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

• (00:49) - Legislation Impact on Audit Oversight
• (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

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 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/

What if private equity could transform accounting firms without sacrificing their independence? David Wurtzbacher, founder of Ascend, shares how his "anti-rollup" model allows firms to maintain their identities while accessing enterprise-level resources. Discover why transitioning firm leaders from client work to true CEO roles unlocks explosive growth, and how employee equity ownership creates alignment across organizations. With CPAs needing to be 2.7 times more productive by 2035, David reveals practical strategies for talent acquisition, business development, and technology that are helping mid-sized firms not just survive but thrive in an increasingly complex profession.
Chapters

• (01:07) - Understanding Ascend's Vision
• (01:59) - Challenges in Public Accounting
• (08:24) - Lessons from the Dental Industry
• (17:13) - Ascend's Approach to Firm Integration
• (17:53) - Leadership and Culture in Accounting Firms
• (24:02) - Case Study: Transforming Firm Leadership
• (27:45) - Overcoming Overwhelm: Delegating Client Relationships
• (28:36) - The Importance of Carving Out Thinking Time
• (29:20) - Focusing on One Thing at a Time
• (29:53) - Talent Strategy and Acquisition Challenges
• (31:10) - Building an Irresistible Offer for Candidates
• (34:13) - Equity and Ownership in Ascend
• (37:17) - Business Development and Marketing Strategies
• (45:13) - The Role of Technology and AI in Accounting
• (50:36) - Conclusion and Contact Information

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 Guest, David Wurtzbacher

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

Learn more about Ascend

Website: https://www.ascendtogether.com/

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

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

What happens after the ink dries on an accounting firm acquisition? Michael Ly and Ashley Rhoden reveal why many buyers overinvest in the purchase but underinvest in the crucial integration phase. Drawing from their hard-won experiences—both successful and unsuccessful—they walk through how to develop a comprehensive 100-day integration plan that begins during due diligence. You'll learn why keeping key employees is the difference between retaining and losing clients, how to effectively communicate changes to minimize disruption, and when to choose between a full roll-up versus platform approach. Whether you're considering an acquisition or have one in progress, this practical roadmap helps you navigate the complexities of merging firms.

Chapters

• (00:51) - Meet the Guests: Michael and Ashley
• (02:41) - Michael's Integration Experiences
• (07:16) - Ashley's Integration Insights
• (09:39) - The Importance of Due Diligence
• (17:49) - Managing Change and Communication
• (20:47) - Employee Integration Strategies
• (23:33) - Key Employees and Leadership Buy-In
• (24:52) - HR and Payroll Integration
• (26:18) - Communication Plans and Financial Operations
• (29:30) - Access to Financial Systems and IT Considerations
• (34:37) - Communication Strategies
• (37:54) - Seller Involvement Post-Acquisition
• (41:33) - Integration Approaches: Full Rollup vs. Platform
• (47:10) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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:

Michael Ly

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelly/
Website: https://www.reconciled.com/

Ashley Rhoden

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyrhodenmba/
Website: https://highrock.co

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

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