The Growth Minded Accountant

Hosted by Lee Reams II from CountingWorks PRO

Business Education

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Episodes

121

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hosted by Lee Reams II and CountingWorks PRO, "The Growth Minded Accountant" is your go-to podcast for independent tax and accounting pros ready to level up. We’re here to show you how AI, digital marketing, and cutting-edge tools — the kind that only the big guys had access to — can help you save time, win new clients, and keep your practice thriving. From leveraging AI agents to boosting ROI on every client interaction, we cover it all. Tune in to stay sharp, learn strategies that work, and make sure you’re always one step ahead. The playing field just got a lot more level — let’s go!

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60 recent

June 10, 2026Episode 2540 min

What Premium Brands Understand About Value That Most Accounting Firms Don’t

Why can a Rolex cost exponentially more than a $50 watch when both tell time?Why can Ferrari, Hermès, Apple, and Ryan Serhant create such strong demand, trust, and pricing power?And what can tax and accounting firms learn from them?In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams II and Rebekah Barton unpack what premium brands understand about value that most accounting firms often overlook.The big idea: clients don’t buy expertise the way accountants think they do.Most prospects cannot evaluate technical ability before they hire a firm. Instead, they look for signals. Your positioning. Your reviews. Your website. Your content. Your visibility. Your client experience. The confidence you create before the first meeting ever happens.In an AI-driven world where basic information is becoming abundant, trust is becoming more valuable. The firms that win will not necessarily be the cheapest firms or even the most technically credentialed firms. They will be the firms that become the obvious choice.Lee and Rebekah break down how premium brands create value through trust, positioning, scarcity, visibility, simplicity, and experience — and why those same principles now matter more than ever for tax and accounting firms.If you’re looking to position your firm more clearly, tell a stronger story, attract better-fit clients, and build a more premium brand, CountingWorks PRO can help.Take our free firm assessment and discover where your firm stands across positioning, visibility, client experience, and AI readiness.Start your free assessment today:https://www.countingworkspro.com/free-firm-growth-breakdown

June 3, 2026Episode 2443 min

Google Just Changed Search Forever: What AI Search Means for Your Firm

Google’s latest AI Search updates may represent the biggest shift in online visibility since local search.In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams II and Rebekah Barton break down what Google’s AI Search evolution means for tax and accounting firms — and why the future of visibility is moving from rankings to recommendations.They discuss Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO, why generic websites and template-style content may become less effective, how reviews and authority signals help Google understand your expertise, and why firms need a clear narrative to stand out in an AI-powered search world.The big question is no longer just, “How do I rank?”It is: “Will Google recommend my firm?”If your firm wants to stay visible, trusted, and future-ready, this episode is a must-listen.In this episode, you’ll learn:What Google’s AI Search updates mean for accounting firm visibilityWhy AI Search is changing traditional SEOWhat GEO means and why it mattersWhy specialization and clarity are becoming more importantHow reviews, TaxBuzz, content, and consistent positioning strengthen your digital reputationWhat firms should focus on over the next 90 daysCookie Cutter Is Dead. Narrative Wins.Want to see where your firm stands today?Get your free Future-Ready Firm Blueprint here:https://www.countingworkspro.com/free-firm-growth-breakdown

May 28, 2026Episode 2327 min

The Real AI Race in Tax & Accounting Isn’t About Prompts

Everyone is talking about AI prompts, ChatGPT, agents, automations, and saving time.But what if the real transformation happening in tax and accounting has very little to do with prompts at all?In this cornerstone episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams explores why the future of successful firms will not be defined by who adopts the most AI tools — but by who builds the strongest operational intelligence.Lee breaks down:Why operational friction is the real bottleneck inside firmsThe hidden dangers of disconnected AI stacksWhy “faster chaos” is still chaosThe growing gap between AI hype and operational realityWhat “human middleware” means inside accounting firmsWhy context, workflows, and institutional memory matter more than promptsHow AI is reshaping the operating model of the profession itselfThis episode is designed to cut through the noise surrounding AI and give tax and accounting professionals a more grounded, strategic perspective on where the industry is actually heading.Because the firms that win the AI era won’t necessarily be the firms with the most tools.They’ll be the firms with the clearest operational intelligence.

