Off the Books: Recent Episodes
Workiva
Surfing the uncharted waters of accounting, finance, and wherever else the waves take us. Have a question or an idea for a show? Write us! offthebooks@workiva.com
We've been hard at work on our new podcast and wanted to give you a taste! Just like the slides before a big meeting, The Pre-Read gets CFOs and execs ready for what’s next. Each week, hosts Alyssa Zucker and Steve Soter connect the dots between finance, sustainability, audit, and risk — with sharp insights and unfiltered conversations from leaders navigating change at scale. If you’re driving transformation or need to understand the ones who are, this is your prep.Search for "The Pre-Read" wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe now!
Join Steve Soter, Catherine Tsai, and Mike Gravagno for the final episode of Off the Books! Reflect on five incredible years of exploring accounting, finance, and risk (and so much more). Dive into the history of the show, laugh (or not!) along with the accounting memes, and celebrate nearly 200 episodes.
In our final episode, Matt Kelly of Radical Compliance helps us make sense of the recent executive order that paused enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Funny enough, it does not in fact mean you can bribe anyone, Matt warns. While you couldn’t bribe us to make more episodes of Off the Books, you can definitely check out seven seasons’ worth of past episodes at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.Follow the Workiva channel to catch the next podcast that Off the Books producer Mike Gravagno is cooking up next.
Take a look back at the rise, fall, and resurrection of MoviePass as we discuss “MoviePass, MovieCrash.” After we recorded this episode, former MoviePass CEO Ted Farnsworth pleaded guilty to defrauding investors.Find past conversations at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast, including our episodes about the best accounting movies.
Executive orders are starting to show up in 10-K filings, says Nick Mazing of AlphaSense. Hear how, as Steve and Catherine also ask Nick about what companies are saying on generative artificial intelligence, tariffs, inflation, and more: Find past episodes at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.We want to hear from you! Email us at offthebooks@workiva.com with your thoughts and feedback.For more from our sponsor, Workiva, visit workiva.com.
Who sets the agendas in your 1:1 meetings? What do you appreciate about the managers you enjoy meeting with regularly? Please let us know in the comments and if you’d like to tell us about it on the podcast.
You can find more conversations of us surfing the uncharted waters of accounting, finance, risk, and wherever else the waves take us at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
How is the shifting political landscape affecting environmental, social, and governance issues? Is ESG dead? Steve and Catherine ask Brandon Buhler, Chief Accounting Officer for Playa Hotels and Resorts, and Esther Toth, Senior Industry Principal at Workiva, about the future of sustainability.Read some original research on this topic at workiva.com/benchmark-2025
Enjoy this episode? Find past conversations of us surfing the uncharted waters of accounting, finance, risk, and wherever else the waves take us at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
To wrap up season 6, we react to four topics we haven’t discussed yet, including a penalty for DraftKings over social media posts.
Check out resources mentioned in this episode:
Blog post on the SEC’s cybersecurity disclosure rule https://www.workiva.com/blog/sec-cybersecurity-rule
PCAOB resource for audit committees https://assets.pcaobus.org/pcaob-dev/docs/default-source/documents/2023-audit-committee-resource-spotlight.pdf
EDGAR® Next https://www.workiva.com/resources/edgar-next-with-workiva
Find past conversations at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
Xavier Justo spent 547 days in jail after providing investigators information about billions of dollars missing from 1MDB, the state investment fund set up by Malaysia’s former prime minister. Hear what he would tell potential whistleblowers!
Joining Steve to give their initial reactions are Chelsea Hall, Workiva Industry Principal for SEC reporting and financial reporting, and Mark Mellen, Workiva Industry Principal for sustainability reporting.
Internal auditors can be a not-so-secret weapon for strengthening an organization’s ability to create value. We caught up with Ahmed Shawky Mohammed and Matej Drašček at the IIA International Conference, where they talked about purpose-driven function internal audit teams.
Recently, the courts struck down the SEC’s private fund adviser rule. We turned to former SEC enforcement attorney Ron Geffner for an overview of the rules, the court’s decision, and the potential ripple effects—plus, other challenges facing the SEC and possible changes with a new SEC chair.
Switching companies is one thing. Switching roles is another. Chelsea Hall was a corporate controller and Alyssa Zucker was a chief sustainability officer before they joined Workiva as industry principals. Today their backgrounds help Workiva develop solutions specifically tailored to serve people in Chelsea’s and Alyssa’s former roles.
While they’re still new to Workiva, we asked their advice for stepping into a new job and a role that not everyone knows exists.
Charley Nelson is an environmental policy major who joined a technical accounting team at Etsy. Hear why that makes perfect sense and what Charley’s learned in his time working with accountants. This episode was recorded at the Workiva Amplify conference for accounting, finance, risk, and sustainability professionals.
When Alex Davis followed a former boss to a 7-year-old company, he found it had different data management challenges than the legacy insurer where he once worked.
