The Accounting Podcast

Will faster tax prep mean shorter hours—or just more returns to review? Blake Oliver and David Leary compare AI announcements from Intuit Connect, NetSuite SuiteWorld, and CCH Connections. They also explore how Digits, Kick, and Gusto connect accounting data to tools like Claude and ChatGPT. Learn where automation could save time, create new bottlenecks, and push firms to rethink hourly billing.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casCanopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopyOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayKick.co - http://accountingpodcast.promo/kickChapters(00:00) - Bitcoin Audit Reality Check (00:19) - Show Intro and Events Preview (02:22) - Intuit Connect vs SuiteWorld AI (04:13) - Intuit Accountant Suite Tour (09:14) - Industry Editions and AI Agents (13:12) - AI Pricing and Token Costs (17:10) - CCH Connections First Impressions (20:42) - Keynote Generic vs Domain AI (22:14) - Agentic Tax Prep Demo Walkthrough (24:37) - Capacity Burnout and Billing Models (27:24) - Document Gathering K1 Bottleneck (28:27) - AI ROI Reality Check (29:18) - Tax Planning Upside (31:29) - Seeing Demos Live (32:20) - Audit Agents Expansion (33:16) - Intuit Connect Observations (36:18) - Digits Multi Entity Push (39:07) - MCPs Open vs Closed (45:04) - Kick MCP Workflows (48:47) - Crypto Audit Cautionary Tale (56:38) - Gusto MCP and Slack (59:41) - Wrap Up and CPE Tips  Show NotesIntuit Expands Intelligence Platform to Power the Next Era of Accounting Firm and Business Growthhttps://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1329/intuit-expands-intelligence-platform-to-power-the-next-era-of-accounting-firm-and-business-growthNetSuite Advances Vision for an Autonomous Suitehttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netsuite-advances-vision-for-an-autonomous-suite-302919139.htmlIntuit Accountant Suite Fall 2026 Updateshttps://www.firmofthefuture.com/product-update/intuit-accountant-suite-fall-2026-updates/Intuit Expands Industry Roster for Intuit Enterprise Suite, Steps Up Midmarket Gamehttps://www.constellationr.com/insights/news/intuit-expands-industry-roster-intuit-enterprise-suite-steps-midmarket-gameIntuit to Acquire AI-Native Revenue Management Platform Sequencehttps://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1327/intuit-to-acquire-ai-native-revenue-management-platform-sequenceNetSuite QuickStart Gives US Tech Startups a Free Route Into Its ERPhttps://erp.today/netsuite-quickstart-gives-us-tech-startups-a-free-route-into-its-erp/Wolters Kluwer Launches Agentic Tax Preparation in CCH Axcess, the Agentic Platform for Tax and Accountinghttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/wolters-kluwer-launches-agentic-tax-preparation-in-cch-axcessWolters Kluwer Expands Agentic Tax and Audit Capabilities in CCH Axcesshttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/wolters-kluwer-expands-agentic-tax-and-audit-capabilities-in-cch-axcessWolters Kluwer Partners with Inscope to Launch Agentic Financial Statement Preparation in CCH Axcesshttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/wolters-kluwer-partners-with-inscope-to-launch-agentic-financial-statementDigits Touts Multi-Entity Supporthttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/digits-touts-multi-entity-supportDigits Launches Write MCP: The Safe Way for AI Agents to Do Accountinghttps://insightfulaccountant.com/accounting-tech/vendor-news/digits-launches-write-mcp-the-safe-way-for-ai-agents-to-do-accounting/Kick MCPhttps://www.kick.co/changelog/kick-mcpBitcoin Treasury Datavault AI Says It Can’t Access Its BTC, Stock Tankshttps://decrypt.co/382116/bitcoin-treasury-datavault-ai-stock-crashes-cant-access-btcDatavault AI Inc. Form 8-Khttps://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001682149/000110465926118772/tm2628100d1_8k.htmGusto MCPhttps://gusto.com/product/integrations/gusto-mcpNeed 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.comLimit...

