Firms Need New Metrics, Accountants Worried About Iran

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.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayWurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthyChapters(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 NotesIRS CEO Touts Successful Tax Season Despite Cutbackshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-ceo-touts-successful-tax-season-despite-cutbacksThe 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 Seasonhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-shakes-up-leadership-ahead-of-tax-seasonLooking to Grow Like a Top 100 Firm? Try CAShttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/looking-to-grow-like-a-top-100-firm-try-casAccounting Firms Need New Metrics for an Old Modelhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/accounting-firms-need-new-metrics-for-an-old-modelOnly 18% of Organizations Track AI ROIhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/only-18-of-organizations-track-ai-roiCPA Licensing Laws Are Constraining Accounting Firms in the AI Erahttps://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/accounting-firms-schools-must-craft-next-generations-futureMaryland Approves CPA Licensure Pathways Billhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/maryland-approves-cpa-licensure-pathways-billNevada Implements CPA Licensure Changeshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/nevada-implements-cpa-licensure-changesAccountants Worried About War in Iranhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accountants-worried-about-war-in-iranAccounting Watchdog to Investigate Deloitte Over Fake Citations in $1.6M Healthcare Reporthttps://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 Pothttps://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/pwc-australia-profit-drops-but-fewer-partners-split-the-potDeloitte US to Cut Benefits for Segment of Employees Amid Job Architecture Reshufflehttps://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026/04/20/deloitte-us-to-cut-benefits-for-segment-of-employees-amid-job-architecture-reshuffleWhat Is ARR? Behind the Least-Trusted Metric of the AI Erahttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-07/what-is-arr-behind-the-least-trusted-metric-of-the-ai-eraAI Tools Are Upending Typical Software Contractshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-25/ai-tools-are-upending-typical-software-contractsRep. Ilhan Omar Cites Accounting Error in $30 Million Financial Disclosurehttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/18/rep-ilhan-omar-cites-accounting-error-30-million-financial-disclosure/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? 

What happens when AI starts doing the audit work itself? Blake and David dig into KPMG’s prediction that routine audit testing could soon happen with almost no human auditors directly involved. They also cover the IRS’s unfinished AI projects, the end of Direct File, new tax-on-tips rules, and why firms investing more in marketing are growing faster. Press play to hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and clients.Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayWurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthyChapters(00:00) - Audits Without Humans (00:22) - Tax Day Show Kickoff (02:30) - When Tax Day Hit Post Office (04:34) - E Filing Ends The Party (05:23) - This Week Top Stories (05:58) - Warehouse Fire Accounting Impact (08:52) - Compliance Time Cost (11:04) - No Tax On Tips Rules (13:44) - IRS AI Projects Stall (14:43) - Direct File Cost Debate (17:30) - Xero Os Buzzword Critique (20:32) - Can Ai Replace QuickBooks (21:23) - Reddit Claude Accounting System (22:45) - Firms Lose Stack Control (23:27) - AI Makes More Cleanup (23:58) - Tidwell Spreadsheet Accounting (25:13) - Tax Preparer Fraud Cases (27:17) - Big Four Audit Automation (30:58) - EY Office Mandate and Careers (34:01) - Firm Growth Marketing and AI (36:19) - Audit Lawsuits and Penalties (40:19) - Juno AI Tax Prep Funding (42:27) - Workers Skipping AI Review (44:36) - Agentic Frameworks and Omni (47:19) - Wrap Up and Free CPE  Show NotesHow Tax Day Turned Into Party Night at the Post Officehttps://www.history.com/articles/tax-day-partiesAmericans to Spend 11.6 Billion Hours Completing Federal Compliance Formshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/03/16/americans-to-spend-11-6-billion-hours-completing-federal-compliance-forms/179866/IRS Publishes List of Jobs That Qualify for 'No Tax on Tips' Provisionhttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/13/irs-tax-on-tips-big-beautiful-bill.htmlIRS AI Projects Fall by the Wayside Due to Staff Cutshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-ai-projects-fall-by-the-wayside-due-to-staff-cutsIRS Inflated Direct File Costs by $45 Million in 2025https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/03/25/irs-inflated-direct-file-costs-by-45-million-in-2025/180237/Xero OS: Your Operating System for the Future of Autonomous