The Accounting Podcast

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The Losers of AI & What CPAs Need to Know About OBBBA Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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 jobs
https://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 push
https://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/

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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

When AI Decides Who Gets Promoted & Who's Going to Tax Prom? Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

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.

Sponsors
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
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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
(34:32) - Young People's Values on Success
(37:39) - Global Perspectives on Success
(40:07) - The Talent Shortage in Accounting
(41:54) - Unlimited PTO and Burnout
(45:37) - Tariffs Update
(49:26) - The Big Beautiful Bill
(01:02:36) - IRS Staffing Cuts and Refund Delays
(01:07:10) - 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 Agents
https://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 Discount
https://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 Environments
https://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

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Xero Buys Melio, QuickBooks AI Agents Are Here, More Big Four Cheating Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

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
(09:46) - Xero's New Features and Updates
(18:57) - QuickBooks AI Agents: A Game Changer?
(29:22) - Digits AI Agents and Their Potential
(33:42) - Big Firms Investing in AI
(36:31) - Managing AI Agents: The New Workforce
(37:52) - Cognitive Load and Productivity Limits
(39:28) - Infinite Workdays and AI's Role
(41:31) - AI in Accounting: Potential and Pitfalls
(43:13) - AI Spending Trends and Future Outlook
(44:01) - Building AI Workflows and Multi-Agent Systems
(46:06) - Big Four and AI Integration
(47:37) - AI-Powered Pricing and Payment Solutions
(53:32) - VC-Backed AI Rollups in Accounting
(57:13) - Regulatory Challenges and Industry Changes
(01:04:36) - Audit Quality and PCAOB Fines
(01:14:17) - 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 | Reuters
https://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 Today
https://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

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Tariffs, Iran, PE, CPA Pipeline, PCAOB, SEC Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

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
(32:07) - Chief Accountant at the SEC
(39:10) - Smart Moves by Congress: Nonprofit Pay Scales
(39:43) - The Impact of Budget Cuts on PCAOB
(40:33) - Challenges in Government Oversight
(41:01) - Senate's Big Bill: Key Changes and Controversies
(44:26) - Tax Implications and Political Dynamics
(50:43) - Business Deductions and Higher Education
(53:41) - AI in Accounting: Transforming the Big Four
(55:38) - The Future of Accounting Education
(01:00:11) - AI's Role in Auditing and the Future Workforce
(01:03:20) - The Impact of Automation on Jobs and Society
(01:12:31) - 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

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Learn more about Adam Zaki:

Website: https://www.cfo.com/editors/azaki/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamzakinyc

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AICPA Doesn't Care If PCAOB Goes Away Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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

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The Death of the Financial Close: Aaron Harris on AI's Accounting Revolution Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

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-harris
X: https://x.com/AaronRHarris

Learn more about Sage

https://www.sage.com/

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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

Real Life Ways Accountants Use AI, How Sage Will Eliminate the Close Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

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.

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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

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Classifieds

The $400 Million Question: Should Congress Eliminate the PCAOB?(From the Earmark Podcast) Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

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

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Connect with Our Guests:

Maureen McNichols
https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/maureen-mcnichols
Nemit Shroff
https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/nemit-shroff
Daniel Aobdia
https://directory.smeal.psu.edu/dza5396

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

Excel Still Trumps AI, Tariffs Under Threat, QBO Price Increases Justified? Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

What happens when a major newspaper publishes a summer reading list where only five of the 15 books actually exist? Blake and David explore this real example of AI-generated content gone wrong and what it means for accounting professionals who increasingly rely on automated tools. They break down QuickBooks' latest price increases, demonstrate how AI can now build complex consolidation spreadsheets in minutes, and discuss why Excel skills still outrank AI knowledge in finance hiring. Plus, they examine the legal challenges facing Trump's tariff policies, alternative CPA pathway expansion, and hear from accounting student Jason Farley about the dangerous gap between classroom education and real-world cloud accounting practice.