We caught up with Matt Kelly of Radical Compliance at the annual Workiva Amplify conference for his thoughts on that and a look at what the Securities and Exchange Commission said about SolarWinds. Matt’s opinions in the podcast are his own, and do not represent Workiva.
Find more episodes at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
Dig into the findings in this crossover episode of ESG Talk and Off the Books.
Find the full report here: https://www.workiva.com/resources/csrd-era-of-transparency
Find more episodes at newsroom.workiva.com/esg-talk and workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes of both ESG Talk and Off the Books.
Hear from Ahmad Abdallah, David Anderson, Brandon Buhler, Jonathan Gregory, Leanne Groenewegen, and Rachael Staab about:
- Generative AI
- Assured integrated reporting
- Hiring
Internal auditors are in a key position to both benefit from and promote psychological safety at work. But what does having psychological safety at work mean? Ignatia Mannoe and Manja Knevelbaard—two of the co-authors of the new “Psychological Safety Tools for Internal Audit” IIA Netherlands publication—join us to discuss it all in this episode, recorded at the IIA International Conference.
BF Borgers, the audit firm whose clients included Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., got called a “sham audit mill” by the SEC’s top enforcer. White tells us how that affected BF Borgers’ clients.
Find more episodes at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes.
How can leaders and their internal auditors manage the risks and enjoy the rewards of using generative artificial intelligence?
Marc Eulerich of the University of Duisburg-Essen, David Wood of BYU, and their co-authors recently published a new enterprise risk framework for gen AI that might help. Marc answered questions about that framework when we caught up with him at the IIA International Conference.
Edith Wong has taken her experience in forensic accounting into the world of sustainability. We caught up with her at the IIA International Conference to talk about her career and what she calls the “green audit trail.” Listen in.
In honor of National Whistleblower Day, we talk with WorldCom whistleblower Cynthia Cooper about finding the courage to speak up. We ask her why her story is still so relevant today, roughly two decades after WorldCom’s CFO and CEO were sentenced over a multibillion-dollar fraud.
Read more in Cynthia’s book, Extraordinary Circumstances.
See Cynthia in person in Denver at Amplify 2024, the conference that brings together audit, risk, accounting, finance, and sustainability professionals.
Hit that "subscribe" button and follow us to catch all of our upcoming episodes with speakers from the 2024 IIA International Conference.
- Learn more about the IIA Global Internal Audit Standards here
- Read this article to see how you can leverage tech to enhance audit quality and conform with the new Standards
- Check out the "Conformance Readiness Assessment Tool" from the IIA here.
We’re riding the waves of change with KeyBank Chief Accounting Officer Stacy Gilbert in this episode recorded outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Stacy talks with us about finance transformation, generative AI, and how accounting leaders are in a position to lead their organizations through change.
Hit that "subscribe" button to catch all of our upcoming episodes with more accounting and finance leaders.
Today Chris Pettit is the Vice President of Accounting at Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc., but he’s been an accounting leader for years. In this episode, recorded in front of the New York Stock Exchange, he shares how networking, trust, and listening have each played a role in his career—plus suggestions on all of the above.
He also tells Off the Books co-hosts Steve Soter, Catherine Tsai, and Mike Gravagno one important aspect of a future accounting leader.
Subscribe or follow us wherever you catch your podcasts so you don’t miss our next upcoming episode outside the NYSE.
The Hershey Co. North America Controller Jonathan Gregory is back to talk about the many flavors of transformation, from finance transformation to career growth and the evolution of technology. Hit that little “subscribe” button to watch all of our upcoming episodes from outside the NYSE.
Hit the "subscribe" button to watch all of our upcoming episodes from outside the New York Stock Exchange!
From outside the New York Stock Exchange, Steve talks to Nick Mazing of AlphaSense about that special something that keeps capital markets going: transparent financial reporting. They get into IPOs, the evolution of financial reporting, and AI. Check out the full episode.
See what Nancy Golembiewski said when she was asked what she would do differently from her first initial public offering.
Missed the first part of our chat with Nancy? Find it here!
Taking a company public is no small feat. Nancy Golembiewski had been through one initial public offering before she joined Duolingo as a controller to help with its IPO. Listen as she takes us back to her very first IPO.
“Follow” us or subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2 of our chat with Nancy.
Steve and Catherine got to ask a former SEC regional director two big questions: Just how much should a CEO know about operations? What’s up with the SEC climate disclosure rule now that it’s stayed? David Peavler of Jones Day shares his perspective and blows their minds! Listen now.
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s NOCLAR proposal has caused quite a stir in the audit community. Matt Kelly, Editor and CEO of Radical Compliance, joins Steve and Catherine to share more about what the NOCLAR audit proposal is, why many audit firms are expressing concerns about it, and what audit committees are asking about it. Tune in to get all the details!
