints

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/sec-quarterly-earnings-proposal-draws-112015106.html

Firms (and Some Guy Obsessed With China) Have Weighed in on the PCAOB Turning an Eye to AI

https://www.goingconcern.com/firms-and-some-guy-obsessed-with-china-have-weighed-in-on-the-pcaob-turning-an-eye-to-ai/

Tether says KPMG issued 'clean' opinion in first full audit of USDT issuer's financials

https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/08/13/tether-says-it-completed-long-promised-big-four-audit-of-finances-behind-usd180-billion-usdt-stablecoin

Real-life ways small firms use AI

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2026/aug/real-life-ways-small-firms-use-ai/

QuickBooks Live is Dead, Long Live Intuit Experts

https://uqb.show/154

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PwC Cuts Disney & The Uncertain Career Path for CPAs Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

What does episode 500 reveal about where accounting is headed? Blake Oliver and David Leary celebrate the milestone with CFO.com’s Adam Zaki and Going Concern’s Adrienne Gonzalez. They unpack AI’s pressure on billable hours, shrinking entry-level pathways, the changing route to CFO, and PwC’s canceled Disney intern event. Plus, Blake shares what happened after NASBA challenged his CPE comments.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Chapters

(00:00) - ‌
(00:20) - Episode 500 Kickoff
(02:59) - Origin Story Live Chat
(07:22) - Billable Hour Fading
(13:36) - AI Knowledge vs Data Risk
(16:21) - PwC Intern Disney Cut
(24:31) - Pyramid to Diamond Firms
(34:29) - CFO Pathway Disrupted
(37:25) - AI Without Apprenticeship
(38:55) - Would You Work for AI
(39:47) - CFO Pipeline Shrinking
(41:11) - Skipping Entry Level
(43:15) - Simulations vs Real Work
(45:05) - Metaverse Training Fail
(47:35) - Crypto Fraud Irony
(49:10) - Listener Milestones
(51:58) - Billable Hour Debate
(01:01:21) - AI Auditing Future
(01:02:33) - NASBA Speech Clash
(01:11:48) - Wrap Up and Thanks

Show Notes

CrossCountry Consulting's new co-CEOs say billable hour is 'waning'

https://www.cfo.com/news/crosscountry-consulting-new-co-ceo-amy-bjarnason-neil-smith-discuss-their-industrys-future/826266/

Diamonds May Be a Firm's Best Strategy: How AI Is Rewriting the Structure of Modern Practice

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/08/05/diamonds-may-be-a-firms-best-strategy-how-ai-is-rewriting-the-structure-of-modern-practice/188060/

Teikametrics CFO Brian Beaupre says the career path he took is disappearing

https://www.cfo.com/news/teikametrics-cfo-brian-beaupre-says-the-career-path-he-took-is-disappearing-cfo-leadership-council-/824716/

The Age of Artificial Intelligence: Quinnipiac University Poll on AI

https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3955

We Went to the Boot Camp Where KPMG Teaches Auditors to Think Critically

https://www.wsj.com/business/kpmg-summer-interns-auditing-ai-training-941ad5cc

In Case You Didn't Hear, PwC Interns Won't Be Swarming Disney World This Year

https://www.goingconcern.com/in-case-you-didnt-hear-pwc-interns-wont-be-swarming-disney-world-this-year/

Bitquery CEO Faces $5M Theft Claim, 194 Records Deleted

https://www.analyticsinsight.net/news/bitquery-ceo-faces-5m-theft-claim-194-records-deleted

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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.