Should your AI agent have the same bank access you do? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack banks’ concerns about AI agents and explain why separate logins and limited permissions matter. They also explore practical email automation, Blake’s ballooning token costs, and why firm-wide AI gains require standardized workflows. Plus, they examine Oxford Economics’ warning that U.S. growth could look recessionary without AI investment—and what that means for the pressure to deliver real returns.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsNumeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeralOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - Recession With AI Boost (00:47) - TurboTax Storefront Mystery (04:37) - CCH Conference AI Preview (06:21) - Banks Block AI Agents (10:03) - Stripe Treasury Agents Rise (12:41) - Permissioned Access Fix (18:43) - Zapier MCP Lawyer Workflow (24:36) - Token Spend Spirals (28:13) - Shared AI Orchestration Layers (29:40) - AI Layer Missed (30:46) - Standardize vs Customize (35:03) - Memory Costs Tokens (37:17) - Inbox Automation Wins (40:01) - Scaling Past Demos (41:33) - Firm AI vs Personal (45:07) - PE Rollup AI Bet (50:32) - AI Native Firm Risks (51:16) - Recession Minus AI (54:47) - ROI Reality Check (57:25) - Chicago Head Tax (58:43) - Wrap Up and CPE  Show NotesTurboTax Stores and Expert Offices in Santa Monicahttps://turbotax.intuit.com/local-tax-offices/ca/santa-monica/Banks Are Blocking External AI Agents. Is This Sustainable?https://americanbanker.com/news/banks-are-blocking-external-ai-agents-is-this-sustainableIntroducing Stripe Treasury for Agentshttps://stripe.com/newsroom/news/treasury-for-agentsStripe Agrees to Acquire OpenRouter to Help Businesses Optimize Token Routing and Usagehttps://stripe.com/newsroom/news/stripe-agrees-to-acquire-openrouterWhat Happens to a Lawyer’s Business Model When AI Makes Him 5x Fasterhttps://zapier.com/blog/damian-guzman-fte-legal-mcp/Introducing Glasshttps://ramp.com/blog/introducing-glassMeridian Launches Meridian Starter, a Shared AI Workspace for Accounting Firmshttps://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384755/0/en/meridian-launches-meridian-starter-a-shared-ai-workspace-for-accounting-firms.htmlPlatform Accounting Group Secures $355 Million Investmenthttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/?p=192093Exclusive: Gradient Raises $4M for AI-Native Startup Accounting Firmhttps://techfundingnews.com/exclusive-gradient-raises-4m-ai-native-accounting-firm-us-startups/Minus AI Investments, the US Edges Toward Recessionhttps://www.cfo.com/news/minus-ai-investments-the-us-edges-toward-recession/833461/Mayor Johnson Renews Fight for His Failed Corporate Head Taxhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/10/20/mayor-brandon-johnson-failed-corporate-head-tax-resurrected-proposed-budgetNeed 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 ProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want 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

AI outperformed 12 CPAs on a month-end close benchmark, but that doesn’t mean it can replace them. Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack the study’s limits and why adding AI to existing workflows may not save time. They also explore survey findings that accounting budgets triple when businesses hit $1 million in revenue, plus why most firms are invisible in AI searches. Learn what these shifts mean for your firm’s processes, pricing, and marketing.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayFinance Accounting Technology Expo - http://accountingpodcast.promo/fateSavantLabs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantChapters(00:00) - AI Search Visibility Crisis (00:24) - Show Intro and Headlines (02:38) - Livestream Shoutouts (03:18) - AI Beats CPAs Study (05:40) - Charts Speed and Accuracy (08:27) - Why Humans Lag Context (10:31) - When AI Plus Human Fails (20:00) - AI Native Workflow Shift (26:52) - Sams List Client Budgets (29:48) - Small Biz Client Focus (30:36) - What Clients Actually Want (31:35) - Pricing Reality Check (34:06) - Startup Budget Mindset (36:34) - New Studio Chat (37:59) - AI Progress Story (43:29) - Ramp Glass Orchestration (47:26) - AI Search Disrupts SEO (50:41) - How To Get Recommended (53:13) - Niche Beats Location SEO (55:21) - Wrap Up And CPE  Show NotesHuman Baselines for Benchmarks: AI Now Outperforms Junior Accountantshttps://www.mercor.com/blog/human-baselines-for-benchmarks-ai-now-outperforms-junior-accountants/Clients