Journal of Accountancy Podcasts

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, was less than a week into his tenure as AICPA & CIMA CEO when he joined the Journal of Accountancy podcast for a two-part conversation. In part one, published Thursday, Koziel discussed wanting to hear from members about their challenges and success stories. In part two, he talks about how accountants can work with artificial intelligence tools, why he initially was interested in pursuing work with the FBI, and the value he sees in a hybrid work environment for some firms.  Koziel has invited members to send email to AskMark@aicpa-cima.com and "tell me how the Association can help you, your career, and the profession." What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         The career-related questions Koziel used to ask fellow CPA firm partners. ·         One aspect of Koziel’s preparation to become an accountant that he would have changed. ·         The key things he learned as an employee of the grocery store Wegmans. ·         What he says to students considering a career in account

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, was officially just a few days into his role as CEO of AICPA & CIMA when he took time to join the Journal of Accountancy podcast for a conversation that will be shared in two parts. Part one is below, and part two will be published in the coming days. Koziel — named in October to succeed the now retired Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA — discussed the importance of hearing about the successes and challenges facing members, how he hopes to create communities, and more in this interview. Koziel also invited members to send email to AskMark@aicpa-cima.com and “tell me how the Association can help you, your career, and the profession.” Related links: n  The news of Koziel’s hiring, succeeding Barry Melancon as CEO. n  Melancon’s words about Koziel in a December podcast conversation. n  Koziel’s previous JofA podcast appearance, as part of a 2022 episode when he was the CEO of Allinial Global. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Three facts for members to know about Koziel, in his

Chris Dyer, whose recent book details seven pillars of corporate culture, joined the Journal of Accountancy podcast from the Future of Finance Summit in San Diego to explain some of the ways companies can get culture right — and the ways they get it wrong. For instance, Dyer said that a common approach of individuals and organizations, after a strengths and weaknesses assessment, is to think about the areas where their performance is mediocre.  “They want to … start with the ones they’re OK with,” Dyer said. “I say go after the one where you’re terrible, and you fix that, and your people all of a sudden get excited.” Also, get insight, in the form of a quick-hitting sound clip to close the episode, on how high-level thinking serves a CPA who played in the NFL. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Why Dyer got into the exploration of team and corporate culture. ·         Dyer’s assertion that building company culture is more science than art. ·         The value of saying “yes” more often — and strat

It’s not even five weeks into 2025, and already there’s a bevy of news affecting tax practitioners. Melanie Lauridsen, the AICPA's vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, joined the Journal of Accountancy podcast amid all the tumult to update listeners on several fronts. Lauridsen discussed the latest on beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting and the Supreme Court, how IRS service might be affected by various executive orders, and what aspects of a new tax bill or bills are being followed closely by the AICPA. One bit of related news happened Thursday, one day after recording. The Senate Finance Committee released a discussion draft, the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, which includes provisions the AICPA strongly supports. Resources: Melanie Lauridsen on LinkedIn The AICPA’s BOI resource center JofA coverage of the IRS rescinding some job offers What you'll learn from this episode: A recap of court cases related to beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. The

On LinkedIn, the congratulatory messages poured in for Janice Stucke, CPA, after she completed an Ironman triathlon in October. Those messages all had named authors — her LinkedIn contacts. One message, from a still unknown author, attached to her bike on race day, continues to resonate with Stucke, the CFO of CREW Network. In an earlier podcast episode, Stucke detailed her nontraditional path to becoming a CPA and, later, a CFO. In this conversation, Stucke recaps the obstacles she faced in the race, how problem-solving skills played a role in her crossing the finish line, and why she is thankful for a group of friends she first met at the Future of Finance Summit. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         A recap of Stucke’s “exhilarating” day completing the triathlon. ·         The reason Stucke felt nauseous during the run segment — and strategies she tried to overcome the feeling. ·         The message that inspired Stucke — one that an unknown person put on her bike. ·         The meaningful sup