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Transcripts

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Grant Thornton to Acquire CBIZ & Trump Puts Immunity Over Blanche Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Could Grant Thornton’s $5 billion CBIZ deal create a Big Five? Blake and David unpack the private-equity-backed combination, what it means for accounting firm ownership, and why controller talent is still hard to find. They also examine AI’s effect on finance judgment—and why nearly half of Gen Z workers say it makes them less intelligent—plus tariff refunds, audit scrutiny, and rising software prices.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Thomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomation
Veltrix - http://accountingpodcast.promo/veltrix

Chapters

(00:00) - TAP 499
(02:17) - Livestream and CPE Plug
(03:12) - Grant Thornton Buys CBIZ
(04:35) - Stock Spike and Activists
(09:06) - PE Strategy and IPO Exit
(11:09) - Deal Size vs Big Four
(13:21) - Trump Immunity and Nominee
(16:39) - EY Hack Claim Explained
(18:56) - Trump Deal Appeal Update
(21:37) - Controller Hiring Crunch
(23:21) - Senior Pay Flattening
(26:24) - Corporate Hiring Demand
(27:59) - AI Boosts Finance Judgment
(29:38) - Claude Transforms Forecasting
(30:43) - Gen Z AI Dependency Fears
(34:32) - Xero Price Hike Backlash
(36:45) - Lovable Connector Moat
(40:38) - Agents Use Existing SaaS
(45:29) - Tariff Refund Windfall
(48:20) - NYC Pied-a-Terre Tax
(51:44) - PwC UK Audit Failures
(55:03) - Wrap Up and Episode 500

Show Notes

Grant Thornton Advisors to acquire CBIZ in $5 billion transaction

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/29/grant-thornton-set-to-buy-cbiz-for-5-billion-become-5th-largest-firm-in-u-s/187542/

Accounting Firm CBIZ Urged by Activist Investor to Pursue M&A

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-07/accounting-firm-cbiz-urged-by-activist-investor-to-pursue-m-a

Trump floats pulling Blanche's AG nomination until after GOP holdouts leave office

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/30/trump-blanche-ag-doj-cornyn-tillis.html

Donald Trump's tax audit immunity remains in place as Blanche's path to confirmation is cleared

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/as-blanches-path-to-confirmation-is-cleared-trumps-tax-audit-immunity-remains-in-place-3858601/

Ernst & Young data breach claimed by ShinyHunters extortion gang

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ernst-and-young-data-breach-claimed-by-shinyhunters-extortion-gang/

2026 Corporate Finance & Accounting Talent Research Study

https://controllerscouncil.org/2026-corporate-finance-accounting-talent-research-study/

Accounting's missing middle

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accountings-missing-middle

A third of companies look to increase finance and accounting hires

https://www.cfo.com/news/companies-look-to-boost-hiring-pay-for-finance-and-accounting-staff-controllers-council-report/824667/

AI's top value for finance now lies in improving judgment, not efficiency

https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ai-top-value-finance-now-085159658.html

Nearly Half of Gen Z Workers Say AI is Making Them Less Intelligent

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/05/19/nearly-half-of-gen-z-workers-say-ai-is-making-them-less-intelligent/183621/

Xero Announces U.S. Subscription Price Changes

https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/update/

Introducing the Lovable Xero connector: build on your Xero data, no code required

https://devblog.xero.com/introducing-the-lovable-xero-connector-build-on-your-xero-data-no-code-required-386873b591bc

We Peaked at 30 AI Agents. Now We're Coming Back Down to 20

https://www.saastr.com/we-peaked-at-30-ai-agents-now-were-coming-back-down-to-20-heres-what-consolidation-actually-looks-like-the-agents-011-live/

Amazon Got a $600 Million Tariff Refund, Some Going to Shoppers

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/30/amazon-trump-tariff-refunds.html

NYC Extends Deadline for Pied-à-Terre Tax Exemption Applications to Sept. 18

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-01/nyc-extends-deadline-for-second-home-levy-exemption-requests

Staten Island Homeowners Say They Fear for Safety After Names, Addresses Published on NYC Tax List

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/31/staten-island-homeowners-say-they-fear-for-safety-after-names-addresses-published-on-nyc-tax-list/187775/

PwC Fined $4.4 Million by UK Watchdog Over Babcock Audit Failures

https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/uk-financial-watchdog-fines-pwc-4-4-million-over-babcock/

