Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE

Hosted by Blake Oliver, CPA

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117

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Jun 2026

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This show is brought to you by Earmark, your source for podcast-based continuing education for accounting and tax professionals. You can earn CPE by listening to the episodes on this podcast and more! Sign up for our mobile app to earn free CPE whenever you want, wherever you go. Learn more at https://earmarkcpe.com.

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June 11, 2026Episode 11534 min

The Future of Accounting is Human

Karl Paadam made partner at PwC Estonia at 26, spent a decade in tech, and came back to build United Accountants on a contrarian thesis: the future of accounting is human. He joins Blake to explain how a firm can hand bookkeeping, categorization, and reconciliation to an AI operating system that layers on top of whatever software a firm already runs, freeing CPAs to keep their local brand and focus on judgment and advisory work. They also get into outcomes-based pricing, what it means to build "the first big small firm," and why the accountant who ignores AI is the one who gets replaced.Chapters(00:00) - Welcome Karl Paadam to the Earmark Podcast (01:51) - Building a Practice (02:40) - Leaving PwC for Tech (03:29) - Accounting Is Human (05:17) - Advisory Skills Shift (06:35) - AI Productivity in Practice (09:25) - United OS Walkthrough (10:34) - Partner Model Keep Brand (14:50) - Integrations No Rip Replace (18:44) - First Big Small Firm (21:48) - Outcomes Based Pricing (25:00) - AI Like Excel Era (28:05) - What AI Does Next (29:21) - Fear Traps and Controls (32:39) - Who United Fits Best (33:25) - Wrap Up and Contact Learn more about United Accountants https://www.unitedaccountants.com/ Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Karl PaadamLinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/karl-paadam-39730214Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

May 22, 2026Episode 11434 min

89% of Accountants Say AI Pays Off—So What’s the Catch?

Is AI really replacing accountants—or just changing the job? Blake Oliver talks with Capterra analyst David Jani about new survey data showing where AI is gaining traction in accounting, from chatbots and data entry to forecasting and fraud detection. They unpack why 89% of users report ROI, why firms are still struggling to hire, and why weak AI data-handling policies could create serious security problems.Accounting Trends in 2026: How AI is Changing Work, Skills, and Strategyhttps://www.capterra.com/resources/accounting-trends-ai-software-changing-work/Chapters(00:00) - EAP 114 (01:26) - Survey Methodology (04:26) - AI Adoption Today (05:39) - Where AI Shows Up (19:57) - Staffing Crunch Data (24:10) - Manual Work and Spreadsheets (26:17) - Next 12 Months Ahead (28:11) - 2027 Predictions and Threats (32:04) - Where to Place AI Bets Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, David JaniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jani-7627872b/Learn more about Capterrahttps://www.capterra.com/accounting-software/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

April 20, 2026Episode 11355 min

Progression or Extinction: AI’s Accounting Reckoning

What if AI wipes out the entry-level accounting work firms have relied on for decades? Blake Oliver talks with Sikich managing principal Richard Lynch about the rise of the “super accountant,” why the pyramid-shaped firm may become a diamond, and how AI could force firms to rethink training, billing, and performance metrics. You’ll hear what firm leaders must change now—and what happens to those who don’t adapt.Chapters(00:00) - EAP 112 (07:41) - Training The Next Gen (09:39) - Rethinking Early Career Work (14:17) - Learning Review Without Doing (18:41) - Automated Tax Prep Reality (21:28) - Billable Hour Under Pressure (26:33) - Why Timesheets Persist (28:21) - Why Hours Persist (29:53) - Timesheets Trust and Control (30:53) - Preventing Burnout with Targets (32:30) - AI Breaks Time Productivity (34:39) - Shift from Production to Value (37:02) - New Metrics Client and Staff (39:13) - Revenue Incentives and Attribution (44:24) - Basketball Team Performance Model (46:33) - Hours Culture and Team Standards (51:34) - Leaders Choose Progression Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Richard Lynch, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlynch/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

April 2, 2026Episode 11232 min

Pricing, Offshoring, and AI: Inside the Numbers at Accounting Firms

What does the data actually say about where accounting firms are headed? Blake Oliver talks with Chelsea Summers of Inside Public Accounting about the real numbers behind firm performance, pricing, staffing, offshoring, advisory growth, and AI adoption. You’ll hear why top firms aren’t just working people harder, how offshore teams are boosting margins, and why hourly billing may be the biggest obstacle to using technology well.Chapters(00:00) - EAP 112 (04:45) - Advisory vs compliance mix (09:40) - Capacity and burnout signals (18:27) - Pricing models and billable hour (25:08) - AI ROI and adoption blockers (29:37) - About IPA and closing Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Chelsea SummersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseasummers620/Learn more about Inside Public Accountinghttp://insidepublicaccounting.comConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