Read Matt Kelly’s article on NOCLAR here: https://www.radicalcompliance.com/2024/02/27/noclar-audit-proposal-keeps-going/
Hear more from Matt Kelly on the SEC’s climate-related and cybersecurity disclosure rules: https://www.workiva.com/resources/reading-tea-leaves-predictions-cybersecurity-chatgpt-and-more, https://www.workiva.com/resources/audit-and-risk-prep-sec-climate-rule
Now that the SEC climate disclosure rule is final, Off the Books hosts Steve Soter and Catherine Tsai bring Matt Kelly of Radical Compliance back on the show to dive into what it means for internal audit and risk teams.
- Hear more from Matt on the SEC cybersecurity rule in this podcast episode
- Learn more about how audit and risk teams can prepare for ESG assurance
- Get a full summary of the SEC climate disclosure rule in this blog post
Off the Books takes on two movies up for our consideration as the best accounting movie of all time, and they’re both documentaries—Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Queen’s Horses. Hear what Steve, Catherine, and Mike think of these two films.
For a look back at all the movies in the running for best accounting movie, check out the original episode (and movie bracket).
For more accounting fun, follow us or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss any new episodes.
After working with global companies, Nick Gerostathos got into the venture capital and private equity game, helping companies on the road to going public. Today he’s the Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller at Talkdesk. Catherine Tsai and Josh Gertsch ask him about challenges facing private companies.
Tom Rams, Charles Silvey, and Waseem Samaan stopped by the Off the Books Studio at Amplify to talk about the state of global audit. The three internal audit leaders shared their thoughts on ESG, curiosity, gen AI, career advice, and so much more. Tune in!
In light of the SEC's new climate-related disclosure rule, the ESG Talk and Off the Bookspodcast crews huddled to make sense of it all.
In this episode, Steve Soter asks Mandi McReynolds, head of ESG at Workiva, and Andie Wood, Vice President of Regulatory Strategy at Workiva, for their thoughts.
Then Jonathan Gregory, North America Controller at The Hershey Co., and Alan Wilson, Partner at WilmerHale, share their initial reactions, what surprised them in the rule, and some of their questions about the rule in the weeks and months to come.
Subscribe to ESG Talk and Off the Books as we continue the conversation in the year ahead.
It’s another movie episode! Could Stranger Than Fiction, a quiet, metatextual Will Ferrell indie rom-com actually be the best accounting movie? Will Mike get too defensive about one of his favorite movies? Can a movie about writing a novel capture the life of an IRS auditor? Tune in!
Follow Off the Books so you don’t miss any of our upcoming interviews of accounting and finance leaders!
You can find all our episodes at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
Follow Off the Books so you don’t miss any of our upcoming interviews of accounting, finance, and risk leaders at Amplify.
Believe it or not, a dental hygienist helped nudge Amy Hafen of AstraZeneca down the path to becoming a financial controls director. Mike and Catherine caught up with Amy at the Workiva Amplify conference to ask her more about it on this episode of Off the Books.
Follow Off the Books so you don’t miss any of our upcoming interviews of accounting, finance, and risk leaders.
Off the Books is back with updates on a few hot topics, including the SEC cybersecurity rule and SEC comment letters on climate-related disclosures. Nicola White of Bloomberg and Nick Mazing of AlphaSense pop in to tell Steve, Catherine, and Mike what’s new.
Hit that “Follow” button for Off the Books wherever you hear your podcasts to catch updates on these topics and more throughout the year.
Matt Kelly of Radical Compliance returns! Catherine and Steve pepper him with questions about defining a material cybersecurity event, whether or not ChatGPT is going to replace us all, new regulations, and more! Tune in.
Arthy Kumar, Workiva Industry Principal for Investments and Financial Services, stops by to answer producer Mike’s questions about the SEC! What’s the deal with the SEC private fund regulations? How is it changing the private fund industry? What’s the SEC approval process for naming funds? Find out:
When Thermon Inc. Vice President and Corporate Controller Greg Lucas plotted his course for becoming a CFO, controller, or finance leader, he thought about it from the perspective of a hiring manager.
“I wanted to almost take away every excuse that a hiring manager would have not to hire me,” he quipped.
Steve and Catherine asked Greg to share his list of six things hiring managers look for when filling accounting and finance roles. Listen in!
Nick Mazing of AlphaSense returns to talk about surprise appearances in companies’ earnings calls and disclosures this fall. Diet drugs, for one! Steve and Catherine ask what other trends Nick is seeing. Listen in!
Steve and Catherine ask Workiva General Counsel Brandon Ziegler how he would handle a cybersecurity incident. How would he assess if the incident is material and needs to be disclosed? Listen now.
Mike Nordtvedt, partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and unofficial Off the Books co-host Josh Gertsch stopped by the studio at the Workiva Amplify conference to dish about the state of capital markets and what companies can do to get ready to go public. Listen in.