Financehttps://blog.xero.com/news-events/xero-os-ai-native-operating-system/Tidwell — MCP Accounting Server (Reddit reference)https://www.tidwell.comWarehouse Worker Charged in $500M Arson Attack at Kimberly-Clark Distribution Centerhttps://abc7.com/post/employee-arrested-arson-kimberly-clark-distribition-center-destroyed-massive-fire-ontario/18851549/New Jersey Tax Preparer Sentenced in Largest COVID-19 Tax Relief Fraud Casehttps://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/new-jersey-man-sentenced-prison-largest-covid-19-tax-relief-fraud-scheme-countryPennsylvania Tax Preparer Jessica Cordero Faces Federal Charges in New Fraud Schemehttps://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/allentown-woman-and-two-others-charged-federal-court-wire-fraud-and-aggravated-identityIn This Critical Part of Audits, the Accountant's Role Is Shrinking Fasthttps://www.wsj.com/finance/accounting/auditors-ai-kpmg-pwc-ey-7f07d3a5KPMG Plans to Cut Up to 440 Audit Jobs in UKhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-27/kpmg-set-to-shed-hundreds-of-auditors-as-attrition-remains-lowEY Requiring U.S. Tax Staff to Work In-Person 12 Days a Monthhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-requiring-us-tax-staff-to-work-in-person-12-days-a-monthAI Is Changing How EY Recruits, Develops and Promotes Employeeshttps://www.businessinsider.com/ey-ai-talent-career-paths-accounting-2026High-Growth Accounting Firms Spend Twice as Much on Marketinghttps://hingemarketing.com/blog/story/marketing-financial-services-the-2025-forecastEvergrande Liquidators and PwC Head to Courthttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/evergrande-liquidators-and-pwc-head-to-courtOntario Securities Commission Accuses KPMG of Botching Audits for Bridging Financehttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ontario-securities-commission-accuses-kpmg-of-botching-audits-for-bridging-financeJuno Raises $12M Seed to Scale AI Tax Preparation Platformhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/04/13/juno-raises-12m-seed-to-scale-ai-tax-preparation-platform-that-automates-90-of-busy-work/181502/AI Slop Survey: A Third of Workers Rarely Check AI Output Before Using Ithttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/04/08/ai-slop-survey-a-third-of-workers-rarely-check-ai-output-before-using-it/181191/Agentic AI Frameworks and Artifact's Omni Platform Launchhttps://www.artifact.buildNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast:

What happens when AI starts doing more than answering questions? Blake and David dig into Perplexity’s move into tax prep and bookkeeping, the IRS testing Palantir to help select audit targets, and why many firms still aren’t seeing real ROI from AI. They also unpack the surprising success of Trump accounts and what all of this could mean for accountants, firm workflows, and the future of the profession.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casREFRAME 2026 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2026Wurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthyChapters(00:00) - TAP 482 (02:37) - Trump Accounts Boom (07:22) - CPE With Earmark (08:38) - Perplexity Targets Taxes (12:32) - AI Agents And Moats (23:43) - Claude Cowork Bookkeeping (30:25) - Digits Outcome Pricing (30:58) - Digits Pay For Performance (31:25) - Zero Touch Guarantee (31:56) - Pricing Power Debate (32:20) - Switching GL Friction (33:11) - Reframe Conference Sponsor (34:26) - AI Security Banter (35:14) - IRS Palantir Snap Audits (39:09) - AI ROI Wrong Math (44:27) - Find The Bottleneck (46:14) - Automate Client Intake (48:02) - Claude PBC Workflow (54:40) - Weekly Close Discipline (56:13) - DHS Tax Extension Story (57:48) - Mentoring And Webinars (59:15) - Future Firm Tech Stack (01:01:45) - Wrap Up And CPE  Show Notes4 Million Children Have Been Signed Up for Trump Accounts with 1 Million Claiming the $1,000 Pilot Program Contributionhttps://www.irs.gov/newsroom/4-million-children-have-been-signed-up-for-trump-accounts-with-1-million-claiming-the-1000-pilot-program-contributionIntroducing Computer for Taxeshttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-computer-for-taxesThe IRS Wants Smarter Audits. Palantir Could Help Decide Who Gets Flaggedhttps://dnyuz.com/2026/03/30/the-irs-wants-smarter-audits-palantir-could-help-decide-who-gets-flagged/Digits Announces Outcome-Based Pricinghttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/digits-announces-outcome-based-pricingYour AI Business Case Is Built on the Wrong Mathhttps://www.cfo.com/news/your-ai-business-case-is-built-on-the-wrong-math-throughput-accounting-productivity/816014/Treasury and IRS Announce Tax Filing Relief to DHS Personnelhttps://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0431Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifieds REFRAME 2026 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2026Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Can AI really prepare a tax return without a human touching the keyboard? Blake and David dig into a wave of new accounting tools that promise exactly that, from AI tax prep and bookkeeping agents to month-end automation. They’re joined by Kenji Kuramoto of Basis to discuss what this means for firms, pricing, and jobs. Plus: the U.S. government’s worsening balance sheet, Tether’s long-awaited audit, and why token costs may become accounting’s next big metric.