Business Beyond Borders: Impactful Insights for CPAs

Hosted by Laurence Whittam

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May 2026

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About the show

Join your host, Laurence Whittam, on a groundbreaking podcast journey tailored for the modern accounting professional. ”Business Beyond Borders” delves deep into the world of accounting, offering a fresh perspective that transcends traditional boundaries. Each episode is a treasure trove of knowledge, focusing on trends, strategies, and the transformative power of staffing, outsourcing, and offshoring. Why This Podcast? - Explore Beyond Borders: Uncover the potential of global staffing solutions and how they can revolutionize your firm. - Gain Key Insights: From the latest trends to timeless strategies, get the wisdom you need to excel. - Conquer the CPA Game: Learn from the successes (and challenges) of industry leaders, and apply these lessons to your practice. Dive Into: - Trending Topics: Stay ahead with discussions on the most recent developments in the CPA world. - Strategic Focus: Master staffing challenges with proven strategies for outsourcing and offshoring. - Expert Chats: Hear from top professionals about best practices and innovative approaches. - Practical Tips: Implement actionable advice to enhance your firm’s performance.

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60 recent

May 22, 2026Episode 7034 min

68 - What Tax Season Revealed About Your Outsourcing Strategy

Is your outsourcing strategy ready for extension season—or are the same problems about to repeat themselves? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam sits down with Mitsu Shah and Khanjan Shah from Accseed to unpack what really happened during tax season—from process breakdowns and onboarding delays to staffing, security, and the growing role of AI in outsourcing. In this episode, you will be able to: • Learn why firms should start preparing for extension season now—not in September • Understand the importance of testing systems and onboarding global teams early • Discover how firms can improve communication and document collection during tax season • Explore why AI is enhancing workflows—not replacing accounting professionals • Hear how outsourcing firms are approaching data security, staffing, and scalability today Listen to the full episode now and start building a smoother, smarter extension season! #BusinessBeyondBorders #OutsourcingStrategy #GlobalTeams #TaxSeason #AccountingIndustry

December 18, 2025Episode 6951 min

67 - AI at Scale: Lessons from PKF’s Firm-Wide Rollout with Thomas J. DeMayo

Feeling overwhelmed by AI? So are your clients. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam is joined by Thomas J. DeMayo, Partner and Practice Leader at PKF O’Connor Davies, to break down what AI adoption actually looks like inside a large CPA firm—and how to help your clients do the same. From governance to growth, Tom shares how PKF is leading the charge and what firms of any size can learn from their approach. In this episode, you will be able to: • Understand how to approach firm-wide AI adoption with structure and strategy • Learn why governance is non-negotiable when bringing AI tools into your ecosystem • Discover how to talk to clients about AI—even if you’re still figuring it out yourself • Explore the risks of third-party tools and how to vet them properly • Hear how PKF scaled its AI capabilities with external partnerships and internal hiring Listen to the full episode now and learn how to lead with AI—before it leaves you behind! Contact Thomas at tdemayo@pkfod.com if you’d like to discuss collaboration or client support. #BusinessBeyondBorders #AIinAccounting #DigitalTransformation #CPAFirmStrategy #ClientAdvisory

October 9, 2025Episode 6827 min

66 - What Happens When You Align People, Tech, and Strategy with Erin Daiber

Jumping into new initiatives without a strategy? It’s costing you more than you think. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam talks with Erin Daiber, founder of Well Balanced Accountants, about how CPA firms can better align people strategy, AI adoption, and leadership development through intentional planning and accountability. In this episode, you will be able to: • Understand how to future-proof your firm’s talent pipeline through strategic development • Identify why firms fall short on AI integration and how to close the gap • Learn how to lead and retain remote and offshore teams more effectively • Explore the mindset shift required for soft skills and leadership training to stick • Discover the power of strategic planning behind every firm-wide initiative Listen to the full episode now and start building a smarter, stronger firm from the inside out! Learn more at wellbalancedaccountants.com Schedule a call with Erin: https://nut.sh/ell/schedule-booking/367941/OCkeNz #BusinessBeyondBorders #CPAFirmLeadership #AIinAccounting #SuccessionPlanning #PeopleStrategy

September 8, 2025Episode 6718 min

SPECIAL EPISODE: What the HIRE Act Could Mean for Outsourcing in the CPA World

SPECIAL EDITION: What the HIRE Act Could Mean for Outsourcing in the CPA World! On September 5th, Senator Moreno introduced the HIRE Act (Halting International Relocation of Employment Act)—a proposed bill that could impose a 25% excise tax on payments to foreign service providers when serving U.S. consumers. This could dramatically impact CPA firms that rely on outsourcing or offshoring. In this special episode of Business Beyond Borders, host & expert Laurence Whittam unpacks the early-stage bill and brings insight from on what firms should be doing right now to assess risk and prepare. In this episode, you will be able to: • Understand the key provisions of the HIRE Act and its potential financial implications • Identify which firms, contracts, and payment models could be affected • Explore planning strategies around risk mitigation and contract flexibility • Learn about nearshoring and hybrid models as potential alternatives • Position your firm to advise clients who may also be impacted Want to understand how this could affect your firm? Contact Laurence Whittam at lwhittam@csuiteimpact.com for a tailored risk assessment. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! #BusinessBeyondBorders #HIREAct #OutsourcingStrategy #CPAInsights #GlobalWorkforce