Risk management, in the words of Sarah Ference, CPA, doesn’t have to be overly complicated or time consuming. “It’s really a mindset,” said Ference, an author of the JofA’s Professional Liability Spotlight column and the guest on this week’s episode of the JofA podcast. Ference shares several risk management maxims that have resonated with her – ones that are the focus of the January column, Risk Management Mantras to Add to Your Daily Practice. In addition, Ference details the topics in some previous Professional Liabillity Spotlights: n  October: 10 Tips to Help Avoid Wire Fraud Scams. n  November: Missed Due Dates: Diligence and The Lurking Danger. n  December: How to Not Lose Sleep Over NOCLAR. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Some of the risk management mantras that stand out to Ference. ·         The difference between being friendly and objective with clients. ·         The answer CPAs should give to the question “Who’s your most important client?” ·         Why Ference says th

What’s the future of fully in-office work? What’s the hiring outlook for finance and accounting roles in 2025? Steve Saah, the executive director of the finance and accounting permanent placement practice at Robert Half, tackles those and other questions in this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, recorded in December in San Diego. Saah discusses how companies have to walk a fine line when it comes to requiring in-office minimum hours or days – and how that tightrope can affect the pay they offer new employees. The episode is the first of 2025 and the second from the Future of Finance Summit. In the first summit-focused episode, four CPA leaders looked back on what they learned and ahead to their expectations for 2025. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Saah’s assessment of the future of fully in-office work. ·         The tie-in between required time in an office and recruiting new hires. ·         How the amount of time agreed upon to spend in the office could affect a new hire

Last week in San Diego, a group of 165 finance leaders convened for the fourth Future of Finance Summit. This JofA podcast episode is a compilation of takeaways from the event and a look at key areas of focus for leaders in 2025. It is the first of several Future of Finance recordings. The speakers for this episode are: n  Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, AICPA & CIMA's executive vice president–Business Growth & Engagement n  Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA, CGMA, the CEO of KET Solutions and former AICPA chair n  Becca Shane, CPA, CGMA, the CFO of Blue Marlin Ventures n  Okorie Ramsey, CPA, CGMA, vice president–Sarbanes Oxley at Kaiser Permanente and former AICPA and Association of International Certified Professional Accountants chair What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         More about Tom Hood's summation that the event "leveled up." ·         The top priorities of finance leaders, based on polling last week at the Future of Finance Summit. ·         Why Kimberly Ellison-Taylor says she’s looking f

It’s no secret anymore: Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, is retiring as CEO of AICPA & CIMA. He was first named CEO of the AICPA nearly 30 years ago, and he leaves the now global organization with a legacy of change. His last official day is Dec. 31, and Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, is his successor. In this episode of the JofA podcast, recorded earlier this week at Digital CPA in Denver, Melancon explains why he’s not counting down the days of his tenure, why there likely will be more recreation in his future, and why he expects he will “still wake up every day and think about the profession.” What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Why Melancon hasn’t been counting the days until his tenure as CEO ends. ·         His “stellar” assessment of how he will transition into retirement. ·         His relationship over the years with incoming CEO Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA. ·         The “unsettled” nature of the world and how accountants can help. ·         Why Melancon prioritized the profession and the members b

The potential for less regulation is one factor driving optimism among CPA decision-makers in a quarterly survey, according to Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, AICPA & CIMA associate director–Management Accounting Research and Development. Witt joined the JofA podcast to discuss fourth-quarter results of the Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey — statistics that were dramatically different from the third quarter. The executives are mostly optimistic about the domestic economy in 2025. They also have a brighter outlook as it relates to their own organizations, although that increase since the third quarter was more muted. What you’ll learn from this episode: A breakdown of the quarter-over-quarter change in optimism. What challenge returned to its familiar top spot in this quarter’s survey. The reasons that optimists and pessimists feel the way they do, according to Witt’s analysis. The hiring outlook for 2025.