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncChapters(00:00) - TAP 481 (02:34) - US Insolvency Breakdown (06:04) - Household Budget Analogy (07:49) - GAO Disclaimer Explained (08:37) - AI Tax Prep Agents (11:45) - Kenji Joins the Show (15:07) - Kenji New Role at Basis (19:40) - Basis Agents for CAS (25:36) - AI Skills and Pricing Shift (28:04) - Token Billing and FinOps (33:55) - Tokens Not Timesheets (34:17) - Delve Compliance Fallout (36:18) - Xero Adds Claude AI (38:16) - Who Really Owns Data (41:06) - Ramp Accounting Agent (45:19) - Ramp Budgets Reality Check (48:27) - Canopy Bookkeeping Module (53:11) - Billcom Agents Soapbox (55:09) - Audit Tech Fundraising (56:37) - Tether Finally Gets Audited (59:52) - Costco Tariff Refund Lawsuit (01:02:16) - Wrap Up And CPE  Show NotesThe Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it.https://fortune.com/2026/03/23/us-government-insolvent-fiscal-crisis-fix/ TaxGPT AI agent aims to complete the whole tax returnhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taxgpt-touts-ai-that-automatically-completes-returns-from-start-to-finish As Tax Deadline Approaches, Consumers Are Going to AI Before Filinghttps://www.pymnts.com/taxes/2026/as-tax-deadline-approaches-consumers-are-going-to-ai-before-filing/ AI Efficiency Gains Push Accounting Firms to Reimagine Pricinghttps://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/ai-efficiency-gains-push-accounting-firms-to-reimagine-pricing Accounting Jobs Requiring AI Skills Jump 67%https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-jobs-requiring-ai-skills-jump-67 Xero and Anthropic Collaborate to Bring AI-Powered Financial Intelligence to Millions of Small Businesseshttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260326956055/en/Xero-and-Anthropic-Collaborate-to-Bring-AI-Powered-Financial-Intelligence-to-Millions-of-Small-Businesses Ramp Launches Accounting Agent to Automate Bookkeeping with Real-Time Closehttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-launches-accounting-agent-to-automate-bookkeeping-with-real-time-close-302686214.html Ramp Launches Ramp Budgetshttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-launches-ramp-budgets-302667840.html Canopy Unveils Canopy Bookkeeping to Eliminate Month-End Friction for Accounting and CAS Teamshttps://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260211348515/canopy-unveils-canopy-bookkeeping-to-eliminate-month-end-friction-for-accounting-and-cas-teams Canopy Expands Tax Workflow With AI-Powered Tax Preparation Through New Filed Integrationhttps://www.getcanopy.com/blog/canopy-expands-tax-workflow-with-ai-powered-tax-preparation-through-new-filed-integration Double AI Journal Entrieshttps://doublehq.com/ai-journal-entries/ Tech News: Ramp, Canopy Both Announce AI-Powered Bookkeeping Solutions (includes Bill.com AI agents coverage)https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/tech-news-ramp-canopy-both-announce-ai-powered-bookkeeping-solutions Exclusive: Founded By 2 Brothers In Their 20s, YC-Backed Denki Raises $4.1M To Automate Financial Auditshttps://news.crunchbase.com/venture/yc-backed-denki-raise-financial-audit-automation-ai/ Tether Taps Big Four Firm KPMG for First Financial Audit of $184 Billion Stablecoin Issuerhttps://www.theblock.co/post/395423/tether-taps-kpmg-for-first-financial-audit Americans Are Demanding Refunds from the $180 Billion in Tariffs They Paid, Including Suing Companies Like Costcohttps://fortune.com/2026/03/13/americans-demanding-tariff-refunds-suing-costco-fedex/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details,

Can AI really handle accounting and tax work—or is it just creating new ways to fake compliance? Blake and David dig into allegations of fraudulent SOC 2 reports, how taxpayers are actually using AI for tax prep, and why tools like Claude are creeping into finance workflows. They also cover FAA staffing risks, threats to state accountancy boards, and what listeners should watch as AI reshapes trust in the profession.