The profession’s future belongs to those who step out of the back room and into the boardroom

Accounting Influencers

with Rob Brown

Terrell Turner, CPA, co-founder of TLTurner Group, says the accounting profession is at a tipping point.

In this episode of Accounting Influencers, Turner calls on accountants, bookkeepers, and CFOs to evolve from number-crunchers to strategic decision-makers. "We can no longer sit in the back room," he says. "We’ve got to come to the front line and get involved in every aspect of the business."

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With a career that spans public accounting, Fortune 500 finance, and entrepreneurial success, Turner brings credibility and urgency to his message. Named a 40 Under 40 Black CPA and recognized by the New York Times, Turner is known for helping law firms transform their finances—but his real passion is transforming how accounting professionals see themselves.

Turner warns that professionals who fail to engage with business strategy risk being replaced by technology. “If we aren't filling that need, businesses will go find it somewhere else,” he says. “Accountants are in the best position to add value—but only if we step up.”

Self-awareness and self-reflection are key to discovering an authentic leadership style.

Gear Up for Growth
With Jean Caragher
For CPA Trendlines

In this episode of Gear Up for Growth, host Jean Caragher welcomes Carla McCall, managing partner of AAFCPAs and immediate past chair of the AICPA, for a candid conversation about one of the most pressing challenges facing the accounting profession: leadership succession.

• Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth here.| More Capstone Conversations with Jean Caragher | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here

With 75% of CPAs in public practice set to retire within the next 15 years, the need for strong, forward-thinking leadership has never been more urgent. McCall shares her personal journey of rising through the ranks at AAFCPAs, offering practical insights into how firms can—and must—prepare the next generation of leaders.

From the start, McCall emphasizes that leadership isn’t about titles. “You have to earn the trust and the respect of the team that you're leading,” she says. Her transition into the managing partner role wasn’t seamless—she initially believed that she had to make every decision herself. But through candid feedback and deep self-reflection, McCall found her authentic leadership style, shifting from a directive approach to one centered on listening, collaboration, and empowerment.

Originally published Nov. 1, 2024

MOVE’s latest project explores why even high-performing professionals are quietly exiting—and how firms can stop the leak.

Know-How Korner

With Amy L. Welch, APR, CAE

Center for Accounting Transformation

The accounting profession stands at a crossroads. Despite a steady influx of women into the field, their advancement into leadership continues to lag. Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, managing director of the Accounting MOVE Project, is sounding the alarm—and offering data-driven solutions.

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Now in its 15th year, the MOVE Project studies how firms support, advance, and retain women and underrepresented professionals. On a recent episode of Know-How Korner with host Amy Welch, APR, CAE, Ruszczyk describes the project’s long-standing foundation—Money, Opportunity, Vital Supports, and Entrepreneurship—and how these pillars remain critical in today’s evolving landscape.

“Women make up about 50% of the profession, but leadership still hovers at 25 to 28%,” Ruszczyk says. “And most of the drop-off happens right around the director level.”

"Pseudo compensation” can reduce taxable income and optimize client outcomes.

Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

In the latest episode of Quick Tax Tip, tax planning authority Art Werner makes a compelling case for rethinking how accountants approach compensation—shifting the focus from traditional deductions to strategic use of fringe benefits.

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“What are we really trying to accomplish?” Werner asks. “We’re trying to create what I call pseudo compensation—benefits that meet a client’s needs and reduce, or even eliminate, taxes.”

The key, he explains, is designing tax-efficient strategies that align with today’s post-Tax Cuts and Jobs Act environment. With many itemized deductions reduced or eliminated and the standard deduction nearly doubled, relying on deductions to save on taxes has become far less effective.

Originally published July 17, 2024.

Accounting firms must pivot to CEO-led structures or risk falling behind in the age of private equity and tech transformation.