Off the Books set up a studio in the middle of the action at the Workiva Amplify conference and interviewed accounting, finance, ESG, and GRC leaders like you. Hear from:
- Rachael Staab, ESG
- Tiffany Leiva, internal audit
- Maria Siglin, internal audit
- Jonathan Gregory, accounting and finance
- Jeffrey Pullen, accounting and finance
- Ana Sheikh, ESG
We asked them about their careers, what they’re looking for in the year ahead, and how to get the most out of conferences like Amplify. Listen in!
Show notes:
Read more from Nicola and Bloomberg on the soaring IPO and SPAC markets that ensnared two audit firms.
Show notes:
- Join the SEC Professionals Group to attend events like the one featuring Emily. Membership is free and open to people who are members of financial reporting teams, even if your organization is not a public company. Learn more.
- Follow Off the Books to catch all upcoming episodes.
- View select sessions from Workiva Amplify 2023 on demand. Sign up for the virtual conference to gain access.
- Learn more about Amplify Asia Pacific and Amplify EMEA.
- If you’re in the Americas, watch this space for more information about how to join us at Workiva Amplify 2024 in Denver.
Show notes:
- Read the paper David co-authored for more details of how Uniper used ChatGPT for internal audit tasks
- Hear more about generative AI for accounting, finance, risk, audit, and ESG professionals at Amplify
In this bonus episode of Off the Books, Catherine and Steve host Alan Wilson of the law firm WilmerHale to think through how companies will comply with the SEC’s final rule on cybersecurity disclosures.
Show notes:
- If you’re looking for stories from internal audit heroes, Grant recommends Extraordinary Circumstances: The Journey of a Corporate Whistleblower, the book from former WorldCom Chief Audit Executive Cynthia Cooper.
- Cynthia Cooper will be speaking at the SOX Professionals Group Summit in September. Register for the SOX Professionals Group to get the details as they are released. Membership is free.
- If you liked this episode, you can help us out by subscribing to Off the Books! Hit the “subscribe” button on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Find every episode of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Join us for Amplify Nashville this September 19-21 and connect with some of the brightest minds around. Register now: https://www.workiva.com/amplify.
To learn more about Robert Coplan and his work check out robertcoplan.com. And you can get his books here:
- The Handbook of Solitude: Psychological Perspectives on Social Isolation, Social Withdrawal, and Being Alone, 2nd Edition
- Quiet at School
- The Development of Shyness and Social Withdrawal
Show notes:
- Ask Steve Soter and Mark Mellen your own questions in person at Amplify. Register now.
- Subscribe to Off the Books! Hit the “subscribe” button on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Find every episode of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Show notes:
- For a quick look at what’s in the proposed SEC climate disclosure rule and how to prepare for it, check out this infographic.
- Subscribe to Off the Books! Hit the “subscribe” button on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Find every episode of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Show notes:
- Here’s the survey Steve mentioned that shows executives proactively planning to comply with proposed climate-related disclosure rules.
- See what else Josh has said about turning uncertainty into opportunities for CFOs and controllers.
- You can hear more from Josh at Amplify, Workiva’s annual conference, where he will speak about building a resilient accounting team.
- Subscribe and listen to all the episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.
Show notes:
Michelle Leder is the author of the book Financial Fine Print: Uncovering a Company’s True Value. She also runs footnoted* and the site’s subscription newsletter, Friday Night Dump, where she uncovers juicy tidbits within SEC filings. Her free newsletter is available via LinkedIn.
Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Show notes:
Review which movies the crew originally considered when producer Mike Gravagno asked them to find the best accounting movie.
Tell us what they got right and wrong about the movies they’ve debated so far:
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Ghostbusters
- Moonstruck
- The Untouchables
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Show notes:
- Financial reporting professionals for private, public, nonprofit, or government organizations can join the SEC Professionals Group (it’s free!) to catch all of David’s comments from the Pro Group Q1 meeting.
- Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Show notes:
- As Mary mentioned in this episode, her office hours at Bread and Butter Ventures are open to anyone. Learn more.
- Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
Jonathan Johnson, who became CEO of Overstock after founder Patrick Byrne resigned, chats with Catherine and Steve about the “G” in ESG, cryptocurrency, and setting the tone from the top. Jonathan previously served as general counsel and a CFO at a different company, giving him an appreciation for strong corporate governance. Tune in!
Show Notes:
- The draft of the Global Internal Audit Standards is now available for public comment through May 30, 2023
- Check out the IIA’s yearly report, the Pulse of Internal Audit, which provides insights about internal audit budgets, staff, audit plans, risks, and more
- Get more internal audit tips and takeaways for 2023
Show Notes:
- The Netflix docuseries Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street was directed by Joe Berlinger.
- Jim Campbell is the author of Madoff Talks: Uncovering the Untold Story Behind the Most Notorious Ponzi Scheme in History and was co-executive producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street. He is also assistant news director at WCGH-AM.