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncChapters(00:00) - TAP 480 (01:28) - Sponsor Digits Overview (02:54) - LaGuardia Crash Breakdown (05:36) - Shutdown Staffing Fallout (07:58) - Livestream and CPE Plug (08:49) - Delve SOC 2 Allegations (15:57) - How Fake Audits Happen (20:49) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing (22:00) - Is Anyone Using AI (24:02) - AI for Tax Prep Examples (35:14) - AI Tax Advice Limits (36:04) - Tech Creates More Cleanup (36:41) - OnPay Payroll Sponsor (37:53) - Games To Beat Busy Season (40:42) - Florida Board Threat Averted (44:02) - UNC MAcc Sponsor (45:20) - Guess The Finance App (46:47) - Claude Targets Finance Workflows (50:29) - Will AI Replace The GL (55:07) - Women Partners Progress (01:00:50) - Wrap Up And CPE  Show NotesAir Traffic Audio Appears to Show Tower Was Dealing With Incident Before Crash (New York Times via DNYUZ)https://dnyuz.com/2026/03/23/air-traffic-audio-appears-to-show-tower-was-dealing-with-incident-before-crash/ Delve — Fake Compliance as a Service — Part I (DeepDelver on Substack)https://deepdelver.substack.com/p/delve-fake-compliance-as-a-service Delve Accused of Misleading Customers with 'Fake Compliance' (TechCrunch)https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/22/delve-accused-of-misleading-customers-with-fake-compliance/ What 81,000 People Want from AI (Anthropic)https://www.anthropic.com/research/what-people-want-from-ai WSJ Readers Share How They Are Using AI for Tax Prep (Wall Street Journal via TaxProf Blog)https://taxprofblog.aals.org/2026/03/09/wsj-readers-share-how-they-are-using-ai-for-tax-prep/ 10 Fun Games to Play at Work and Their Impact on Productivity (Small Business Trends)https://smallbiztrends.com/games-to-play-at-work/ FICPA Legislative Update: End of 2026 Session — HB 607 Did Not Advance (Florida Institute of CPAs)https://www.ficpa.org/news/1cee5313-ce07-47f2-841f-48a95344f6f5:legislative-update-end-of-session-still-pending Claude for Financial Services (Anthropic)https://www.anthropic.com/financial-services Glass Ceiling Shattered? Female Lead Engagement Partners in S&P 500 Audits (The CPA Journal)https://www.cpajournal.com/2026/03/13/glass-ceiling-shattered/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Will AI actually take accountants’ jobs—or just change what their work looks like? Blake and David unpack the gap between AI hype and reality, from a LinkedIn challenge that found zero accountants replaced by AI to how firms like PwC and EY are shifting strategy. They also explore probabilistic audit opinions, AI agents in accounting workflows, and what professionals can do now to stay ahead.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncChapters(00:00) - TAP 479 (02:27) - Auditor Karaoke Protest (03:58) - Baby Where My Audit (07:14) - Reactions and Afroman (10:19) - Probabilistic Audit Opinions (14:57) - BDO Lawsuit and Liability (18:52) - Super Micro Fraud Signals (24:19) - Deterministic AI Checklists (30:16) - Checklist Driven AI Agents (31:28) - How LLMs Differ From Brains (33:00) - Puzzle Functions And Guardrails (36:06) - Prompting For Clarifying Questions (36:48) - UNC MAcc Sponsor Break (38:30) - PwC Goes AI First (41:46) - EY Bets On CPA Talent (43:27) - AI Exposure Index Reality Check (47:40) - Will Accounting Jobs Disappear (50:23) - Coan Paradox And Rising Standards (52:43) - AI As A Career Upskill (55:20) - Who Is Losing Work To AI (56:23) - Livestream Chat And Wrap Up  Show NotesMassachusetts Auditor DiZoglio Performs "Baby Where the Hell Is My Audit" Parodyhttps://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/16/metro/diana-dizoglio-auditor-legislature-audit-democrats/ Afroman Wins Defamation Lawsuit Filed by Ohio Police Officershttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/afroman-wins-lawsuit-ohio-police-raid-music-videos/ Would You Take a Probabilistic Audit Opinion?https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/would-you-take-a-probabilistic-audit-opinion BDO Faces Investor Lawsuit That Could Impact Other Firmshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/bdo-faces-investor-lawsuit-that-could-impact-other-firms Super Micro Computer Co-Founder Charged With Smuggling Nvidia AI Chips to Chinahttps://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/super-micro-computer-founder-charged-ai-chips-china Puzzle Launches AI Close for Accountants https://puzzle.io/blog/puzzle-accounting-ai PwC CEO: You Cannot Opt Out of AIhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pwc-ceo-you-cannot-opt-out-of-ai EY Doubles CPA Exam Bonus to $10K https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-doubles-cpa-exam-bonus-to-10k Anthropic AI Labor Market Impacts Report https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts Microsoft AI Chief Gives It 18 Months for All White-Collar Work to Be Automatedhttps://fortune.com/2026/02/13/when-will-ai-kill-white-collar-office-jobs-18-months-microsoft-mustafa-suleyman/ Only 14% of UK Finance Leaders See Traditional Accounting Skills as Valuable for Next Generationhttps://www.theglobalrecruiter.com/only-14-per-cent-of-finance-leaders-see-traditional-accounting-skills-as-valuable-for-next-generation/ Accounting and Tax Staff Worry AI Threatens Jobshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-and-tax-employees-feel-ai-threatens-job-prospects AI's First Substitution: Freelancers (Ramp Economics Lab) https://ramp.com/velocity/ai-labor-market-impact-freelancers Record Number of Companies Are Ditching Old CEOs for Younger, Less Experienced Executives https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fired-record-number-companies-ditching-152914066.htmlNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast...