August 21, 2025Episode 6622 min

65 - Is Culture Just a Buzzword or a Business Strategy? with Trisha Daho

Is your firm losing its people because your culture is more talk than action? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam welcomes Trisha Daho—a former Big Four partner and now a fractional Chief People Officer—to unpack what it really means to build and sustain a high-performing culture inside today’s CPA firms. They explore how culture must be intentional and measurable, not just aspirational, especially in a profession shaped by: • How culture must be designed and measured—not assumed • The leadership gaps that are exposed in hybrid environments • Why firms must intertwine people strategy with business strategy • Practical ways to hold partners and leaders accountable to values • The need to treat offshore teams as part of the firm, not extensions Tune in now to Business Beyond Borders with Laurence Whittam and start leading with purpose! #BusinessBeyondBorders #FirmCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleStrategy #CPAFirmGrowth

July 17, 2025Episode 6510 min

64 - Mastering Outsourcing: The CPA Firm Roadmap to Offshore Success

Struggling to make outsourcing work for your CPA firm? In this episode, host Laurence Whittam introduces the Mastering Outsourcing course—built from years of experience helping firms overcome offshoring challenges. Whether you’re exploring outsourcing or trying to improve your current strategy, this episode gives you the roadmap you’ve been missing. In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover why many CPA firms fail at outsourcing—and how to avoid common pitfalls Explore outsourcing models, global locations, and how to properly vet vendors Learn practical integration strategies and reporting structures for every firm size Gain insights from real-world examples and best practices Access a complete, self-paced course to guide your firm’s outsourcing journey Ready to take the next step? Explore the full Mastering Outsourcing course here: igs-cpaoutsourcing.teachable.com/p/mastering-outsourcing-for-cpas-and-accountants #outsourcingstrategy #CPAfirmgrowth #offshoring #cpaeducation #businessbeyondborders

July 3, 2025Episode 6419 min

63 - Scaling Smart: Systems, Structure, and Sustainable Growth with Eli Raff

When is it time to stop doing and start owning your business? In this episode, Laurence Whittam sits down with Eli Raff, Operational Efficiency & Business Systemization Expert at Owner-Free Systems Advisory to explore the mindset shift—and operational strategy—needed to grow a firm beyond the founder. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t take a real vacation without things falling apart, this one’s for you. In this episode, you will be able to: • Identify the mindset shift from technician to business builder • Understand why strong SOPs are the backbone of scale • Learn how to systemize your firm without switching all your tech • Discover the 3 freedom processes every owner should focus on • Spot red flags that show your firm needs better systems—now Listen now to build a business that runs without you at the center! #BusinessBeyondBorders #OperationalExcellence #CPAInsights #FirmGrowth #SystemsThatScale

June 27, 2025Episode 6327 min

62 - What Culture Really Takes: Inside Firms Managing Remote and Offshore Talent with Randy Crabtree

How do you build a thriving firm culture in a remote world—and why does vulnerability matter more than ever? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam sits down with Randy Crabtree—CPA, co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals. Known for championing culture, mental health, and people-first leadership, Randy shares practical insights from decades of experience. In this episode, you will be able to: • Discover why intentional leadership is critical to culture-building • Learn how firms are successfully blending flexibility with in-person connection • Understand the impact of well-defined (and alternative) career paths • Explore the power of celebrating wins—both personal and professional • Hear how vulnerability at the top creates space for growth at all levels Listen now to rethink what leadership and culture mean in the modern firm. #CPALeadership #FirmCulture #RemoteTeams #AccountingInnovation #BusinessBeyondBorders

June 19, 2025Episode 6223 min

61 - Inside the Offshore Shift: Lessons from a CPA Who Did It Differently with Ben Town

What does it take to build a high-performing offshore team from the ground up? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, guest Ben Town shares how his frustrating outsourcing journey led to the creation of his own offshore team, now supporting firms. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the stages CPA firms go through when exploring outsourcing Identify the common challenges of working with outsourcing vendors Learn why cultural alignment and asynchronous communication are critical to success Discover how Ben structured his offshore valuation team for scalability and retention Get real-world insights into managing workflows and time zones effectively Listen now to learn how intentional leadership can turn outsourcing pain into opportunity! #CPAOutsourcing #OffshoreTalent #BusinessBeyondBorders #FirmGrowth #AssuranceAdvisors

May 16, 2025Episode 6128 min

60 - Beyond Billable Hours: The AI Marketing Revolution in Accounting with Kristofer Lenz

Is AI replacing marketers—or finally making them effective? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam talks with Kristofer Lenz, Founder of Kailos Marketing Lab, about how AI is reshaping marketing for CPA firms—and why most firms are still missing the mark. In this episode, you will be able to: • Discover how AI accelerates content, outreach, and BD for accounting firms. • Learn why prompt engineering and human input are essential to success. • Hear how firms like MGO leveraged internal branding to win buy-in for outsourcing. • Understand how smaller firms can compete with industry giants using automation. • Get practical tips to start using AI in your firm today—without being a tech expert. Don’t let your firm fall behind. Listen now! #CPAFirmGrowth #AIinMarketing #CPAOutsourcing #BusinessBeyondBorders