- Ali Levin, a co-producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street, is also a comedian, impressionist, actor, writer, singer, and film producer.
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ripple effects have left us with so many questions. Catherine and Steve sit down with former auditors Ernest Anunciacion and Josh Gertsch to try to answer them all. Let’s dive in.
Show notes:
Review which movies the crew originally considered when producer Mike Gravagno asked them to find the best accounting movie.
Tell us what they got right and wrong about the movies they’ve debated so far:
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Ghostbusters
- Moonstruck
- The Untouchables
Catherine and Steve sat down with Jonathan Gregory, North America Controller for The Hershey Co., to discuss how he ended up with what has to be one of the sweetest accounting and finance jobs in Pennsylvania. Sink your teeth into this episode.
Nick Mazing of AlphaSense is back to cover a whirlwind of info related to Q4 2022 earnings. The crew covers what companies are saying about crypto, interest, inflation, and more hot topics in their annual reports. Plus, we asked ChatGPT to come up with our closing question of the day. What could go wrong? Listen in!
Read some of the latest news from Robert Half on hiring trends in accounting and finance and more:
- Employment trends and demand for skilled talent
- Salary guide for finance and accounting
- Survey: Nearly half of U.S. workers plan to look for a new position in the new year
This 2022 episode is too relevant not to re-air this year. Black accountants are underrepresented in the profession, which matters as companies look at candidates to promote to CFO. Levongia Carrera shares what can help Black executives feel more supported in the workplace.
Review which movies the crew originally considered when Mike Gravagno asked them to find the best accounting movie.
Tell us what they got right and wrong about the movies they’ve debated so far:
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Ghostbusters
- Moonstruck
Show notes:
Read the study mentioned in this episode. The study was written by Alexander Dyck, Adair Morse, and Luigi Zingales and was mentioned in the January 14, 2023, edition of DealBook.
For more of what Curt Steinhorst said about how leaders build trust and spark organizational confidence, watch his webinar on demand.
Let us know what trends you’re seeing in your workplace. Take the 2023 workplace trends survey before February 28, 2023, for a chance to win a fitness mirror.
Kelly Davis of Outdoor Industry Association returns! The podcast crew interrupts Kelly’s time with her dogs to ask how market researchers can be a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) team’s best friend.
Would you stick around an extra year for $50,000? Shashank Aurora, Chief Financial Officer of Des Moines Public Schools, takes us behind the scenes of the school district’s offer to get retiring teachers to stay one more year.
We’re celebrating 100 episodes of Off the Books! Hear how it all started, and relive some of the best clips of the accounting podcast you know and love.
How is raising capital for a startup like having a pool party? Rich Maloy of SpringTime Ventures (and host of the VC Minute podcast) swings by Off the Books to make a splash! Watch now.
Part 2 of the conversation with Nicola White of Bloomberg and Alan Wilson of the law firm WilmerHale! Last week there were so many insights on the SEC, FASB, and crypto accounting that we had to keep the convo going. Catch the rest of the chat now.
Is it hot in here, or is it just the FASB? Nicola White of Bloomberg and Alan Wilson, CPA and securities attorney from WilmerHale, swing by to discuss the backstory and ramifications on a move to protect the Financial Standards Accounting Board from political interference—and get it to act a wee bit faster. Learn more.
YouTubers, drop a comment on what the crew got right and wrong:
Want more movie episodes? Check them out here:
- The Super-Duper Best Accounting Movies of All Time: https://youtu.be/c_6GZnu3-gs
- Off the Books vs. The Shawshank Redemption: https://youtu.be/5WMPeAP-SSI
- Off the Books vs. Ghostbusters: https://youtu.be/GVNc9EREnnw
- Here’s the attorney generals letter to BlackRock: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/executive-management/BlackRock%20Letter.pdf
- Here’s a response from BlackRock: https://thetexan.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BlackRock-Response-to-AGs-09062022_Final.pdf
- And this is what the New York City Comptroller sent BlackRock: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/comptroller-lander-sends-letter-to-blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-demanding-stronger-action-toward-net-zero-emissions-reduction-across-portfolio/
- Hear the Off the Books crew chatter on other accounting topics: https://www.workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast
On this between-seasons bonus episode, ESG Talk’s Mandi McReynolds joins Steve and Catherine to recap Workiva Amplify, the annual conference for ESG, finance, and risk folks. Hear how Amplify 2022 went all in on the bold future of transparency, plus listen to a clip from two keynote speakers: professional rock climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell!
A proposal to tax companies based on book income instead of their tax income was tucked into the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and that sure got Steve Soter and Josh Gertsch talking. Catherine soaks in why it’s such a big deal for accounting teams.