What do tariffs, war, AI agents, and a collapsed accounting startup have in common? This week, Blake and David connect the dots between rising economic pressure and rapid tech change. They break down the lopsided cost of drone warfare, small businesses getting crushed by tariffs, AI tools handling tax and bookkeeping tasks, and new details on Botkeeper’s collapse. You’ll hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and the future of the profession.SponsorsUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(01:27) - Sponsor Break UNC (02:46) - War Costs and Drones (08:58) - GPT 5.4 for Accountants (11:13) - AI Agent Files City Tax (15:23) - Claude Skill for Tax Prep (17:11) - Sponsor Break OnPay (18:55) - Gemini Makes Theme Music (22:33) - Uber CEO AI Clone (24:22) - Botkeeper Collapse Follow Up (31:13) - QuickBooks Integration Doubts (31:53) - Cloud Accountant Staffing Spot (32:59) - KPMG Earnings Leak Theory (37:23) - Zapier AI Guardrails (39:43) - 401k Hardship Withdrawals Rise (43:02) - Tariff Refunds and AI Lawsuits (46:27) - Trump v Trump IRS Lawsuit (48:43) - IRS Union Contract Termination (50:01) - Direct File Act Returns (51:56) - Meta 16B Tax Fight (54:33) - Trump Accounts Auto Enrollment (56:13) - Accounting Degrees Loan Limits (57:39) - CPE App and Sign Off  Show NotesIran's Drones Cost a Fraction of the U.S. Weapons Shooting Them Down https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/business/iran-drones-us-weapons-cost.html Introducing GPT-5.4 https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-4/ Breaking Up with TurboTax: How I Used Claude to File My Taxes for Free https://kachess.dev/taxes/ai/personal-finance/2026/02/27/breaking-up-with-turbotax.html Show HN: Claude Skill to Do Your Taxes https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47277164 Enrico Palmerino Explains Botkeeper's Fall https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/enrico-palmerino-explains-botkeepers-fall Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Has an AI Clone https://www.fastcompany.com/91500087/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-has-an-ai-clone KPMG-Audited Companies Are Trading Strangely on Polymarket https://eventwaves.substack.com/p/kpmg-audited-companies-are-trading Zapier Updates: AI Guardrails & Governance Controls https://zapier.com/blog/february-2026-product-updates/ Record Numbers of Workers Are Raiding Their 401(k) Savings https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/401k-hardship-withdrawals-record-vanguard-2025 For Some Small Businesses, a Tariff Refund Isn't Worth the Pain of Pursuing It https://finance.yahoo.com/news/small-businesses-tariff-refund-isnt-worth-pain-pursuing-it.html Trump's IRS Lawsuit Offers Lessons on Privacy and Legal Process https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/trumps-irs-lawsuit-offers-lessons-on-privacy-and-legal-process Democrats Unveil Bill to Resurrect Direct File https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/democrats-unveil-bill-to-resurrect-direct-file I.R.S. Tactics Against Meta Open a New Front in the Corporate Tax Fight https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/irs-meta-tax-ireland.html IRS Should Open Trump Accounts for Eligible Children Automatically, AICPA Says https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/feb/irs-should-open-trump-accounts-for-eligible-children-automatically-aicpa-says/ NASBA Urges U.S. Department of Education to Restore "Professional" Status for Accounting Degreeshttps://nasba.org/blog/2026/03/05/status-for-accounting-degrees/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

