What it means to be an accountant is changing -- and that may be an important part of attracting more young people too the profession, says David Bergstein.

What clients value and what accountants think they value are rarely the same thing, and Joe Woodard makes the case that it's accountants who need to change their ideas around value, not clients.

Why work 80 hours a week when you can work 40? Why work 40 when you can work 25? Consultant Geraldine Carter explains why it's not the hours you work that matter, but what you and your clients get out of them, and shares strategies from her new book to help build accounting practices that take less of your time but deliver just as much value -- if not more.

The co-leaders of the Rosenberg Group, Marc Rosenberg and Kristen Rampe look back at three decades of change in the accounting profession — and what lies ahead.

Kelly Fisher, chief practice officer at Top 100 Firm Wipfli, offers a practical look at artificial intelligence, current use cases, and how accounting firms should be thinking about it.

The profession is seeing wholesale shifts in generational approaches across a range of areas, say Bob Lewis and Doug Lewis of the Visionary Group, as they dive into how best to navigate all those changes.

Accounting hought leader Seth Fineberg shares the three areas that public accounting needs to address: life-work balance, DEI and salaries.

The AICPA's Crystal Cooke talks about why the perception that companies are scaling back their diversity efforts is wrong, and how accounting can move forward in its pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion.

What goes into the recipe for accounting firm success? Randy Crabtree of TriMerit Specialty Taxes goes over the ingredients, and how best to combine them.

Okorie Ramsey, the chair of the AICPA and vice president of SOX at Kaiser Permanente, dives into how accounting firms can make the most of this important recruiting and career development tool, and the benefits it offers for both mentee and mentor.

Nela Richardson, chief economist of ADP, shares her thoughts on what's in store economically for the year ahead, what accountants should be worried about, and why the new normal will be anything but normal.

The first step is defining 'success,' says Nerd Enterprises' Seth David, before diving into how modern accounting firms can thrive.

It's not just hiring staff that's difficult -- managing them can be a major roadblock for growing businesses. One solution for that is the professional employer organization, and Kristen Appleman, senior vice president and general manager of ADP TotalSource, explains how they work and when they might be a good fit.

Frank Sands, president of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, shares the major issues that tax pros should be paying attention to in the run up to April 15, as well as expectations around IRS responsiveness, and the latest small-business trends.

With a radically new version of the test launching in 2024, the American Institute of CPAs' vice president of CPA examination and pipeline, Mike Decker, details the major changes, and shares valuable insights for how candidates can approach it.

Technology thought leader Randy Johnston of K2 Enterprises shares how firms should be building and thinking about their arsenal of tech tools.

As the flow of young people into the profession slows, and more and more old accountants are leaking away, Sue Coffey, the CEO of public accounting at the AICPA, and Lexy Kessler, chair of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, share what's being done in the short term and the long term to address this major problem.

Customer and client relationship management systems have come a long way, says Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting – and it's time for firms to give them a second look.

Construction companies love their accountants – and well they should, given the help they need on a range of compliance issues. Kit Dickinson of ADP shares the latest issues in the construction industry, and what they need from their CPAs.

Lots of businesses have claimed the Employee Retention Credit who don't actually qualify for it — and in many cases it's going to be up to their accountants to set them right. Randy Crabtree of Tri-Merit Tax Specialty Tax Professionals and the Unique CPA podcast dives into how you can know if a client qualifies, as well as the intricacies of some other major tax credits.

AJ Johnson, Geoff Brown and Calvin Harris share their unique perspectives as African-Americans who lead three of the biggest state CPA societies (respectively, the New Jersey Society of CPAs, the Illinois CPA Society, and the New York State Society of CPAs) on the major challenges facing their members, the primacy of the pipeline problem as an issue, and the role diversity can play in alleviating it -- if the profession can find a way to diversify itself.

The entry of private equity into public accounting has raised a lot of hopes and expectations and concerns – not all of which can pan out. Bob Lewis of the Visionary Group examines the opportunities, what it will mean for your firm, and how it will play out in the future.

Stephen Vono and John Raspante of insurance provider McGowan Pro look at the new areas that are sparking claims against firms – and the tools they can use to protect themselves.

Renovating your back office Description:  For accounting firms to scale, they need to build a stronger infrastructure of professional HR, marketing, IT and other support systems, says Rachel Anevski, the founder of Matters of Management.

Technology expert Randy Johnston, executive vice president at K2 Enterprises, shines a spotlight on what accounting tech can do for you now — and what it's going to do for you in the future.

It's not about answering their calls and doing what you promised you would: Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting explains why firms should elevate their clients experience.