Spend $5K a Year on Accountant Until Revenue Passes $1Mhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/clients-spend-5k-a-year-on-accountant-until-revenue-passes-1mMeta Is Back in the AI Race. Muse Wonder Just Ranked #2 for Accountinghttps://www.dualentry.com/blog/muse-wonder-just-ranked-2-for-accountingRamp’s $1.5 Million Week of Spending Leads to Glass AI Toolhttps://www.pymnts.com/?p=4306638Ramp Glasshttps://ramp.com/glassAI Recommendations Favoring Narrow Band of Big Firmshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ai-recommendations-favoring-narrow-band-of-big-firmsNeed 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 ProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want 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

Could AI replace your CFO or simply make their job more exhausting? Blake and David debate automation’s limits, unpack an enrolled agent’s log of 188 IRS calls, and explore proposed reforms to taxpayer service. They also examine why AI is putting pressure on billable hours, gaps in AI safety audit requirements, and a romance scam victim’s $225,000 tax bill. Learn what these developments could mean for your firm, clients, and workload.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayNumeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeralSavantLabs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - TAP 508 (02:40) - Can AI replace executives (03:38) - Survey results and divides (06:03) - Why AI can't lead yet (12:18) - EA tracks IRS call hell (13:54) - IRS chatbots and america.gov (15:50) - IRS and ICE data sharing (17:42) - IRS modernization bill highlights (22:45) - Tax fraud and complexity costs (25:53) - Influencer deductions in tax court (28:00) - Influencer Expenses Denied (28:45) - Accountant With Bad Records (29:38) - Romance Scam Tax Bill (31:25) - ‌ (33:01) - AI Agents Breach Systems (42:13) - Big Law Versus AI Billing (47:44) - Illinois AI Audit Mandate (52:07) - Meta Muse Integrations (52:31) - Wrap Up And Events  Show NotesCould AI replace CFOs and other top executives?https://www.cfo.com/news/could-ai-replace-cfos-and-other-top-executives-watch-chest-ai-/827098/IRS Hold Times in 2026: What 188 Timed Calls to the IRS Actually Showedhttps://claritytaxrelief.com/blog/irs-hold-times-study-188-calls/Appeals court blocks IRS from sharing taxpayer info with ICEhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/appeals-court-blocks-irs-from-sharing-taxpayer-info-with-iceSenate unanimously passes TAS Acthttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/senate-unanimously-passes-tas-actCongress approves funding bill that maintains IRS budgethttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/sep/congress-approves-funding-bill-that-maintains-irs-budget/GAO tax fraud estimate puts annual losses at up to $304 billionhttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/sep/gao-tax-fraud-estimate-puts-annual-losses-at-up-to-304-billion/Tax Complexity Now Costs the US Economy over $544 Billion Annuallyhttps://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/irs-tax-complexity-costs-us-economy-over-544-billion-annually/Paying For Clout Isn't A Business Expense: Tax Court Lessons For Social Media Creatorshttps://abovethelaw.com/2026/08/paying-for-clout-isnt-a-business-expense-tax-court-lessons-for-social-media-creators/A North Carolina Woman Lost $600,000 to a Scam. Then an Unexpected IRS Bill Arrivedhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/?p=190730EY staffers accused of accessing Australia PM's bank accounthttps://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/ey-staffers-accused-of-accessing-australia-pms-bank-account'Extreme concern' over first known AI hack of a government systemhttps://www.cnn.com/2026/09/23/business/australia-openai-agent-hack-intl-hnkOpenAI alerts more than 100 groups about rogue AI agent activityhttps://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2026/10/02/openai-alerts-more-than-100-groups-about-rogue-ai-agent-activityOpenAI says its AI agents probed federal websites without the company's knowledgehttps://www.whro.org/2026-09-26/openai-says-its-ai-agents-probed-federal-websites-without-the-companys-knowledgeAs A.I. Makes Law Firms More Efficient, Clients Ask: 'Where's My Discount?'https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/business/dealbook/ai-law-discount-billable-hour.htmlSorren launches law firmhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/sorren-launches-sorren-lawColumn: Illinois Ordered an Audit of AI Developers. Who Will Do It?https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/28/column-illinois-ordered-an-audit-of-ai-developers-who-will-do-it/187458/Meta is expanding its AI agent Muse to small businesseshttps://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/meta-is-expanding-its-ai-agent-muse-to-small-businesses/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? F...