Accounting Influencers

with Rob Brown

In a bold new episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, host Rob Brown declares that the traditional partnership model in accounting is no longer fit for purpose. Instead, he argues, the future belongs to firms that adopt CEO-led corporate structures, embrace private equity, champion technology, and develop strategic leadership pipelines.

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“The partnership model is dead, and here’s why you should care,” says Brown. “It’s holding firms back from faster decision-making, innovation, and the ability to scale.”

The episode takes a direct and urgent tone. It’s a call to action for partners, rising leaders, and firm influencers to rethink how firms operate—and how they themselves can gain influence.

Brown explains that firms clinging to the old ways risk irrelevance. Instead, he champions a shift to a corporate-style governance model—one with a clear CEO at the helm and a streamlined approach to decision-making.

“If you want a bigger voice in your firm, champion the shift to a CEO-led model,” Brown advises. “It allows for quicker responses to market demands and gives future leaders a clearer path to influence.”

This milestone episode proves that accountants can change lives—and legacies—every single day.

The Disruptors

With Liz Farr

In its milestone 100th episode, The Disruptors podcast pulls out all the stops with a powerful conversation featuring Paul Dunn, a four-time TEDx speaker, accounting innovator, and co-founder of the global giving platform B1G1. A true visionary, Dunn has spent decades redefining what it means to be an accountant—and his message to the profession is as bold and inspiring as ever.

• MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Jacob Schroeder: AI Won’t Replace Accountants—But It Will Reveal Who’s Replaceable | Ditching Corporate America: The Bold Story Behind PBS Accounting’s Rapid Rise | Jean Zick: Happy Team = Happy Clients | Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client Advocate | Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | Dave Kersting: Collaborate with Co-Firming | Ashley Francis: AI's a Partner, Not a Replacement | Richard Roppa-Roberts: Collaboration Over Competition

“If you’re in a sea of sameness, you’re not serving anyone,” Dunn tells host Liz Farr. “We need to move from 'standard' to 'stand out' because we 'stand for' something that is bigger than ourselves.”

That “something bigger” is impact.

According to Dunn, the key to differentiating an accounting firm isn’t just writing a purpose statement—it’s living one. Too often, he says, firms get bogged down creating long-winded declarations no one remembers. The real transformation comes when a firm becomes truly impact-driven.

“What if you turned that around... and you became impact-driven, and you're able to say as a result, this month, look at what we did. We created these impacts in the community.”

With 40% discounts and zero clawbacks, this credit is turning heads—and raising eyebrows.

The Concierge CPA

With Jackie Meyer

For CPA Trendlines

In this episode, Dr. Jackie Meyer interviews Chad Koebnick, VP of Specialized Tax Services at Nepsis, about the innovative Tribal Tax Credit.

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They discuss the mechanics of the credit, its origins, and the skepticism surrounding it. Chad explains the due diligence required for tax professionals and taxpayers, the process of claiming the credits, and common misconceptions. The conversation also touches on the future of tax advisory services and best practices for tax professionals in navigating this new landscape.

It's time to abandon outdated models and rethink everything.

Accounting Influencers

with Rob Brown

The accounting profession is standing at a critical juncture. In a powerhouse panel for the Accounting Influencers Podcast, three industry leaders—David Osborne, CEO of Conga and former Caseware chief; Tom Hood, EVP of Business Engagement and Growth at the AICPA; and Katie Thomas, owner and founder of Leaders Online—called for a radical reimagining of how the profession recruits, retains, and empowers talent.

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Hood doesn’t mince words. “Technology has always been the biggest driver of change in our profession,” he says, pointing to generative AI as both a threat and a massive opportunity. Yet, he warns, “We're hearing parents tell students not to go into accounting because it's going away. I actually happen to think the exact opposite.”

Hood also zeroes in on what he calls the “moose in the room”-- the profession’s leaky talent pipeline. “Pay has not kept up, and we keep talking to students about how hard accounting is. That culture doesn’t resonate with this generation.”