Promoting a top performer doesn't always guarantee they'll stay -- in fact, it's often their ticket out. ADP chief economist Nela Richardson shares the surprising data, and how to navigate these transitions better.

Dominique Molina and Tom Gorczynski of the "Tax Crime Junkies" podcast share some of their favorite tax crimes and how they created their podcast. 

There is going to be a big gap between accountants who use artificial intelligence and those who don't, says Randy Johnston, executive vice president at K2 Enterprises, who shares ideas for leveraging this transformative technology.

Marna Ricker, global vice chair of tax at EY, discusses the latest developments on the global minimum tax and digital service taxes at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and how they will affect the U.S.

Many firms find they're hitting a major hurdle when it comes to taking advisory services to the next level; Sarah Dobek of Inovautus Consulting shares why, and what to do about it.

With so much disruption being thrust upon them, you'd think the last thing accounting firms would want to do is to disrupt themselves — yet that may be exactly what they need to do, says Bob Lewis of The Visionary Group.

Small Business Administration loan expert Shannon Hay talks about the changes to the SBA's new SOP around lending, and what they mean for accounting firms and their clients.

Jen Cryder, CEO of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, shares the innovative ways the profession in her state is dealing with the pipeline problem.  

Angela Appleby, a partner and lead auditor from Plante Moran who also sits on the AICPA Assurance Services Executive Committee, dives into the world of SOC reporting, and particularly the risks companies are facing there and the opportunities for accountants.

There's plenty of room for accountants to innovate in ways that don't involve IT, says metaconsultant Ed Kless, senior director of partner development and strategy at Sage, the host of the Sage Advice podcast, and co-host of "The Soul of Enterprise" radio show.

The accounting profession is going to have to move beyond the financial statement and the P&L to become holistic advisors, says Joe Woodard, a consultant and coach to accountants, founder of the Woodard Group, and the impresario behind Scaling New Heights.

Jean Marie Caragher, the president of Capstone Marketing, talks about why getting rid of bad clients can make a difference when it comes to keeping good staff, and much more.

Accountants need to create space for innovation in their firms, and then build up the change management processes they need to implement the innovations they come up with, explains Heather Satterley, the director of education and media at Woodard and cohost of The Appy Hour webinar series.

Leading consultant Allan Koltin of the Koltin Consulting Group discusses the key planks of a strong platform for firm growth.

Accountants don't realize that they have more power in their dealings with software providers than they may think; accounting technology thought leader and journalist Seth Fineberg wants to see accountants taking a more proactive approach to the relationship -- to the benefit of both sides.  

Kristen Keats of Breakaway Bookkeeping and Sherwood Tax & Accounting shares the best practices she's learned from using outsourcing in her own practice.

Accounting thought leader Amy Vetter talks about the need to understand your own story -- so that you can then rewrite it. Drawing on her new book, "Disconnect to Connect," she dives into how self-knowledge, vulnerability and authenticity can make you a better leader, and a better person. 

The war for talent goes on, but there are creative solutions available for bold firms, according to Jeff Phillips, CEO of Padgett Business Services and co-founder of remote job platform Accountingfly.

Accounting podcasters Randy Crabtree (of The Unique CPA podcast), and David Bergstein and Jasen Stine (of the Accountrends podcast) share the most interesting things they've learned from guests, as well as the big ideas they think accountants should be focusing on.

The shortage of people entering the accounting profession and pursuing CPA licensure has reached the proportions of a crisis, and Sue Coffey, CEO for public accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants dives into why -- and what accountants and firms can do about it.

Anthony Pugliese of the Institute of Internal Auditors discusses how changes in the business landscape are changing the risks that internal auditors need to pay attention to, and how the IIA is revamping its practice framework.

Randy Crabtree, CPA, the co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals and host of “The Unique CPA” podcast spotlights the mental health issues facing the accounting profession.

Daren Campbell, EY Americas tax tax technology and transformation leader, discusses the use of big data, robotic process automation, AI and other technology, in corporate tax strategy and compliance.

A desire for growth is often taken for granted at accounting firms -- but should it be? Consultant and accounting journalist Seth Fineberg examines what growth both can and should look like at different firms, and why it may be time to revisit your growth mindset.

Former IRS special agent Robert Nordlander dives into the difference between a Criminal Investigations investigation and a civil tax audit.

The leader of The Rainmaker Companies, Angie Grissom, shares lessons she's learned from working with accounting firms on their strategic plans.  

As he approaches his retirement, IMA chief Jeff Thomson reflects on the changes in the profession over the past decades, and what he sees ahead.

Renee Moelders and Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching discuss the rising trend to remote work through the lens of the results of their 2022 Anytime, Anywhere Work Survey.