Will AI replace accountants—or finally ease the profession’s talent shortage? Blake and David unpack why AI-exposed accounting roles are seeing pay rise, not fall; how EY cut audit deficiencies from 28% to under 5%; and why firms must give AI agents limited access and auditable logins. They also explore the coming firm structure: fewer staff, more AI agents, and partners focused on judgment, review, and client relationships.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casNumeral - http://accountingpodcast.promo/numeralOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayVeltrix - http://accountingpodcast.promo/veltrixChapters(00:00) - Staff Are Gone (01:52) - Doctor Note AI Warning (03:33) - AI Access Controls Lesson (06:05) - Annual Reports Design (07:59) - Taxing AI Debate (13:08) - Audit Judgment Future (19:11) - EY Audit Quality Surge (23:05) - Meta Muse Microwave Moment (29:52) - Apps Handing Off To Claude (31:58) - AI As The Interface (32:58) - LLMs Become The New OS (34:15) - Where AI Captures Value (35:29) - Platform Cloning Threats (36:26) - Regulation Protects Fintech (37:02) - Orchestrating Accounting Agents (39:10) - One Universal Business Brain (41:53) - Big Four Future In AI (46:32) - KPMG Incubator Career Play (49:52) - America Solopreneur Boom (52:53) - Are Business Filings Real (53:53) - Spotify Lessons For Firms (58:18) - Accountant Turned Top DJ (01:01:13) - Shakira Tax Residency Fight (01:02:35) - Wrap Up And CPE Plug  Show NotesThe turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical.https://www.gatesnotes.com/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-makeUS jobs paradox: AI-exposed roles see 46% pay surge even as AI-linked layoffs risehttps://businesstoday.in/technology/story/us-jobs-paradox-ai-exposed-roles-see-46-pay-surge-even-as-ai-linked-layoffs-rise-556730-2026-09-21PCAOB's Logothetis: AI can only do part of an auditor's jobhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaobs-logothetis-ai-can-only-do-part-of-an-auditors-jobEY reports improved audit qualityhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-reports-improved-audit-qualityIntroducing Muse: The World's First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyonehttps://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/Expensify Becomes One of the First Expense Management Tools Available in Claude for Small Businesshttps://finviz.com/news/392305/expensify-becomes-one-of-the-first-expense-management-tools-available-in-claude-for-small-businessXero Wherever You Work: Real-Time Financial Intelligence in Claude for Small Business and ChatGPThttps://blog.xero.com/product-updates/claude-for-small-business-chatgpt-ai-integrations-launch/Avalara launches Aviator AI hub for tax compliancehttps://itbrief.co.uk/story/avalara-launches-aviator-ai-hub-for-tax-complianceClients now expect some projects to happen twice as fast, PwC partner sayshttps://www.indiaipo.in/news/detail/clients-now-expect-some-projects-to-happen-twice-as-fast-pwc-partnerKPMG Announces Client Technology & Innovation Group to Build AI-Native Businesseshttps://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-announces-client-technology-innovation-group.htmlAmerica has become an entrepreneur's paradisehttps://thenightly.com.au/business/the-economist-america-has-become-an-entrepreneurs-paradise-c-22636515What accounting firms can learn from the music industryhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/what-accounting-firms-can-learn-from-the-music-industryJohn Summit Saved $20,000 and Quit His Accounting Job to Become a DJ. Now He's Building an Entertainment Empirehttps://www.entrepreneur.com/building-a-business/john-summit-saved-20000-and-quit-his-accounting-job-to-become-a-dj-now-hes-building-an-entertainment-empireShakira takes Spain stage as court reviews $63M tax claimhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/shakira-takes-spain-stage-as-court-reviews-63m-tax-claimNeed 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 neces...