After a couple of years off, are you ready to mix and mingle at in-person industry events? Robert Coplan, developmental psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Carleton University, offers tips on how to ease back into real life gatherings so you can get the most out of conferences like Workiva Amplify this fall.
Recent headlines motivated Steve and Catherine to think about considerations organizations have when revealing not-so-great news. Brandon Ziegler returns to field their serious (and not-so-serious) questions about SEC investigations, disclosures, and more!
Mike Coke of Wilson Sonsini returns! This time Mike’s here to break down the state of capital markets and the SEC’s proposed rule around SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies)—plus new rules for everyday life.
It's not often that an audit firm walks away from a client, but there's always a story when it happens. Mike Disabato, host of the MSCI podcast ESG Now, breaks down auditor resignations with the Off the Books crew. Tune in:
If there’s something strange on your movie screen, who you gonna call? Off the Books! It’s time for another edition of the accounting movie bracket. Mike pits Catherine and Steve against the OG Ghostbusters! Does the film show the EPA as unfairly evil? How does it handle relationships? Is it even an accounting movie!?
Off the Books takes on the news! The Securities and Exchange Commission has received thousands of comments on its climate risk disclosure proposal. Catherine and Steve break down what stands out from the feedback on the proposed SEC climate disclosure rule. Tune in:
Camping season is upon us! The crew asks Kelly Davis, Director of Research for the Outdoor Industry Association, how she works with the office of finance and what outdoor trends she’s seeing. Then Steve and Catherine sneak in questions about skiing, and it’s all downhill from there. Listen in:
ESG Talk’s Mandi McReynolds joins Off the Books to give an ESG director’s point of view on the SEC’s climate disclosure proposal, while Steve offers the perspective of an SEC reporting director. Will they see eye to eye? Will Catherine have to give them a timeout? Will the Workiva podiverse ever be the same? Tune in:
Mike pits Catherine and Steve up against fan favorite The Shawshank Redemption. Does this Stephen King adaptation count as an accounting movie? Does its beloved reputation make sense? Is there ever such thing as TOO much Morgan Freeman narration? Tune in for the answers to all of the questions and more!
Wouldn't it be nice if crypto accounting were less ... cryptic? FASB, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, has finally said it will think about setting rules around accounting for certain digital assets like bitcoin. Ben Taylor of SoftLedger, whose accounting software can help automate cryptocurrency transactions, breaks it all down. Listen in.
The first part of season 3 is in the books (errr, off the books?), and it’s time to listen back to our deep conversations about career paths, what to disclose, and even the best accounting movies before we head out for spring break. Plus, a teaser for the new podcast from Mandi McReynolds!
As companies work to protect employees in Ukraine, they’re also making related adjustments in accounting and risk management. This week, Steve and Catherine are joined by Mike Ruble, an audit partner at PwC, to dig into issues from asset impairment to materiality to the risk of nationalization.
Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame recently spoke about ESG investing, so Catherine decided to make Steve share his unfiltered reactions to what Mr. Wonderful said.
The office loudmouth isn’t the only one swearing at work. A few executives have let an expletive—or eight—fly in public, according to transcripts analyzed by the AI-powered financial search engine Sentieo. Nick Mazing returns to give us the real shi—er, scoop.
Researchers say audit experience can influence a chief financial officer’s behavior—but not forever. Returning guest Josh Gertsch has worked with CFOs in a variety of ways and unleashes his expertise on the topic. Listen in:
Mike Whitmire wasn’t even a decade out from graduating with an accounting degree when he co-founded FloQast, a software company created by accountants for accountants in 2013. Mike shares how he became CEO of a startup, how he keeps blazing his own path, and why he wanted to make a web series for accountants.
It’s a takeover! Off the Books producer Mike Gravagno takes the microphone, yo (see what we did there), and we’ll never be the same. It’s an episode unlike any other. Check it out.
How does someone go from earning an accounting degree to becoming a securities lawyer? Catherine and Steve are joined by Alan J. Wilson, JD, CPA, of the law firm WilmerHale to discover what led him down a career path where law and accounting intersect—and what secrets are hidden in such an intersection!
Podcast recidivist Nick Mazing of Sentieo returns for a look at trends in Q4 2021 earnings calls and earnings releases! Catherine, Steve, and Nick discuss what public companies are saying about Ukraine, inflation, and the disease that shall not be named. Plus, what’s the most-searched item on Valentine’s Day?
Moves are under way in the investment universe to help individual shareholders take back the vote! Will that change how CEOs and boards act? Tune in as we wade into the waters of corporate civics with David Webber, author of "The Rise of the Working-Class Shareholder: Labor's Last Best Weapon."
Black accountants are underrepresented in the profession, which matters as companies look at candidates to promote on the path to CFO. Levongia Carrera of Airbnb shares what can help Black executives feel more supported.
Podcast recidivist Nick Mazing returns to break down 10-Ks, CEO letters, the historical approach to accounting, and the non-traditional sources of information that offer hints of how investors truly value a company—even when that company’s voice is cracking and it isn’t always sure what it wants to be when it grows up.