After a decade at the helm of the Illinois CPA Society and as a major voice shaping the profession, Todd Shapiro shares valuable insights into the current and future state of the accounting profession on the verge of his retirement.

Amy Bridges of CPA.com dives into what it takes to build a successful client advisory services practice, based on the results of the latest CAS Benchmarking Survey. 

The chief economist of RSM US, Joe Brusuelas examines the prospects for recession, and what accountants should be paying attention to on behalf of their clients. 

Our annual selection of a dozen tasks you can take on over the next 12 months to advance your firm.

Marc Jeschonneck, global assurance digital leader at Ernst & Young, and Paul Goodhew, EY’s global assurance innovation and emerging technology leader, discuss the firm's $1 billion investment in AI and other advanced technologies for auditing, as the firm contemplates spinning off its consulting side.

Ty Beasley, the new chief talent officer at RSM US, describes the approach modern accounting firms need to take to recruiting and retention, starting with the "talent experience."

Sarah Acton, CMO of Bill — which recently rebranded from Bill.com — talks about how accountants need to think about their brand in the 21st century, and why it may be time for a change.

Withum's Ed Mendlowitz offers a host of tips and strategies you can implement now for a better busy season.

Allinial Global's Mark Koziel looks at the pros and cons of engaging with private equity firms, what firms can expect if they do – and how they can stand independent, if they want to.

Darren Root, chief strategist at Right Networks, offers a new framework for executing on your firm's business model — if you have one.

Graham Stanton and Edgar Thomas — the founders of Avise, a provider of cloud-based accounting and finance software aimed at startups — look at how the information business leaders need from their accountants changes as a business grows — and why accountants and management aren't always speaking the same language. 

Bill Smith, national director of tax technical services at the National Tax Office of Top 10 Firm CBIZ MHM, discusses what the new funding for the Internal Revenue Service in the Inflation Reduction Act means in terms of enforcement and greater audit activity, as well as how it will impact tax professionals.

Crystal Cooke, the director of diversity and inclusion at the AICPA and CIMA, discusses what the profession needs to do to move the dial on diversity in accounting.

Drawing on the best practices of Accounting Today's 2022 Best Firms to Work For list, here's a double-handful of the most effective, innovative ways to boost employee engagement and lower turnover.

ConvergenceCoaching has declared Oct. 21 "National Fire Some Clients Day," and partners Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson make the case for culling your client roster both strategically -- and ruthlessly.

Looking for profitability? First you need to define what it means for you and your partners, and then you need to get past some all-too-common misconceptions, say Marc Rosenberg and Kristen Rampe, co-managing partners of CPA firm consultants Rosenberg Associates and co-authors of the new book "What Really Makes CPA Firms Profitable."  

Ernst & Young Americas vice chair of assurance John King discusses the impact and history of one of the most influential pieces of financial legislation of the past 50 years. 

Scott Hanson, director of public policy and regulation at IFAC talks about accountants' role in fighting economic crime worldwide, and the federation's new anti-corruption action plan.  

The incoming CEO of RSM, Brian Becker, shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the accounting profession, and where he's taking his firm in particular.

Leaders from the Top 20 Firm talk about how its entrepreneurial, innovative culture drove it from humble beginnings to its current position as one of the most highly regarded in the profession. Current and past CEOs Matt Armanino and Andy Armanino, and the executive director emeritus of the Armanino Foundation, Mary Tressel share some of the elements of the firm's "secret sauce," as detailed in their recent book, "Empowered."

Rhonda Clark, executive director of the Association for Accounting Marketing, and Christine Nelson, lead communications consultant of Ingenuity Marketing, lay out how firms should be structuring their marketing functions throughout their life cycle.

Ericka Racca, director of audit professional services at CPA.com, and Karl Busch, senior director of product management at the AICPA, describe the capabilities of the upcoming Dynamic Audit Solution.  

Joe Woodard of Woodard Events lays out the potential size of the market for deeper client accounting/advisory services and bookkeeping – and what firms need to do make the most of it.

Client accounting services has been hugely successful as a service offering, but CPA.com president and CEO Erik Asgeirsson and vice president of growth and professional services Kalil Merhib say firms need to evolve toward the next stage: client advisory services.

Sue Coffey, CEO of public accounting at the AICPA, shares the latest trends and newest developments in this fast-changing corner of the profession, and looks ahead to what's next.

Twyla Verhelst, the leader of the FreshBooks Accounting Partner Program talks about how firms can leverage new technologies to improve their client experience.

AICPA vice president of small firm interests Carl Peterson dives into the details of finding an exit plan for smaller practices, which can be even more fraught and complex than for larger firms.