May 19, 2026Episode 2219 min

Same Team. Bigger Outcomes.

Most tax and accounting firms aren’t running out of talent.They’re running out of capacity.In this solo episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams shares a candid perspective on where the profession is heading — and why the firms that thrive over the next decade may not be the firms with the biggest teams, but the firms that learn how to create bigger outcomes with the team they already have.Lee breaks down: why operational drag is quietly limiting firm growth how AI is being misunderstood across the industry why human expertise becomes more valuable in the AI era how connected systems create operational leverage why cookie-cutter firms are becoming easier to ignore how narrative, visibility, and responsiveness are reshaping modern firm growth what the “future firm” actually looks like This episode is a thought leadership conversation for firm owners who feel caught between old workflows and rising client expectations — and want to modernize intentionally without losing the human side of their business.Because the future firm isn’t necessarily bigger.It’s smarter.More connected.More proactive.More human where it matters most.👉 Get Your Free Firm Growth Breakdown:https://www.countingworkspro.com/free-firm-growth-breakdownThanks for listening to The Growth Minded Accountant.

May 14, 2026Episode 211 hr 7 min

Cookie-Cutter Is Dead: Why Accounting Firms Are Becoming Invisible in the AI Search Era

Most tax and accounting firms still market themselves the same way they did a decade ago.Generic messaging.Generic positioning.Generic websites.The problem?AI-powered search is changing how clients discover and choose accounting firms — and sameness is becoming invisible.In this special presentation episode, Lee Reams II (CEO of CountingWorks) and Rebekah Barton (Chief Visibility Officer) break down why modern firms must rethink visibility, authority, trust, and positioning in the AI-search era.You’ll learn:• Why AI compresses generic firms into the same result• How accounting firms accidentally commoditize themselves• The narrative formula behind firms clients actually remember• Why your website is now a trust system — not a brochure• The new visibility signals AI search tools are rewarding• How “Future Firms” are separating themselves from the market🎯 Free Future Firm Assessment:https://www.countingworkspro.com/free-firm-growth-breakdown🎓 1 Hour of NASBA-Accredited CPE Available:https://taxcpe.litmos.com/self-signup/Use Code: STANDOUTHosted by:Lee Reams II — CEO, CountingWorksRebekah Barton — Chief Visibility Officer, CountingWorks

May 7, 2026Episode 201 hr 8 min

How Accounting Firms Unlock 2–5X More Revenue From Existing Clients

Most tax and accounting firms think growth comes from more clients.More referrals.More SEO.More tax returns.More volume.But what if the biggest growth opportunity is already sitting inside the clients you already serve?In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams and Rebekah Barton break down why the future of accounting firms is shifting from reactive tax preparation toward proactive tax advisory, year-round strategy, and deeper client relationships.Using a powerful “dentist office” analogy, they explore why most firms never build the “second room” — the space where strategic conversations, tax planning, advisory services, and higher-value relationships actually happen.This episode covers: The difference between tax preparation and tax advisory How firms can unlock 2–5X more revenue from existing clients Why most firms miss advisory opportunities already inside their database The advisory signals accountants should be watching for How to talk about advisory without sounding salesy Why client nurture changes retention and profitability The role of AI and automation in scaling advisory services How modern firms are becoming more proactive and less reactive If you’ve ever felt like your firm is working harder every year just to maintain growth, this episode will completely reframe how you think about revenue, relationships, and the future of accounting.Because the firms that win won’t just process returns faster.They’ll build the second room. Request a free Growth & Advisory Assessment to see where hidden opportunities may already exist inside your client base.👉 Link: ttps://www.countingworkspro.com/free-firm-growth-breakdown

April 29, 2026Episode 1921 min

Why Your Accounting Firm’s Old Playbook Isn’t Working Anymore

Most accounting firms aren’t stuck because they’re not working hard enough.They’re stuck because their model hasn’t caught up to the opportunity.In this episode, Lee Reams breaks down why the traditional compliance-first approach is limiting growth—and how firms can start unlocking more value from the clients they already have.Lee walks through a real-world example, explain why advisory services often go underpriced, and share how better systems, communication, and AI can help firms shift from reactive work to proactive strategy.If you’ve ever felt like your firm should be further ahead than it is… this episode will hit home.Are you ready to change your firm trajectory? Take our free firm assessment that includes a personalized firm roadmap for a future you. Link: https://www.countingworkspro.com/free-firm-growth-breakdown

April 22, 2026Episode 1838 min

AI Isn’t a Tool. It’s Your Next Hire

The tax and accounting industry doesn’t have an AI problem.It has a hiring problem.In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams II and Rebekah Barton unpack one of the biggest shifts happening in firms right now:AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a role.With fewer accountants entering the profession and client demand continuing to rise, the traditional growth model—hire more people—just isn’t working anymore.So what replaces it?In this episode, you’ll learn: Why most firms are using AI wrong (and why it’s not scaling) The real downside of stacking multiple AI tools How to think about AI as a team member, not a prompt The hidden security risks firms are overlooking What AI-driven search means for your firm’s visibility Why “saving time” isn’t the goal—building capacity is A simple way to identify your first AI hireThis episode is a mindset shift.Because the firms that win over the next few years won’t be the ones using the most tools…They’ll be the ones building the smartest systems—where work gets done before they even log in.Final thought:Don’t ask, “What AI tool should I use?”Ask: 👉 “What role do I need next in my firm… and can AI do it first?”

April 17, 2026Episode 1729 min

The ROI of First Impressions: Why Clients Decide in Seconds—and What It Means for Your Firm

Tax season is over.Now comes the real question:What would you change before next year?Most firms think the answer is more staff, higher prices, or fewer clients.But in this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams and Rebekah Barton break down a different—and often overlooked—lever for growth:Your firm’s first impression.Because before a prospect ever speaks to you…Before they understand your services…They’ve already decided: If they trust you If you’re worth your fees If they want to move forward In this episode, you’ll learn: The psychology behind how clients form instant judgments Why positioning—not skill—drives pricing power How first impressions impact conversion, referrals, and advisory growth Real-world revenue scenarios tied to perception and trust The 5-part “First Contact Stack” to improve how your firm shows up If you’re looking to attract better clients, increase fees, and build a more scalable firm—this is one of the highest-leverage places to start.Because the firms that win aren’t just better at tax.They’re better at trust.

April 2, 2026Episode 1625 min

The Most Dangerous Week for an Accountant

The week after April 15 is a trap. You’re exhausted. Your team is checked out. And every instinct you have is telling you to just move on and forget the chaos. But here’s the cold, hard truth: If you don’t capture the data while the pain is fresh, you are choosing to repeat it next year.In this episode of the Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams II and Rebekah Barton sit down for a "post-game" strategy session that every firm owner needs to hear before they head out on vacation.We’re walking you through a live, 5-step "Pain Audit" designed to help you stop being the bottleneck, identify the advisory revenue you’re currently giving away for free, and fix the one thing that will save you hundreds of hours next season.In this episode, we discuss:The Industry Burnout Reality: Why 99% of accountants are feeling it, and why it's not a "you" problem—it's a system problem.The Live Reset Exercise: A guided walkthrough to identify what broke, what repeated, and where you need to draw the line.The Bottleneck Truth: A candid look at where your firm’s growth is actually being slowed down by your own desk.Identifying "Hidden" Revenue: How to spot the advisory moments you missed in the heat of tax season.Positioning for Less Friction: Why your "best" clients aren't random, and how to find more of them.Don't let the exhaustion erase the lessons. Give us 20 minutes to help you ensure that the version of tax season you just finished is the hardest one you ever have to do again.