A few private companies that drew big headlines and even bigger valuations have imploded, taking investors’ cash down with them. Should we require private companies to tell us more? Is that like forcing teens to post on social media when they’re still in their sloppy, angst-filled years? Nemit Shroff shares his thoughts.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is taking a closer look at rules for special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs—the blank check firms that have drawn celebrity endorsements from the likes of Shaq, Serena Williams, and A-Rod. Michael Coke of the law firm Wilson Sonsini joins Off the Books to break it all down!
The hosts talk to Brandon Ziegler, chief legal officer at Workiva, about insider trading and how executives might get themselves in trouble, even when they have 10b5-1 plans that are meant to help them steer clear of it.
To kick off Season 3, Steve and Catherine are joined by Matt Kelly of "Radical Compliance," the blog devoted to corporate compliance, audit, and risk management issues. Matt picks through clues in the latest State of the SOX/Internal Controls Market Report to decipher how SOX compliance teams fared through the pandemic.
On this special bonus episode, returning guest Nick Mazing of Sentieo joins Steve Soter and new co-host Catherine Tsai to share nuggets from companies’ Q3 earnings disclosures. They talk supply chain issues, housing markets, inflation, flies in Chardonnay, and so much more!
We’ll be back in 2022 with season 3!
The hosts talk to author Erica Dhawan about her latest book, "Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance," and share practical advice on how companies and teams can build cultures that thrive, even from a distance.
Nick Renkoski and Steve Soter are joined by Nick Mazing of Sentieo and Nancy Mentesana of the Argyle Company to discuss Workiva’s new Marketplace and its benefits.
Nick Renkoski, Steve Soter and Penny Ashley-Lawrence complete their discussion of the challenges of women in finance and what can be done.
Nick Renkoski and Steve Soter are joined by Penny Ashley-Lawrence to discuss workplace issues that affect women and what everyone can do to make the world of finance more fair.
Schools out! Season two is wrapped up and Nick and Steve are grabbing their surfboards and hitting the waves. We’ll be back soon with more on the latest from the financial waves.
We’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more accounting memes! This time, Steve Soter plays quizmaster and tests the accounting knowledge of Nick Renkoski—who is not an accountant. The results are revealing in more ways than one.
Off the Books stays on top of the emerging world of bitcoin this week by speaking with Steve Soter and Ben Taylor, co-founder and CEO of SoftLedger, an accounting software provider that specializes in cryptocurrency.
Nick Mazing of Sentieo joins Nick Renkoski and Steve Soter to cover the biggest financial news of the first part of the year. SPACs! ESG! Crocs! Oh, my!
Bob Hirth of Protiviti concludes our conversation about ESG reporting, making the case that finance teams would do well to be an early adopter and not a laggard.
Nick Renkoski and Steve Soter are joined by Bob Hirth, Senior Managing Director at Protiviti, and an ESG proponent to discuss his career, the state of ESG, and why businesses should get on board.
Steve Soter, April Brady, and Josh Gertsch are back to finish their lesson for upcoming accounting professionals; the good, the bad, and the stuff no one will tell you. Listen up—don’t worry, there won’t be a test.
With graduation day coming up, Off the Books answers some listener mail about advice for upcoming accounting professionals. Steve Soter, April Brady, and Josh Gertsch drop some knowledge on recent grads. Listen up, class.
Adam Roundy from Hallows & Company in Salina, Utah (population 2,500) join Drew Deubner, Steve Soter, and Nick Renkoski to explain how connectivity allows firms to think big even in small towns, allowing you to do meaningful work wherever you want to be.
Never heard of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)? Well, it likely won’t be long before your finance team will be required to report on it. Smart teams are already starting. Darcie Brossart joins Drew Deubner and Steve Soter to discuss what to look out for.
Author Mel Robbins recently spoke to Workiva about her 5-second rule for productivity and creativity. Joel Capperella, who spoke with Mel, join Nick Renkoski and Steve Soter to discuss what Mel’s message means for finance professionals.
Drew, Nick, and Steve are joined by Nick Mazing of Senteo to discuss what has already taken place this year and what it means for the rest of this unprecedented time. From Game Stop to SPACs, we’ve got you covered.
You asked and we answered! Today we look at a piece of listener mail to learn a little bit more about mergers and acquisitions with the conclusion of our conversation with Erik Elfrink of KPMG.
You asked and we answered! Today we look at a piece of listener mail to learn a little bit more about mergers and acquisitions with Erik Elfrink of KPMG.
Meet Nick! He’s taking the reins from Drew while he’s out for a bit. He’s nice and is into hot sauce. You’ll like him.
Today we’re playing a high stakes game of follow the leader, talking with experts from Deloitte about what makes a good financial leader, how that need has changed, and a little bit about how to be liked along the way. Play on!