Could AI make a one-person audit firm possible—and what happens if the data-center boom slows down first? Blake and David examine the AI economy’s circular debt, the construction ripple effects of a pullback, and practical ways firms can document workflows before automating them. They also cover AI-powered continuous audits, Mercury’s new general ledger, and tax evasion headlines.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsThomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomationOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - OnlyFans Tax Evasion (00:27) - Podcast Welcome Halloween (04:02) - News Lineup (06:34) - AI Bubble Warning (14:14) - AI Adjusted EBITDA (18:07) - SOP Marathon For AI (21:19) - AI SOP Workflow Tip (26:41) - Christina Ho AI Audits (29:22) - Audit Fees Under AI (29:55) - Audit Fees Surge (30:57) - AI Disrupts Audits (33:56) - Solo CPA Audit Firm (35:26) - Who Wins and Loses (35:52) - Audit Demand Explained (36:40) - Tech Enables New Entrants (38:26) - Audit Like Cloud Accounting (42:00) - ‌ (43:03) - IRS Refund Nightmare (44:33) - OnlyFans Tax Evasion (46:51) - Punishing Financial Crime (49:59) - Mercury Launches Books (52:22) - Can Banks Compete (54:33) - Is Mercury Enough (56:44) - Wrap Up and CPE  Show NotesNRF: Halloween spending to remain strong, reach $13.5Bhttps://chainstoreage.com/nrf-halloween-spending-remain-strong-reach-135bToo interconnected to fail? New paper connects the AI dotshttps://www.axios.com/2026/09/21/ai-finance-credit-circularThe AI gold rush has a dress code: steel-toe bootshttps://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/ai-gold-rush-dress-code-233725771.html40% of Small Businesses Lack Cash Reserves to Survive a Month of Late Client Paymentshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/09/21/40-of-small-businesses-lack-cash-reserves-to-survive-a-month-of-late-client-payments/190371/AI Future Savings Is Latest Ebitda Tweak to Jolt Debt Investorshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-17/ai-future-savings-is-latest-ebitda-tweak-to-jolt-debt-investorsHow to run a SOPathon: The missing first step in every AI strategyhttps://www.accountingweb.co.uk/community/industry-insights/how-to-run-a-sopathon-the-missing-first-step-in-every-ai-strategyThe 3-phase roadmap every accounting firm needs before AI delivershttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/the-3-phase-roadmap-every-accounting-firm-needs-before-ai-deliversProcess Street MCP Serverhttps://www.process.st/help/docs/mcp-server/Christina Ho's next acthttps://www.cfobrew.com/stories/christina-hos-next-actAI sounds the death knell for audit fee inflationhttps://www.ft.com/content/80d02797-9a54-47e0-8bc3-a7144354da93Tennessee Farmer Tried to Return $20,000 to IRS. Years Later, He's Still Fightinghttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/23/tennessee-farmer-tried-to-return-20000-to-irs-years-later-hes-still-fighting/187281/OnlyFans content creator pleads guilty to tax evasionhttps://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/onlyfans-content-creator-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasionMercury Launches Intelligent Accounting with Mercury Bookshttps://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260916850195/mercury-launches-intelligent-accounting-with-mercury-booksNeed 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://cloudacctpo...