Sponsors
Payhawk - http://accountingpodcast.promo/payhawk
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REFRAME 2025 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2025
TeamUp - http://accountingpodcast.promo/teamup

Chapters

(00:48) - Summer Reading List Mishap
(02:52) - AI and the Future of Fact-Checking
(05:27) - AI Video Generators and Fake News
(08:20) - QuickBooks and AI Pricing Debate
(09:16) - Elon Musk and Government Efficiency
(10:41) - The Big Beautiful Bill and Its Implications
(18:29) - Tariffs and Trade Wars
(38:31) - Excel vs AI in Finance
(41:25) - The Rise of Excel: A Brief History
(42:27) - Introducing Perplexity AI: A Versatile Tool
(52:39) - Alternative CPA Pathways and Legislative Changes
(53:50) - The Role of the PCAOB in Audit Quality
(58:08) - Controversies Surrounding IRS Commissioner Nominee Billy Long
(01:02:42) - The Future of Accounting Internships and Outsourcing
(01:19:03) - Perplexity's Onboarding Process: Results and Insights
(01:23:21) - Upcoming Conferences and Closing Remarks

Show Notes

Chicago Sun-Times fake summer reading list article
https://www.chicagosuntimes.com/fake-summer-reading-list-2025

South Carolina passes alternative CPA pathway legislation
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/cpa-pathway-legislation-2025

New Jersey alternative CPA pathway bill
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/cpa-alternative-pathway-2025

Oregon CPA licensure reform legislation
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/cpa-pathway-reform-2025

Minnesota CPA education requirements change
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/cpa-education-requirements-2025

Illinois CPA pathway legislation
https://www.ilga.gov/cpa-pathway-bill-2025

Trump tariffs constitutional challenge court ruling
https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-tariffs-constitutional-challenge-2025

Court of International Trade blocks global tariffs
https://www.cit.uscourts.gov/trump-tariffs-ruling-2025

International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff authority
https://www.treasury.gov/ieepa-tariff-authority-analysis

PCAOB elimination provision in tax bill
https://www.congress.gov/bill/pcaob-elimination-provision

Billy Long IRS Commissioner confirmation hearing
https://www.finance.senate.gov/billy-long-confirmation-hearing

Billy Long tribal tax credits promotion controversy
https://www.irs.gov/tribal-tax-credits-fraud-warning

Federal Tax Updates podcast with Danny Werfel
https://federaltaxupdates.com/danny-werfel-interview

Solutions Magazine Excel vs AI survey
https://solutionsmagazine.com/excel-ai-finance-survey-2025

Microsoft Excel 40th anniversary analysis
https://www.technologylab.com/excel-40-years-anniversary

QuickBooks pricing increases for AI features
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing-changes-ai-features-2025

Puzzle AI accounting platform pricing
https://puzzle.io/pricing

Digits AI bookkeeping service costs
https://digits.com/pricing-plans

Uplink AI bookkeeping pricing structure
https://uplink.com/ai-bookkeeping-pricing

Altman Dublin AI accounting company funding
https://altman.ie/series-a-funding-announcement

Perplexity Labs spreadsheet creation feature
https://labs.perplexity.ai/spreadsheet-tools

Microsoft Office bundling strategy vs Lotus 123
https://www.computerhistory.org/excel-lotus-competition

Meet our Guest, Chayton Farlee

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaytonfarlee/

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Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.

Need Accounting Conference Info?

Check out our new website -

Beyond the Hype: Real-World AI in Accounting and Finance May 30, 2025

Show notes

How close are we to expense reports that create themselves? In this crossover episode recorded live at Emburse in Motion, Blake Oliver explores real-world AI implementation with Adriana Carpenter, CFO of Emburse, and Olga Pavlova from PizzaExpress. Discover how PizzaExpress manages 350+ restaurant locations using AI to automatically flag policy violations and detect hidden SaaS subscriptions buried in expense reports. You'll learn specific strategies for vendor consolidation that deliver immediate cost savings, plus hear Adriana's vision for AI agents that guide employees through policy compliance in real time. From keyword detection that prevents VAT errors to mobile-first expense reporting that's "quarters away, not years away," this episode reveals practical automation wins you can implement today.

Meet Our Guests:

Adriana Carpenter
CFO, Emburse

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-carpenter-487507a/

Learn more about Emburse

https://www.emburse.com/company/about-emburse

Olga Pavlova-Grebliauske FCCA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-pavlova-grebliauske-fcca-8a625470/

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Sponsorships

Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.

Need Accounting Conference Info?