Can an AI prep a partnership return on its own? Blake and David dig into Basis’s $100M unicorn claim, Intuit’s OpenAI/Anthropic tie-ups and Claude Cowork, and what it means for firms. They also cover how to capitalize on tariff refund lawsuits, the Senate’s push to regulate tax preparers, and the SEC weighing twice-a-year reporting—plus a quick warning about the fake “IRS locker” scam. You’ll learn where AI helps now, what to watch, and how to advise clients.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncChapters(00:00) - Welcome and Headlines (01:51) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing (03:10) - Tariffs Legal Fallout (05:50) - Refund Lawsuit Wave (09:02) - Basis AI Unicorn (15:23) - Intuit Earnings AI Blitz (25:59) - Claude Cowork Automation (32:16) - Managing Agents at Work (34:21) - AI PR Pay Boom (36:46) - AI Agents for Accounting (37:39) - SaaS Giants vs AI (39:01) - Finance Grade AI Trust (41:22) - IBM COBOL Shockwave (43:03) - Audit Enforcement Drop (44:34) - Regulating Tax Preparers (45:40) - Twice a Year Reporting (48:36) - Prediction Market Tax Bet (50:43) - Washington CPA Outsourcing (54:37) - IRS Onboarding Fumbles (55:32) - Crypto Fat Finger Disaster (01:00:01) - IRS Locker Scam Warning (01:02:13) - Livestream Q&A Wrap (01:06:19) - Book and Earmark Outro  Show NotesSupreme Court Strikes Down Trump's Sweeping Tariffshttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827Trump's New Tariffs Under Section 122 Are Probably Also Illegalhttps://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/01/business/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-section-1221,800+ Companies Suing for $130 Billion in Tariff Refundshttps://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/1800-companies-are-suing-for-130b-in-tariff-refunds/503034AI-for-Accounting Startup Basis Hits $1.15 Billion Valuationhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-24/ai-for-accounting-startup-basis-hits-1-15-billion-valuationIntuit and Anthropic Partner to Bring Custom AI Agents to Consumers and Businesseshttps://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1305/intuit-and-anthropic-partner-to-bring-trusted-financial-intelligence-and-custom-ai-agents-to-consumers-and-businessesIntuit Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcripthttps://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/26/intuit-intu-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/IBM Shares Plunge as Anthropic Touts COBOL Modernization Effortshttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/ibm-is-the-latest-ai-casualty-shares-are-tanking-on-anthropic-cobol-threat.htmlAI Won't Replace Accounting Platforms — It Will Make Them More Importanthttps://diginomica.com/ai-wont-replace-accounting-platforms-it-will-make-them-more-importantAudit Enforcement Plummeted Last Yearhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/audit-enforcement-plummeted-last-yearSenate Finance Committee Proposes to Regulate Tax Preparers, Improve IRS Administrationhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/senate-finance-committee-proposes-to-regulate-tax-preparers-improve-irs-administrationSEC to Fast-Track Proposal for Semi-Annual Public Company Reportinghttps://www.cohenmilstein.com/sec-to-propose-rule-easing-financial-reporting-frequency-from-quarterly-to-semiannual/Tax Nerd Bets Life Savings Against DOGE on Kalshi — and Winshttps://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/an-accountant-won-a-big-jackpot-on-kalshi-by-betting-against-doge/Should We Be Concerned That More Than Half of New CPA Licenses in Washington State Went to International Candidates?https://www.goingconcern.com/should-we-be-concerned-that-more-than-half-of-new-cpa-licenses-issued-in-this-state-last-year-went-to-international-candidates/IRS Failed to Equip New Hires in 2024https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-failed-to-equip-new-hires-in-2024South Korean Crypto Exchange Bithumb Accidentally Gives Away $40+ Billion in Bitcoinhttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/07/south-korean-crypto-firm-accidentally-sends-out-44-billion-in-bitcoin.htmlMichigan Man Loses $1 Million in IRS Impersonation Scamhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/23/michigan-man-loses-1-million-in-irs-scam/178591/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcas...