Is AI the real threat to accounting firms, or is it the client experience? Blake and David unpack a KPMG-linked Polymarket insider-trading investigation, AI-powered fraud, Xero’s influencer backlash, and a tax startup founder charged with defrauding investors. They also share their own experiments using Claude and ChatGPT to prepare tax returns, making the case that firms must eliminate frustrating back-and-forth if they want to keep clients.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayThomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomationSavant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantChapters(00:00) - Client Experience Threat (00:30) - Podcast Welcome Banter (02:05) - Week's News Rundown (04:17) - KPMG Polymarket Probe (11:46) - KPMG TaxSim Training (13:40) - KPMG OpenAI Headless UI (17:13) - Deepfake Defense Stakes (18:31) - Revolut Social Engineering (20:33) - Compliant CEO Fraud Case (25:31) - Xero Influencer Backlash (25:41) - Xero Claude Ad Backlash (28:57) - Apology and AI Framing (29:59) - DIY Taxes With AI (34:05) - Client Experience Problem (40:15) - IRS AI Fee Guidance (43:00) - PwC Leaves Downtown LA (44:48) - Wrap Up and CPE  Show NotesPolymarket Trader Won 41 of 42 Earnings Bets on Companies KPMG Auditshttps://www.financemagnates.com/forex/polymarket-trader-won-41-of-42-earnings-bets-on-companies-kpmg-audits/SEC Charges Startup Founder with Fraud (Shiloh Luckey / ComplYant)https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26424KPMG Is Testing a New AI-Powered Tax Simulation Toolhttps://goodfest.westfield.com/2026/05/kpmg-is-testing-a-new-ai-powered-tax-simulation-tool/KPMG working with OpenAI to advance new "headless" enterprise tech modelhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/kpmg-working-with-openai-to-advance-new-headless-enterprise-tech-modelKPMG LLP Takes Minority Stake in Deepfake Detection Leader Reality Defenderhttps://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-llp-takes-minority-stake-in-deepfake-detection-leader-reality-defender.htmlCybercriminals using AI for fraud are making far more profit, Interpol claimshttps://www.techradar.com/pro/security/cybercriminals-using-ai-for-fraud-are-making-4-5x-more-profit-interpol-saysRevolut confirms customer data breach after fake government requestshttps://fstech.co.uk/fst/Revolut_Confirms_Customer_Data_Breach_After_Fake_Government_Requests.phpXero issues new apology to accountants, days after controversial social media posthttps://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=344586To our accountant and bookkeeper communityhttps://blog.xero.com/uk/accountants-bookkeepers/to-our-accountant-and-bookkeeper-community/AICPA seeks IRS clarity on AI guidelines, CPA feeshttps://www.thetaxadviser.com/news/2026/sep/aicpa-seeks-irs-clarity-on-ai-guidelines-cpa-fees/Downtown L.A. Fixture PwC Will Move to Century Cityhttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/07/08/downtown-l-a-fixture-pwc-will-move-to-century-city/186368/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/OvercastClassifieds Fearless Foundry - www.advisoryamplified.comExpense Bot - https://www.expensebot.ai/accountantProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job post...