Melanie Lauridsen, vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy for the AICPA, reflected on how election results might inform future tax legislation and why any change in administration and tax policy can make it more difficult for practitioners seeking clarity. Lauridsen also discussed advocacy related to beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting and what might change related to IRS funding, the corporate tax rate, and more in this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·       An update on AICPA advocacy related to BOI reporting relief. ·       Why Lauridsen expects any changes to the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) to be “hybrid” — as opposed to all TCJA provisions becoming permanent. ·       Discussion about the future of the deduction limit for state and local taxes, aka the SALT cap. ·       The fate of IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act — and why a “rebalance” might be possible. ·       Lauridsen’s summation that 2025

Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Growth and Engagement at AICPA & CIMA, understands why accounting skills are often ranked outside the top five of key skills in informal polling of finance audiences. “It’s not because they're less important, but because the other skills are more important,” Hood said. The core requirements remain, but the ability to adapt and add new skills has grown in importance with the pace of transformation accelerating. In this episode of the JofA podcast, Hood expands on some recent themes of his travels and what he looks forward to from the Future of Finance Summit in December. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Why mindset is more important in transformation than the toolset of technology. ·         Details of a recent report about skills from the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs. ·         The skills that rank ahead of the “table stakes” of technical accounting skills. ·         Why it’s important to “grab these new skills.” ·        

Stig Nybo is not afraid to admit that he’s made mistakes. He’s also happy to have been part of a movement that improved the thinking around retirement savings. Nybo, a keynote speaker at the Employee Benefit Plans Accounting, Auditing, and Regulatory Update, a Dec. 4-5 virtual event, co-wrote the book Transform Tomorrow: Awakening The Super Saver in Pursuit of Retirement Readiness. In this episode of the JofA podcast, Nybo talks about finding passion at work, why attempts to fix things can lead to breaking other things, and the “entire ecosystem” that’s aiming to drive better retirement-savings habits. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         The circumstances that led to Nybo co-authoring a book emphasizing saving for retirement. ·         The 2019 JofA podcast guest that Nybo interviewed for his book. ·         Why his message is about more than saving, creating retirement plans, or auditing such plans. ·         Why he agrees with the words of Mark Twain when it comes to career choice. ·      

Digital disruption is everywhere, including in the practice of internal audit. An audit leader joined the JofA podcast recently to discuss how technology can be harnessed instead of feared or resisted. Anthony Pugliese, CPA/CITP, CGMA, president and CEO of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), said it is understandable for fast-moving technology to be daunting. But such technology presents opportunities as well as risks. One tie-in is the new tools’ ability to attract the next generation of talent for auditing. In this episode, Pugliese reviews recent IIA research, reminds auditors about the importance of curiosity, and discusses some of the misconceptions facing the profession. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Highlights of recent research by The IIA about top risks. ·         Some of the “misconceptions” about internal auditing, according to Pugliese. ·         How the “slow trek” of blockchain integration into processes differs from today’s tech implementations. ·         The “most g

Scott Simmons is co-managing partner at the firm Crist Kolder Associates. In more than two decades handling executive searches for clients, he’s seen the qualifications for the CFO role change dramatically. The pressure on CFOs to deliver value has also grown. While some skills remain constant, of course, so do the paths to landing a CFO role. In this JofA podcast episode, Simmons takes listeners through some of the recent statistics in the firm’s annual Volatility Report, discussing the importance of escaping one’s comfort zone and developing new skills to be in line for a job as finance chief. What you’ll learn from this episode: The number of CFOs at larger companies who have Big Four accounting backgrounds. The companies and C-suite positions Crist Kolder tracks in its annual Volatility Report How candidates can develop CFO skills without first becoming a CFO. Why an investor relations rotation should be something aspiring CFOs “jump” to accept. The major college athletics conference that has produced th