SCOTUS just struck down Trump’s global tariffs—so who gets the $133B back, and how can firms capture advisory fees helping clients claim refunds? Blake and David unpack importer-of-record refunds, contingency-fee questions, and why “that’s pure profit.” Plus: taxpayers’ trust in AI tax prep is falling, creators’ $205B economy is a prime niche, TurboTax’s Uber-to-the-office play, Big Law’s $3,400/hour AI squeeze, and Dawn Brolin’s nonprofit sending first-timers to conferences you can support.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncChapters(00:00) - TAP 476 (02:53) - Who Gets the Tariff Refunds? Importer of Record & Profit Impact (05:28) - Big Opportunity for Accounting Firms: Tariff Refund Advisory & Fees (08:55) - Flashback Clip: We Called the Tariff Ruling Months Ago (12:59) - Sponsors + Trump’s Next Move: New Tariff Authority Workarounds (15:04) - Live Q&A: If Tariffs Were Passed to Buyers, Who Gets Paid Back? (16:46) - IRS Update: Average Refunds Up, But Median Still Unknown (18:13) - Taxpayers Trust AI Less for Filing + Creator Economy Tax Niche (22:13) - TurboTax + Uber Rides: The Customer Experience Arms Race (27:12) - Sponsor Break + Business Tax Shift: FASB Country-by-Country Disclosures (30:19) - IRS Still Drowning in Paper: Digitization Goals Missed (31:41) - Gambling Loss Deduction Cut to 90%: Why Break-Even Gamblers Still Owe Tax (32:58) - Skims vs. New Jersey: Sales Tax ‘Technical Error’ and the $200K Penalty (34:06) - Big Law’s Billable Hour Squeeze: AI Cuts Hours, Partners Jack Up Rates (36:12) - DIY Legal Work with ChatGPT: When a $30 Subscription Replaces a Lawyer (37:51) - Big Tech’s AI Data Centers Create a Depreciation Blind Spot for Investors (41:50) - KPMG Partner Fined for Using AI to ‘Cheat’ on an AI Exam (43:21) - Congress Targets the Pentagon’s Audit Failures: The ‘RECEIPTS Act’ (47:52) - Only 2–3 Hours of Deep Work a Day: Meetings, App Overload, and Hybrid Teams (50:17) - Interview: Accounting Cornerstone Foundation Helps First-Timers Attend Conferences (52:09) - How the Foundation Works: Funding, Emotional Support, and Picking Awardees (56:36) - Impact Stories & What’s Next: Alumni Mentorship, Fundraising, and Growing the Mission (01:00:16) - Wrap-Up: How to Support + Earn CPE/CE Credits in the Earmark App  Show NotesSupreme Court Rules 6-3 That IEEPA Does Not Authorize the President to Impose Tariffshttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf Supreme Court Strikes Down Most of Trump's Tariffs in a Major Blow to the Presidenthttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827 Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs — What Now?https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/client-alerts/20260220-supreme-court-strikes-down-ieepa-tariffs-what-now IRS Average Refunds Up $200 This Filing Seasonhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taxpayers-hesitant-to-trust-ai-to-prepare-tax-returns Most Taxpayers Trust Tax Pros Over AI for Tax Preparation, Survey Findshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/19/most-taxpayers-trust-tax-pros-over-ai-for-tax-preparation-survey-finds/178412/ Online Creators Worried About Finances and Income Taxes — A Growing Opportunity for Tax and Accounting Proshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/19/online-creators-worried-about-finances-and-income-taxes-a-growing-opportunity-for-tax-accounting-pros/178423/ Intuit TurboTax Delivers the Ultimate "Done-For-You" Tax Experience Powered by AI and Human Intelligence With Uber Rideshttps://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1304/intuit-turbotax-delivers-the-ultimate-done-for-you-tax-experience-powered-by-ai-and-human-intelligence-with-uber-rides US Companies Pay More Taxes Abroad Than Herehttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/us-companies-pay-more-taxes-abroad-than-here IRS Falls Far Short on Paperless Processing Goalhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-falls-far-short-on-paperless-processing-goal Will the OBBBA Gambling Deduction Change Be Reversed?https://www.natptax.com/news-insights/blog/will-the-obbba-gambling-deduction-change-be-reversed/ Kim Kardashian's Clothing Company Settles New Jersey Sales Tax Allegationshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/20/kim-kardashians-clothing-company-settles-new-jersey-sales-tax-allegations/176590/ Big Tech Accounting Creates a Blind Spot in the AI Boomhttps://news.futunn.com/en/post/68828373/big-tech-accounting-creates-a-blind-spot-in-the-ai KPMG Partner in Australia Fined Over Using AI to Pass AI Testhttps://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/16/kpmg-partner-in-australia-fined-over-using-ai-to-pass-ai-test/ Lawmakers Seek to Penalize DoD if It Fails to Pass a Clean Audithttps://federalnewsnetwork.com/congress/2026/02/lawmakers-seek-to-penalize-dod-if-it-fails-to-pass-a-clean-audit/ New Hubstaff Research Finds Workers Average Only 2–3 Hours of Focus Time Per Day