Can AI prepare a tax return—and catch errors the software misses? Blake shares how Claude Cowork reconciled books, built workpapers, and completed two business returns, while David examines EY’s bonuses for human judgment, Deloitte’s $21 million DEI settlement, and PwC’s Evergrande exposure. Plus, Cloud Accountant Staffing’s Jordan Sublette explains why onshoring is joining offshore hiring strategies for accounting firms.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayThomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomationSavant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - Ethics And Job Security (00:18) - Show Intro And Headlines (02:34) - Livestream Shoutouts (03:03) - Claude CoWork Tax Prep (06:54) - AI Catches TaxAct Errors (11:26) - Accrual Buys Puzzle (18:19) - EY Human Skills Bonuses (20:33) - Deloitte DEI Settlement (27:43) - Salaries And Big Four Fallout (31:22) - PwC Evergrande Liability (35:03) - Grant Thornton Buys CBIZ (36:25) - CBIZ Returns Reality Check (37:23) - Marcum Deal And Partner Payouts (38:34) - IRS Revenue Hits Record (40:50) - Chat Reactions And AI Ledgers (44:03) - AI Cost Seg Pitfalls (53:00) - Jordan Joins And Origin Story (55:06) - Jason Staats Partnership Explained (59:37) - Onshoring Portal And Pricing (01:04:58) - Candidate Vetting And Training (01:09:37) - Meetups And CPE Wrap Up  Show NotesAccrual to Acquire Puzzle to Expand Into Client Accounting Serviceshttps://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/09/02/accrual-takes-the-leap-into-cas-by-acquiring-puzzle/189565/EY Rewards Employees' Human Skills With $100Mhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-rewards-employees-human-skills-with-100mDeloitte to Pay $21.5M to Settle Claims Its DEI Programs Violated Federal Civil Rights Lawhttps://www.cfo.com/news/deloitte-to-pay-215m-to-settle-claims-its-dei-programs-violated-federal-c/828948/Accounting Firm Salaries Rose Slightly This Yearhttps://www.cfobrew.com/stories/accounting-firm-salaries-rose-slightly-this-yearKPMG Australia to Axe 5% of Workforcehttps://www.cfo.com/news/kpmg-australia-to-axe-5-of-workforce-John-Sams/828636/PwC International Can't Exit Evergrande Case, HK Court Ruleshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-26/pwc-international-can-t-exit-evergrande-case-hk-court-rulesCBIZ Told Grant Thornton No, No, No, Before Saying Yeshttps://cpatrendlines.com/2026/09/01/cbiz-told-grant-thornton-no-no-no-before-saying-yes/IRS Enforcement Activity Fell Despite Record Tax Collections, TIGTA Sayshttps://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/aug/irs-enforcement-activity-fell-despite-record-tax-collections-tigta-says/Cost Segregation in the Age of AI: What the IRS Audit Technique Guidelines Revealhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/cost-segregation-in-the-age-of-ai-what-the-irs-audit-technique-guidelines-revealNeed 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 Fearless Foundry - www.advisoryamplified.comExpense Bot - https://www.expensebot.ai/accountantProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want 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/RunClassifiedAdTranscriptsTh...