March 20, 2026Episode 11135 min

The IRS is Coming for Crypto: Coinbase’s VP of Tax Explains What Happens Next

Blake sits down with Lawrence Zlatkin, VP of Tax at Coinbase, to unpack the state of crypto taxation. From how the IRS treats digital assets as property to the new 1099-DA, stablecoin reporting burdens, and the policy changes Coinbase is pushing for in Washington, this episode covers what tax pros need to know now and where the rules may be headed next.Chapters(00:00) - EAP 111 (02:11) - What is Form 1099-DA (03:08) - Reconciling 1099 data (03:53) - Why cost basis matters (08:29) - IRS use of gross proceeds (12:44) - Crypto tax basics (14:07) - Staking and 1099-MISC (15:36) - Stablecoins as property (17:43) - Reporting thresholds and privacy (22:42) - Policy priorities in DC (23:47) - De minimis and admin burden (28:34) - Charity and appraisal rules (30:15) - Foreign investment safe harbors (32:20) - Why Congress moves slowly (34:56) - Wrap-up and thanks Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest Lawrence Zlatin https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-zlatkin-880417bLearn more about Coinbasehttps://www.coinbase.comConnect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

March 5, 2026Episode 11054 min

What Private Equity Really Changes Inside an Accounting Firm wiith Devin Mathews

What really happens after private equity buys your CPA firm? ParkerGale partner Devin Mathews joins Blake to unpack why partners cheer while staff chafe, how PE drives returns (bill rates, utilization, acquisitions), and what managers should demand: a clear value‑creation plan and a path to upside. They also dig into AI’s true impact—raising the ceiling, squeezing entry‑level work—and why this might be your cue to start an AI‑first firm.Chapters(00:00) - Private Equity Meets AI (02:04) - Survey Shock Partners vs Staff (04:18) - How PE Boosts Profits (06:17) - Culture Clash and KPIs (09:29) - The New Owner Speech (23:15) - Lessons From Vets and Dentists (25:50) - Pricing Power and Workload (26:39) - How Firms Decide to Sell (27:12) - Deal Tensions Surface (27:25) - LOI And Data Deep Dive (28:20) - Pricing Pressure And Client Cuts (29:48) - Spreadsheet Management Shock (33:20) - Career Paths And Trust (35:02) - Demand The Value Plan (37:13) - Three Problems To Fix (40:00) - AI Threat Or Tailwind (41:35) - AI Reality Check (45:17) - Entry Level Gets Harder (48:47) - Start An AI First Firm (50:56) - Podcast And Farewell Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Devin MathewsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinmathewsLearn more about ParkerGalehttps://www.parkergale.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

February 5, 2026Episode 10949 min

Inside Thomson Reuters’ Plan to Automate the Tax Return

AI won’t replace accountants—but AI-enabled firms will outcompete them. Blake Oliver sits down with Thomson Reuters’ Elizabeth Beastrom and Kirat Sekhon to map the end-to-end tax workflow, from document intake and auto-population (SurePrep) to delivery and e-sign (SafeSend), and into year-round advisory with CoCounsel and Ready to Advise. Learn how to “kill the questionnaire,” free staff from data entry, build an open tech stack, and turn tax prep into subscription advisory.Chapters(02:49) - Technology Expectations of New Accountants (03:38) - The Shift from Desktop to Cloud-Based Tax Software (05:14) - Thomson Reuters' Approach to Customer-Centric Tax Technology (05:55) - Automation and AI in Tax Workflow (10:58) - The Role of SurePrep in Data Entry Automation (18:34) - Advisory Services and Ready to Advise (24:53) - AI in Onboarding and Knowledge Transfer (25:35) - Empowering Junior Associates with AI (26:41) - AI in Education and Talent Attraction (30:40) - AI's Role in Tax and Accounting (33:58) - The Future of AI in Tax Preparation (41:59) - AI-Driven Advisory Services (47:41) - Practical Steps for Tax Firms to Embrace AI Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our GuestsElizabeth Beastromhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-beastrom/Kirat Sekhonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kirat-sekhon-2172022/Learn more about Thomson Reutershttp://thomsonreuters.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

December 17, 2025Episode 10859 min

Excel and AI: Code Your Way to Hours Back Every Week

You open Excel daily, but are you using AI to make it work for you? While 58% of professionals have tried AI, only 17% use it regularly—a missed opportunity. Join CPA Kyle Ashcraft in this hands-on webinar to learn vibe coding—a no-programming approach using Cursor AI to automate repetitive Excel tasks. Watch Kyle transform messy spreadsheets, organize GL data, and reconcile transactions with simple AI prompts while keeping data secure. You'll get three ready-to-use scripts plus a framework to automate countless tasks and reclaim hours weekly.(Originally recorded on October 20, 2025, on Earmark Webinars+)Chapters(02:18) - Meet Kyle Ashcraft and His AI Journey (02:31) - The Importance of AI in Accounting (03:30) - Kyle's Background and CPA Review (04:38) - Live Webinar and Audience Interaction (05:12) - Kyle's AI Projects and Cursor Introduction (07:39) - Data Privacy Concerns with AI (17:18) - Practical AI in Excel: Examples and Demonstration (20:03) - Getting Started with Cursor (23:55) - First Cursor Project: Cleaning Up Excel Data (31:38) - Jumping into Financial Document Verification (32:50) - Exploring Cursor's Privacy Settings (33:48) - Understanding Data Retention Policies (36:23) - Comparing Excel Files with Cursor (36:48) - Analyzing Complex GL Details (42:22) - Using Cursor for Recurring Accounting Tasks (49:20) - Leveraging AI for Audit and Analysis (50:53) - Practical Tips for Implementing Cursor (53:56) - Q&A: Advanced Cursor Features (59:04) - Conclusion and Next Steps Earn CPE for this episode: https://www.earmark.app/c/2854Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appResourcesIntro to Cursor PDF Guide - https://mcusercontent.com/02dbcae4a3e3f15021db25a0c/files/deff5647-e0a3-51d7-4225-cf8b3a48532d/Cursor_AI_Quick_Guide.pdfWebinar presentation - https://ai.maxwellstudy.com/Connect with Our Guest, Kyle Ashcraft, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-ashcraft-cpa-7638a42aLearn more about Maxwell CPA Reviewhttps://maxwellcpareview.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

November 9, 2025Episode 10754 min

Auditing at the Speed of Risk with Richard Chambers

Are you auditing at the speed of risk? Richard Chambers—50-year internal audit veteran and AuditBoard advisor—joins Blake to map the path forward. Hear why AI now ranks as risk #1, how to build continuous risk monitoring, and what “independence, not isolation” means for the three-lines model. Learn where CAEs should start with AI (risk assessment, analysis, reporting), how to audit culture and AI governance, and how to earn audit committee trust with no surprises.Chapters(01:37) - Richard Chambers' Career Journey (03:15) - Evolution of Internal Audit (05:34) - Emerging Risks in Internal Audit (08:13) - AI and Cybersecurity Challenges (10:51) - Continuous Risk Monitoring (25:30) - Connected Risk and AI Integration (27:42) - Introduction to the Three Lines of Defense (30:01) - Evolution to the Three Lines Model (31:18) - Connected Risk and Collaboration (32:08) - AI's Impact on Risk Management (35:20) - AI in Internal Audit: Opportunities and Challenges (40:32) - The Human Element in Internal Audit (44:40) - The Future of Internal Audit and AI (54:00) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guest, Richard ChambersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-chambers-a5108914/Twitter: https://x.com/rfchambersWebsite: https://auditboard.com/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

October 22, 2025Episode 10628 min

The Future of Advisory: Unlocking Your Firm’s CFO Potential

Live from Boston on the final stop of the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with James Erving from Fathom and Chris Macksey from Prix Fixe Accounting to explore what advisory services really mean beyond bookkeeping and compliance. Chris shares how his firm requires advisory for all restaurant clients, using industry expertise and operational metrics to guide decisions on everything from menu pricing to expansion timing. The conversation covers the difference between delivering information versus being integral to decision-making, with insights on forecasting, benchmarking, and why visual KPIs help clients with low financial literacy understand their business performance.Chapters(00:22) - Welcome to the Earmark Podcast (01:15) - Prix Fixe Accounting: A Niche in Hospitality (02:25) - Advisory Services in the Restaurant Industry (06:20) - Forecasting and Budgeting for Restaurants (06:59) - Getting Started with Advisory Services (13:40) - Defining Advisory Services (17:35) - The Value of Metrics and Visuals (25:24) - Advice for Firms Starting Advisory Services (27:40) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://earmarkcpe.comhttps://earmark.app/Download the Earmark CPE App Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.appConnect with Our Guests: James ErvingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameserving/Learn more about FathomOfficial website: http://fathomhq.comChris MackseyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmacksey/Learn more about Prix Fixe AccountingOfficial website: https://prixfixe.accountants/Connect with Blake Oliver, CPALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverTwitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/