Which accounting firms really deliver sane hours and happy teams? Dom Piscopo (Big Four Transparency) reveals this year’s best—and worst—by job satisfaction and hours, including surprising outliers. Blake and David also unpack how AI startups are carving up PwC-style services, why Hazel AI rattled wealth managers and Intuit/Xero stocks, and where GLs still hold a moat. Plus, a practical way to use AI for W‑4/withholding—and an accountant’s take on Carvana’s too-good-to-be-true margins.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayUNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/uncFutureViews System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bezChapters(01:19) - Pets, Candy, Jewelry & Prefixed Dinners: Where the Money Goes (03:14) - Live Chat Shoutouts + Today’s Guest Tease: Big Four Transparency (05:53) - Yours, Mine & Ours: How Couples Split (or Merge) Money (08:56) - Financial Secrets vs. “Cheating”: The Bankrate Survey Findings (11:01) - Meet Dom Piscopo + 2025 Best/Worst Firms by Job Satisfaction (15:43) - How the Rankings Work: Sample Size, Methodology & Office Variance (19:28) - Service Lines Compared: Tax vs Audit vs Advisory Satisfaction Trends (22:28) - Hours Worked Rankings + Do Hours Actually Drive Happiness? (25:04) - Where the Big Four Land: Satisfaction & Hours Benchmarks (26:51) - AI Disruption Debate: “Every PWC Webpage Is a $10B Startup” Tweet (28:47) - AI Startups vs QuickBooks: The SaaS Attack Cycle Restarts (29:55) - Hazel AI Shakes Wealth Management: Tax Planning at Scale (32:19) - Consumers Trust AI Money Advice + A Withholding/W-4 Use Case (35:11) - “Good Enough” AI: How Firms Can Productize & Review AI Work (36:38) - What Humans Still Do: Taste, Comfort, and Serving the Underserved (41:51) - Intuit & Xero Stocks Drop: CEOs Defend the Data-and-Trust Moat (45:11) - TurboTax Disruption? Building Tax Engines with AI Agents (46:52) - Vibe Coding Reality Check: Small Tools Now, ERPs Much Later (51:32) - Carvana Accounting Red Flags: When Margins Don’t Add Up (56:04) - Wrap-Up: Big Four Transparency + CPE Credits via Earmark  Show NotesValentine's Day Spending Expected to Reach New Records https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/valentine-s-day-spending-expected-to-reach-new-records Survey: Most Couples Keep At Least Some Of Their Money Separate https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/couples-finances/ Survey: 2 In 5 Americans In A Relationship Have Kept A Financial Secret From Their Partner https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/financial-infidelity-survey-2025/ AI Tax App Crashes Financial Stocks on Wall Street https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/02/10/ai-tax-app-crashes-financial-stocks-on-wall-street/ Americans Are Asking AI for Money Advice, But Should They Trust It? https://www.bestmoney.com/financial-advisor/learn-more/do-americans-trust-fin-ai 82% trust AI for financial information and guidance https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/82-trust-ai-for-financial-information-and-guidance Intuit Is Down 33% Year to Date. Here's Where the Stock Could Be Headed in 2026 https://www.tikr.com/blog/intuit-is-down-33-year-to-date-heres-where-the-stock-could-be-headed-in-2028 Intuit Stock Is Down 24% Already In 2026. Time to Buy? https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/01/30/intuit-stock-is-down-24-already-in-2026-time-to-bu/ Xero (ASX:XRO) Shares Crash 13% in Tech Selloff—Broker Urges Hold https://kalkine.com.au/news/technology/xero-asxxro-shares-crash-13-in-tech-selloffbroker-urges-hold Xero share price slides 14% in a week — what to watch next for ASX:XRO https://ts2.tech/en/xero-share-price-slides-14-in-a-week-what-to-watch-next-for-asxxro/ I've tested and ranked the 10 best vibe coding tools in 2026 https://www.techradar.com/pro/best-vibe-coding-tools Your Complete Guide To Vibe Coding Tools In 2026: Build Apps Just By Talking To AI https://softtechhub.us/2026/02/11/guide-to-vibe-coding/ AI startup Replit launches feature to vibe code mobile apps https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/15/ai-startup-replit-launches-feature-to-vibe-code-mobile-apps.html Vibe coding - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_coding What's actually driving Carvana's margins? https://www.cfo.com/news/whats-actually-driving-carvana-margins-ernie-garcia-drivetime-bridgecrest-zach-shefska-ray-shefska-/810911/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsori...