Earmark Podcast | Earn Free Accounting CPE

Hosted by Blake Oliver, CPA

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120

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Oct 2026

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About the show

The Earmark Podcast is where accounting and tax professionals hear directly from the people shaping the future of the profession. Hosted by Blake Oliver, CPA, the show features conversations with firm owners, technology leaders, educators, policymakers, and practitioners about the forces changing accounting — from AI and automation to talent, advisory, tax, audit, regulation, and firm strategy. Each episode goes beyond the headlines to explore what’s changing, why it matters, and what it means for the people doing the work.

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October 16, 2026Episode 11835 min

AI Can Run Payroll. What Should Accountants Do Next?

AI creates capacity, but it doesn’t create demand. CPA Echo Zhong joins Blake Oliver to explain how her firm uses Claude and Gusto to prepare payroll and update cash flow forecasts—and how automation helped her payroll manager move toward tax advisory. Learn why saving time is only the beginning, how to charge for owning the client’s problem, and why trust and human relationships still matter when software can do more of the work. Chapters (00:00) - AI Capacity vs Demand (00:30) - Meet Echo at Gusto Next (01:51) - Claude Automates Payroll (05:04) - Cash Forecast in Excel (06:13) - Time Savings and Scenarios (08:28) - Why Multi Client MCP Matters (10:06) - Email Triage and Self Training (12:20) - When Software Eats Compliance (14:54) - Advisory and Pricing the Work (17:29) - Staff Impact Payroll Manager Story (18:58) - Payroll Change Management (20:38) - Rethinking Software Skills (22:40) - Chat As The Interface (25:01) - Token Costs And Prototyping (27:21) - Capacity Versus Demand (28:39) - From Tools To Services (30:38) - Why Humans Still Matter (33:34) - Wrap Up And Where To Connect (34:32) - Thanks Gusto and Outro Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Echo Zhong LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/echozhong Learn more about Zhong & Sanchez Official website: https://www.zhongsanchez.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

October 5, 2026Episode 11736 min

Is Your AI Investment Paying Off? What Finance Leaders Should Measure

AI is taking on routine accounting work—but what should accountants do next? Blake Oliver talks with Mike DePrisco, CEO of the Institute of Management Accountants, about measuring AI’s payoff through faster closes, fewer errors, and better forecasts. They also explore corporate career paths, the shift toward strategic thinking and storytelling, and why case-based training matters. Learn how targeted skill-building and continuous learning can help you stay relevant as the work changes. Chapters (00:00) - AI Tops CFO Worries (02:19) - Rising AI Costs (04:21) - Measuring AI ROI (07:12) - What IMA Does (08:47) - Management Accounting Today (12:10) - Intangibles vs GAAP (18:18) - AI and Accounting Jobs (24:32) - Skills for the Future (26:27) - Training and Case Learning (32:07) - Mid Career Advice (35:27) - Wrap Up and Links Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Mike DePrisco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-deprisco/ Learn more about IMA® — the Institute of Management Accountants Official Website: https://www.imaglobal.org/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

July 6, 2026Episode 11628 min

The Fight to Save the CPA License: Inside FICPA's Two-Year Battle

Could Florida have quietly unraveled CPA licensure? In this episode, Blake Oliver talks with FICPA CEO Shelly Weir about the legislation that threatened to eliminate Florida’s Board of Accountancy, scrap CPE requirements, and weaken the CPA license. Shelly explains how the profession fought back, why mobility and interstate commerce were central to the case, and where CPAs can embrace smart modernization without giving up public protection. Chapters (00:00) - EAP 116 Interview: Shelly Weir of FICPA on the Fight to Save the CPA in Florida (01:10) - Why Shelley Stayed Quiet (03:09) - What the Bill Proposed (07:23) - Why Deregulation Happened (09:33) - How FICPA Beat It (12:44) - Mobility and Modernization (15:54) - Threading the Needle (17:56) - Compromise Ideas Ahead (21:49) - Midnight Capitol Showdown (24:00) - CPE and Future Reforms (26:16) - Will It Return (27:55) - Closing Thanks and Call Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Shelly Weir LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shellysiceloff Learn more about the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants https://www.ficpa.org/about Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/

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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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, Karl Paadam LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/karl-paadam-39730214 Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: 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 Strategy https://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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Jani LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jani-7627872b/ Learn more about Capterra https://www.capterra.com/accounting-software/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: 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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Richard Lynch, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlynch/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: 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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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, Chelsea Summers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseasummers620/ Learn more about Inside Public Accounting http://insidepublicaccounting.com Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: 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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Lawrence Zlatin https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-zlatkin-880417b Learn more about Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: 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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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, Devin Mathews LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinmathews Learn more about ParkerGale https://www.parkergale.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: 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 podcast https://earmarkcpe.com https://earmark.app/ 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 Elizabeth Beastrom https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-beastrom/ Kirat Sekhon https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirat-sekhon-2172022/ Learn more about Thomson Reuters http://thomsonreuters.com/ Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/