Can AI make tax prep cheaper without replacing the experts behind it? Hector Garcia joins Blake and David to unpack Intuit’s TurboTax pricing pressure, QuickBooks’ push into the mid-market, and whether AI-powered services are a bridge to automation. They also examine Thomson Reuters’ proprietary tax-and-legal AI model, Relate’s $100 million raise, and a student’s unusual path onto the New Mexico Board of Accountancy.SponsorsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casThomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomationOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpaySavant Labs - http://accountingpodcast.promo/savantChapters(00:00) - TAP 503 (02:47) - Intuit earnings overview (03:52) - Meet Hector Garcia (04:40) - Intuit stock and AI fears (07:57) - TurboTax pricing pressure (11:34) - TurboTax Live strategy shift (16:12) - TurboTax Live vs firms (19:47) - AI plus human bridge (22:13) - QuickBooks Free and Light (25:54) - Thomson Reuters builds LLM (30:29) - Trust security and ownership (34:16) - Vertical models disrupt giants (35:18) - Copilot partnership pitch (36:51) - Bulk AI Adoption (38:59) - Rillet Unicorn News (39:21) - Workday Buyout Math (40:50) - Switching Costs Reality (43:12) - Intuit Versus Rillet (45:26) - How Rillet Wins (48:18) - AI Spend Line Item (51:15) - Stripe Buys OpenRouter (53:22) - Reframe Conference Pitch (56:01) - Pablo Pledgebar Cautionary (57:08) - Britton Joins Board (01:01:37) - Student View On PE (01:04:57) - Education And AI Concerns (01:09:33) - Board Dynamics Explained (01:12:12) - Regulation Priorities (01:15:13) - Wrap Up And CPE  Show NotesIntuit Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2026 Results; Sets Fiscal 2027 Guidancehttps://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1320/intuit-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-fiscal-2026-results-sets-fiscal-2027-guidanceThomson Reuters Leverages its World-Class Data Assets to Launch Its Own Frontier Modelhttps://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/press-releases/2026/august/thomson-reuters-leverages-its-world-class-data-assets-to-launch-its-own-frontier-modelRillet Raises $100 Million Series C at $1 Billion Valuation, Becomes Unicornhttps://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/rillet-raises-100m-series-c-at-1b-valuation-2-years-after-emerging-from-stealth/Silver Lake Eyes $51 Billion Workday Take-Private in Mega Software Dealhttps://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/silver-lake-workday-take-privateStripe Agrees to Acquire OpenRouter to Help Businesses Optimize Token Routing and Usagehttps://stripe.com/newsroom/news/stripe-agrees-to-acquire-openrouterFrom Accounting Major and Frat Brother to Suspected of Being Penn State's Largest Drug Dealerhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/penn-state-agostino-abbatiello-drug-scheme-rcna593041Accounting Student Appointed to the New Mexico Public Accountancy Boardhttps://news.unm.edu/news/accounting-student-appointed-to-the-new-mexico-public-accountancy-boardNeed 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 Fearless Foundry - www.advisoryamplified.comExpense Bot - https://www.expensebot.ai/accountantProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want 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 to...

AI agents are going rogue — deleting bookings, sending unauthorized emails, and lying about it — and Blake and David trace the trend into the $3 trillion of off-balance-sheet AI commitments hiding in Big Tech's footnotes (and why accountants will get blamed when the bubble pops). They also recap what stood out at XeroCon 2026. Then Hoover Institution fellow Ben Jaros runs the real numbers on California's Prop 40 billionaire wealth tax — why the $100 billion estimate is closer to $40 billion, and whether taxing 200 people is even constitutional.SponsorsCanopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopyThomson Reuters - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxautomationOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - Welcome to The Accounting Podcast (03:00) - Rogue AI Agents Gone Wild (07:53) - Controlling Agent Permissions (12:08) - Microsoft AI Receivables Surge (14:49) - Three Trillion Off Book Commitments (17:09) - Meta Hyperion Lease Loopholes (21:33) - Bubble Risk and Circular Financing (28:24) - XeroCon Highlights and AI Agents (32:21) - Bank Reconciliation and Roadmap Gripes (34:10) - Conference Vaporware Rant (34:37) - Billionaire Tax Preview (36:33) - Prop 40 Basics (38:40) - Revenue Reality Check (42:44) - Residency Cutoff Drama (45:01) - Wealth Tax vs Income Tax (45:52) - One Time Or Not (46:34) - Healthcare Backfill Claims (51:42) - Better Ways To Tax (55:23) - Constitutional Challenges (58:01) - Why Voters Oppose It (01:02:09) - Trial Balloon And Wrap Up  Show NotesComing soon!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/OvercastClassifieds Flowglad - https://cal.com/team/flowglad/flowgladFearless Foundry - www.advisoryamplified.comExpense Bot - https://www.expensebot.ai/accountantProfitRoot - https://tryprofitroot.com/Want 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