In less than four weeks, IRS officials and tax practitioners will gather in Washington for the AICPA & CIMA National Tax Conference. The event begins six days after Election Day, when it’s possible there will be clarity about election results and about the future of tax legislation. On this episode of the podcast, two speakers closely tied to the conference explain what it will offer attendees, detailing agenda specifics. April Walker, CPA, CGMA, is lead manager–Tax Practice & Ethics at AICPA & CIMA, and Brandon Lagarde, CPA, J.D., LL.M., is chair of the event’s planning committee. Walker hosts the Tax Section Odyssey podcast. Also, a new AICPA & CIMA CEO was named Wednesday. That news is mentioned at the start of the episode. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         What Lagarde and Walker look forward to about this year’s conference. ·         The potential for learning more during the conference about the future of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ·         The reasons Lagarde called th

Alicia Antonetti-Tricker, a principal at Crowe LLP, remembers a time when she saw very few women in leadership roles in the accounting profession. Whether barriers were real or perceived, she said, “there were barriers for women advancing in the profession.” Today, that’s changing, and events such as the AICPA & CIMA Women’s Global Leadership Summit, which is in November in Bellevue, Wash., have helped to continue the momentum for women ascending to accounting leadership roles. In this podcast episode, Antonetti-Tricker discussed highlights of a session she took part in last year, one she says typifies the summit’s agenda. She also touched on some of the initiatives Crowe has put in place and why finding advocates and allies is important for women to continue to advance to leadership roles. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         What stuck out to Crowe’s Alicia Antonetti-Tricker about meetings nearly 30 years ago. ·         The value of powerful connections in helping to grow the number of wo

Becoming a CFO isn’t easy. Neither is completing an iron-distance triathlon. Janice Stucke, CPA, is doing both, and she relies on accounting skills to improve in triathlon and applies triathlon persistence to her role as finance chief. Stucke is the CFO of CREW Network, the acronym standing for Commercial Real Estate Women. In this JofA podcast episode, Stucke shares her somewhat unconventional path to becoming a CPA, how she developed interest and expertise in technology implementations, and how she has dealt with panic-inducing moments. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Stucke’s nontraditional path to becoming a CPA. ·         What “your comfort zone will kill you” means for Stucke, who is preparing to compete in a 140.6-mile Ironman triathlon: 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run. ·         How Stucke has navigated fear and anxiety before and during competitions. ·         Time management and other prioritization advice. ·         Details on the spring 2025 CFO Conference.

Jeff Drew, the JofA’s editor-in-chief, is the guest on today’s episode, the 400th in the history of the JofA podcast. He’s recapping for listeners some of the top articles of the summer and looking ahead to content in future issues. Drew, a former JofA senior editor and manager with the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section, has focused on content for the daily and monthly magazines for more than a decade. He reviews or previews coverage on numerous topics, including the retirement of AICPA & CIMA CEO Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA. Resources September JofA: HTML version | Flipbook Articles (HTML links) How academia is tackling the accounting talent shortage Rewriting accounting’s employment narrative Taxation of influencers: Gifts with strings attached? Using ChatGPT-4o with Excel Using ChatGPT to build a standard operating procedure   Summer feature articles ·         Single-owner firms: The thrill of flying solo ·         What not-for-profits need to know about UBIT ·         How CPAs can benefit from

Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of the firm AAFCPAs, began her one-year term as AICPA chair in May. In this JofA podcast episode, she said that “whirlwind” was a good description of the first few months in the role, “but in a good way.” “If you truly love what you do, somehow it doesn't seem so arduous and it goes by real quick,” McCall said, labeling interactions with numerous people in the profession as “rewarding.” In this episode, McCall reflects on what she’s learned about herself, why her firm has benefited from her “front-row seat,” and her message to accountants about doing their part to grow the talent pipeline. Resources n  McCall’s June 2023 appearance on the show n  More about McCall’s points of emphasis as AICPA chair and AICPA & CIMA co-chair