CFOs and corporate accountants face a future full of challenges and opportunities, according to Tom Hood, the executive vice president of business growth and engagement at the AICPA.

Professional services consultant Loren Fogelman of Business Success Solution dives into how accountants can find and communicate value without being dragged down by the anchor of the billable hour. 

Tenaya Taylor, the diversity, equity & inclusion director at Top 100 Firm EisnerAmper, discusses a new incentive program to get staff involved in DEI efforts, as well as the accounting profession's progress in this area.

The new CEO of Top 15 Firm Moss Adams, Eric Miles, shares his thoughts on the major challenges and opportunities facing accounting firms and the profession as a whole.

Phil Whitman of Whitman Business Advisors offers a primer on what the entry of PE money into the accounting profession means for firms.

Jerry Eitel, the newly appointed chief Metaverse officer at Prager Metis, explains why his firm is pioneering this new digital space, and what it can offer accountants.

EY Americas corporate and ESG reporting thought leader Marc Siegel dives into the recent SEC proposals around climate disclosures amid the broader context of the rise of ESG reporting.

NxtStep Consulting founder Sean Boyce identifies the key point at which growing firms need to change how they operate, or risk stagnating, and shares what the key issues they need to deal with.

CPA Moms founder Mayumi Young talks about the issues facing women and mothers in accounting, and why innovative approaches like her unique franchise model can help.

NACATPros' Naomi Granger discusses the latest developments in the industry, and what accountants and tax pros who serve it need to know.

CPA and accounting educator Bee Nance talks about the importance of financial literacy, her new book of finance advice for kids, and her role as an accounting educator.

Lou Ann Hutchison of Grant Thornton details a unique new way firms can offer benefits to staff: the lifestyle spending account.

Partner compensation systems should be about much more than just divvying up the money, says Mark Masson of Axiom Consulting Partners — they should also be about achieving the firm's strategic goals.

Marty Davidoff of Top 100 Firm Prager Metis discusses the major issues practitioners should be aware of for the rest of tax season.

Marie-Laure Delarue, global assurance vice chair at EY, discusses how accounting firms can provide audit and assurance services to help companies with their ESG reporting and the formation of the new International Sustainability Standards Board.

Mark Steber, chief tax information officer of Jackson Hewitt, discusses the tax prep chain's flat-fee offering, what tax season's going to look like, and the future of tax prep.

Mike Whitmire of FloQast and Drew Carrick of FloQast Studios take us behind the scenes of creating the first comedy series for accountants, "PBC," and share why the company is building its own content studio.

Frances Moreno of Vaco discusses the obstacles and opportunities facing those looking to hire accountants in the New Year.

Industry expert Allan Koltin shares his expectations for the next 12 months in accounting

Kate Barton, global vice chair of tax at Big Four firm EY discusses tax-related trends highlighted by the recent COP 26 gathering, from carbon taxes to the tax incentives in recent and planned legislation around the world.

Scott Peterson of Avalara shares the top issues sales and use tax issues for the coming year, starting with the unexpected large amount of money in state coffers.

Growth expert Gale Crosley explains why it's critical to jettison your worst clients — and how to do it.

Mike Monahan and Lou Ann Hutchison of Grant Thornton discuss how the pandemic is changing the benefits accounting firms offer staff, and which benefits they have to have to keep staff engaged and on board.

With career paths in the profession multiplying and growing more complex, former KPMG office managing partner and author of "Advice for a Successful Career in the Accounting Profession" Jerry Maginnis shares top tips for helping young accountants optimize their careers.

Heather Paquette, KPMG's national technology assurance leader - audit, talks about how digital ledger technologies are impacting business in general and the auditing profession in particular.

Erik Asgeirsson of CPA.com and Jennifer Wilson from ConvergenceCoaching discuss what firms need to do to make the most of Client Accounting Services, and to share insights from CPA.com's latest CAS benchmarking study.

As more and more firm owners look to transition, it's crucial that they understand what, exactly, is valuable about their practice. The Visionary Group's Bob Lewis and Doug Lewis dive into what makes a practice saleable — and what doesn't.

Stavros Thomadakis, chair of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, discusses accounting ethics and the changes he has seen in the standards during his tenure as Global Ethics Day approaches.

Crystal Cooke of the AICPA and Todd Shapiro of the ICPAS discuss the centennial of the first Black CPA, what we can learn from pioneering Black accountants, and the work the profession needs to do on diversity.  

Forensic accounting champion Dawn Brolin on what accountants can do to help clients detect and prevent scams.

Todd Shapiro and Kari Natale of the Illinois CPA Society discuss the dearth of CPA candidates, and the profession can do about it.

Becker's Tim Gearty shares insights on why and how accountants are getting involved in sustainability and environmntal, social and governance disclosures.

Jackson Johnson of Johnson Global Accountancy shares best practices for auditors facing their overseer -- and for making audits better in general.

Small and midsized accountants were crucial to their clients around the world over the past year, say IFAC experts Chris Arnold and Monica Foerster, but they had to change their own practices to keep up.

Carrie Steffen of the Whetstone Group on how accountants need to think differently — but not that differently — when they offer client accounting services.

With accounting firms facing high levels of burnout, thought leader and modern firm pioneer Dawn Brolin talks about her new book, "The Designated Motivator," and explores how firms can keep staff engaged and inspired.

Grant Thornton's Chris Stephenson and Joe Brown talk about why firms need to embrace being more creative with services, products and technology.

Major elements of the accounting firm model are changing, and Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching identify some of the most important changes that firm leaders need to keep up with.

Author and CPA CeCe Leung shares what she learned from telling the stories of pioneering accountants in her book, "Dear Accountant."

As companies look to come back from the pandemic, data analysis can help them drive re-engineering processes, enhance risk controls and otherwise bounce back stronger, according to RSM International global chief innovation officer Paul Herring.

Lara Abrash, the CEO of the U.S. audit and assurance business of Deloitte, and Deloitte partner Thalia Smith discuss why so many of the accounting profession's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have met with little success, and what needs to happen going forward, as the Big Four firm rolls out a major initiative.

Sue Coffey and Carl Mayes of the AICPA addresses what needs to change in accounting education and training to prepare accountants for the future.

The pandemic has been going on so long that it can be hard to imagine what things will look like afterward -- but businesses need to start preparing now for their eventual emergence, according to Cynthia Romano and Kevin Clancy of CohnReznick.

Barry Melancon of the AICPA and Erik Asgeirsson of CPA.com review the successes of the Paycheck Protection Program, and how accountants should be thinking about the future to guide their clients out of the pandemic.

Veteran accounting technologist David Bergstein talks about creating a playbook for client accounting services, and building a technology stack to support it.

Recent research from University of Kansas business professor Amanda Winn suggests that partner rotation and PCAOB inspections may have some unintended effects.    

The pandemic has actually highlighted -- and in some cases improved -- the accounting profession's attractiveness, according to Jennifer Wilson and Tamera Loerzel of ConvergenceCoaching.

Joe Woodard lays out a blueprint for the idea accounting firm of the future.  

John Hanson, managing director of BDO's Forensic Investigation and Litigation Services practice, discusses the tell-tale signs to look out for in businesses during the pandemic.

GHJ's Derrick Coleman explains why the pandemic and the move to remote work can help the accounting profession move the needle on diversity. 

KPMG's Scott Flynn dives deep into the future of auditing, and what it will mean in terms of technology, staffing and more.

The staff crunch continues its relentless pressure on accounting firms, making it all the more important for them to become employers of choice. Peter Burke of Best Companies Group details the latest trends in creating employee-friendly workplaces.

Growth consultant Gale Crosley shares crucial guidance for firms looking to focus on consulting and advisory services.

The performance and experiences of the biggest practices in accounting in 2020 offer six lessons for the profession.

Marjorie Adams of Fourlane discusses nontraditional careers in accounting, and why she's setting up a scholarship fund to encourage students to explore them.

Will Hill and Paul Miller of "The Pulse of the Practice" podcast correct some of the accounting profession's biggest misconceptions around the shift to value-added services.

No one likes to contemplate their own mortality, but John Napolitano of U.S. Wealth Management makes it clear why accountants need to get their business-owner clients thinking about exit planning.

Growth consultant Gale Crosley talks about taking a practice across the country and around the world.

Determining the value of a CPA firm or other business is as much art as science, according to Nainesh Shah and Evan Levine of Complete Advisors LLC.

The changes wrought by the pandemic in ecommerce and much more will play out in the sales tax arena across 2021, according to Avalara's Liz Armbruester.

With the pandemic shaking things up, now is a great time to reexamine your practice, and Amanda Aguillard of Elefant Training and Accounting Salon offers a guide to what the firm of the future can look like.

Companies and their advisors will want to make sure they're up on what's reported on the form, how it's changing the 1099-MISC, and the state-reporting wrinkles that go along with it, says Janice Krueger of Greatland.

The changes of the past year around how and where staff can work are irreversible, and accounting firms need to adjust and find ways to make the most of the tremendous opportunities afforded by "boundaryless" work, say Jennifer Wilson and Renee Moelders of ConvergenceCoaching.