Show Notes
Can the accounting profession grow with fewer people? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack how AI is reshaping firms, from PwC Australia’s staffing cuts and rising partner pay to new questions about performance metrics, CPA pathways, and the future of CAS. They also cover the IRS’s tax season recap, tariff refunds, Deloitte’s fake AI citations, and why firms need better ways to measure value in an AI-driven world.
Sponsors Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Wurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthy
Chapters (00:00) - Show kickoff and tax season
(01:05) - Sponsor Digits AI bookkeeping
(02:45) - IRS CEO tax season recap
(06:18) - Direct File and enforcement debate
(07:54) - Tariff refund portal CAPE
(09:54) - IRS CI pulled to ICE then back
(11:49) - CAS growth engine for firms
(15:12) - New firm metrics beyond hours
(24:02) - AI ROI metrics survey
(25:30) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing and OnPay
(29:45) - Rethinking Course Requirements
(31:44) - States Drop 150 Hours
(33:16) - Experience Sign Off Hurdles
(33:59) - Geopolitical Risk Survey
(35:25) - Deloitte Fake Citations
(38:46) - Big Four Cuts and Pay
(41:51) - Worthy Sponsor Break
(43:23) - ARR Metric Trouble
(48:37) - Shorter Contracts Shift
(49:49) - Ilhan Omar Filing Error
(53:18) - Wrap Up and Free CPE
Show Notes IRS CEO Touts Successful Tax Season Despite Cutbacks https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-ceo-touts-successful-tax-season-despite-cutbacks
The CAPE Tariff Refund System Is Here — Are You Ready? https://globaltrainingcenter.com/the-cape-tariff-refund-system-is-here-is-your-global-trade-team-ready/
IRS Shakes Up Leadership Ahead of Tax Season https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-shakes-up-leadership-ahead-of-tax-season
Looking to Grow Like a Top 100 Firm? Try CAS https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/looking-to-grow-like-a-top-100-firm-try-cas
Accounting Firms Need New Metrics for an Old Model https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/accounting-firms-need-new-metrics-for-an-old-model
Only 18% of Organizations Track AI ROI https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/only-18-of-organizations-track-ai-roi
CPA Licensing Laws Are Constraining Accounting Firms in the AI Era https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/accounting-firms-schools-must-craft-next-generations-future
Maryland Approves CPA Licensure Pathways Bill https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/maryland-approves-cpa-licensure-pathways-bill
Nevada Implements CPA Licensure Changes https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/nevada-implements-cpa-licensure-changes
Accountants Worried About War in Iran https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accountants-worried-about-war-in-iran
Accounting Watchdog to Investigate Deloitte Over Fake Citations in $1.6M Healthcare Report https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/accounting-watchdog-to-investigate-deloitte-over-fake-citations-in-1-6-million-healthcare-report/
PwC Australia Profit Drops, But Fewer Partners Split the Pot https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/pwc-australia-profit-drops-but-fewer-partners-split-the-pot
Deloitte US to Cut Benefits for Segment of Employees Amid Job Architecture Reshuffle https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026/04/20/deloitte-us-to-cut-benefits-for-segment-of-employees-amid-job-architecture-reshuffle
What Is ARR? Behind the Least-Trusted Metric of the AI Era https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-07/what-is-arr-behind-the-least-trusted-metric-of-the-ai-era
AI Tools Are Upending Typical Software Contracts https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-25/ai-tools-are-upending-typical-software-contracts
Rep. Ilhan Omar Cites Accounting Error in $30 Million Financial Disclosure https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/18/rep-ilhan-omar-cites-accounting-error-30-million-financial-disclosure/
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