New York Governor Trolls LeBron James with Tax on Rumored NYC Home

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/31/new-york-governor-trolls-lebron-james-with-tax-on-rumored-nyc-home/187765/

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IRS Chief Spied on Colleagues & Out of Control AI Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Could an AI agent decide to hack a system, or cancel your software subscription just to complete its task? Blake and David examine reports of AI agents escaping guardrails, flooding IRS rulemaking with generated comments, and taking autonomous business actions. They also trace accounting from ancient clay tokens to today’s AI economy, exploring why calculating profit and trustworthy records matter more than ever.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
The Value Builder System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/value
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Veltrix - http://accountingpodcast.promo/veltrix

Chapters

(00:00) - Profit First Accounting
(00:33) - Dumb Accounting AI
(02:40) - AI Guest Pitch Email
(07:21) - When Agents Go Rogue
(09:38) - OpenAI Agent Hacks Out
(11:57) - Waymo Laws And Goals
(16:33) - IRS Chief Spy Claims
(19:28) - AI Floods IRS Comments
(23:30) - SaaStr AI Cancels SaaS
(28:09) - Ode To Accounting Site
(29:54) - Accounting Births Writing
(31:24) - Double Entry Changes Everything
(32:09) - Industrial Era Standards
(33:29) - Internet Cloud And AI
(34:19) - Hosts React Tokens Return
(36:49) - Profit Cost Accounting And AI
(39:33) - Round Tripping Explained
(44:00) - IRS EIN Breakdown
(46:19) - Trump Accounts Adoption
(48:20) - Tax Leak Sentencing Debate
(50:23) - KPMG Australia Shakeup
(52:09) - QuickBooks MCP Workflows
(55:52) - Intuit Card Versus Ramp
(57:35) - Ramp Stablecoin And Token Spend
(01:00:39) - Wrap Up And Where To Find Us

Show Notes

OpenAI and Hugging Face partner to address security incident during model evaluation

https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/

Trump's IRS Chief Frank Bisignano Accused of Using Hi-Tech Software to Spy on Colleagues' Emails at JPMorgan

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-irs-chief-frank-bisignano-accused-of-using-hi-tech-software-to-spy-on-colleagues-emails-at-jpmorgan/

IRS blitzed with AI-generated comments on proposed tax rules

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-blitzed-with-ai-generated-comments-on-proposed-tax-rules

Your Agents Are About to Start Firing Your Vendors. Ours Fired Marketo.

https://www.saastr.com/your-agents-are-about-to-start-firing-your-vendors-ours-fired-marketo/

Basis offers AI agents, love letters and an ode to accounting

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/basis-offers-ai-agents-love-letters-and-an-ode-to-accounting

7 Million Trump Accounts Have Been Opened, Administration Says

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/29/7-million-trump-accounts-have-been-opened-administration-says/187586/

DC Circuit Denies Littlejohn Appeal and the Need for Privacy Protections Remains

https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/dc-circuit-denies-littlejohn-appeal-and-the-need-for-privacy-protections-remains

KPMG Australia appoints new CEO

https://www.internationalaccountingbulletin.com/news/kpmg-australia-appoints-new-ceo/

KPMG Fires Former COO Eileen Hoggett Over Confidentiality Breach

https://news.ssbcrack.com/kpmg-fires-former-coo-eileen-hoggett-over-confidentiality-breach/

QuickBooks Expands Into Claude and ChatGPT with New Features

https://www.intuit.com/blog/news-social/quickbooks-expands-into-claude-and-chatgpt-with-new-sales-invoicing-payroll-and-lending-features/

Intuit Launches Business Credit Card That Brings Spend Management, Rewards, and Insights Together in QuickBooks

https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1316/intuit-launches-business-credit-card-that-brings-spend-management-rewards-and-insights-together-in-quickbooks

Ramp Brings Stablecoin Accounts and Payments to All Customers

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-brings-stablecoin-accounts-and-payments-to-all-customers-302830447.html

Ramp Launches AI Token Spend Controls

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-launches-ai-token-spend-controls-302827389.html

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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.

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