Hot diggity! It’s the second half of our conversation about SPACs. Join Steve, Drew, Josh Gertsch, and Caleb Cannon as they continue unpacking SPACs and where they’re headed in the future. Tune in!
Great Scott! Will SPACs be the IPO of the 21st Century? Will going public ever be the same? How many pairs of Crocs can Steve cram in his closet? Join Steve, Drew, Josh Gertsch, and Caleb Cannon as they find those answers via 1.21 gigawatts of podcast power. Tune in!
Today, we’re checking the OTB Mailbox. Drew and Steve help a listener understand what in the Sam Hill is going on with GameStop, what the SEC will do next, and learn why the muffaletta is nature’s perfect sandwich. Tune in!
So, banks tried this new accounting standard, and then COVID blew the whole thing to hell. And the related, but kinda-not-related, CARES Act didn’t help things either. It’s a doozy. Heather Markheim and Chris Albela untangle the whole mess for Drew and Steve. Tune in!
So, banks got ready for this new accounting standard, and then COVID blew the whole thing to hell. And the related, but kinda-not-related, CARES Act didn’t help things either. It’s a doozy. Heather Markheim and Chris Albela untangle the whole mess for Drew and Steve. Tune in!
We love listener mail! Steve and Josh explain what busy season is, Drew breaks up their incessant bickering, and somehow snowboarding is involved. Tune in!
In the back half of our two-part conversation, Dom Fatibene and Ernest Anunciacion wax nostalgic about their travels with CAS and how it’s shaped their careers. Let’s go! Tune in now!
Take a moment of silence for General Electric’s corporate audit staff training program. Two former participants say goodbye to the Navy Seals of audit, and offer useful tips for practitioners. Drew offers Kleenex to wipe their tears. Tune in!
Drew is not an accountant, which means he doesn’t understand the accounting memes that make the internet LOL out loud. Steve uses the force and breaks ‘em down. This one's blowin' up like the Death Star. Tune in!
Our European correspondent Conor O’Kelly gets Steve and Drew up to speed on what’s new in the EU and UK: airlines, statutory reporting, the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), and more. Cheerio!
Nick Mazing of Sentieo drops the deets on all the fascinating stuff that’s happened behind the scenes in Q3 financial disclosures. Steve and the Drew-Tang Clan spit rhymes on the Biden administration, what’s new with the SEC, and so much more. Check it out, y’all!
In the second half of our conversation, Tim Tribe of Ingen Financial Forensics shares some really incredible stories about his life as a forensic accountant. Check it out! Listen now!
Take a microscopically close look at the fascinating world of forensic accounting with Tim Tribe of Ingen Financial Forensics. Find out what forensic accountants do, how he landed the gig, and what it’s like to teach juries about accounting. Check it out! Listen now!
The Paycheck Protection Program offered small businesses shelter from the impact of COVID. But, as Marc Butler of Intelligize explains, it’s not quite as straightforward as you’d think. Steve and Drew chat chickens. Hit it!
What the what? Steve sat down for an interview with Sherron Watkins, the whistleblower at the heart of the Enron scandal, to get the whole scoop on what led up to her reporting the crimes, her life afterword, and much more. It’s a can’t-miss episode! Tune in now!
We originally aired this one back in April, but we could use something a little more lighthearted right now. Listen to a spooky tale based around a real-life accounting horror story shared by listeners. Boo!
We’re surfing way off the deep end with this one! Right in time for Halloween, listen to this spooky tale based around a real-life accounting horror story shared by one of our listeners. Tune in—if you dare!
Questions? Feedback? Want to be a guest on Off the Books?
Write us at offthebooks@workiva.com.
Just a quick update with the show—we’ve got some great stuff in the works for you, and more than a few surprises. Stay tuned!
Here's the episode of The Daily we mention. And, here's the New York Times article that that episode is based on.
(Check them out, they're really good.)
The amazing Nick Mazing, head of research at Sentieo, skims the surface of this quarter’s earnings releases and pulls out some really wild market trends. Plus, learn how to build your own market indicator! Meanwhile, Steve and Drew concoct the perfect Oreo. Tune in now!
So the IIA rolled out a new Three Lines model, which shakes the internal audit function to its core. What’s it mean, why’s it important, and what now? Ernest goes long with some football analogies, David waxes eloquent about gazpacho and accountability, and Drew drops puns, per usual. Tune in!
Conferences: love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t really go to ‘em anyway. Brooke Upton and Dana Williams attended some virtual sessions and took meticulous notes on agile auditing, continuous controls monitoring, and conference snacks. Tune in, learn the cool buzzwords, and sound smart to your coworkers!
So your guest bedroom slash office feels like an empty void. Zoom calls are flatter than day-old Diet Coke. What’s an accounting leader to do? Charles Carrington, partner at Deloitte, joins Drew and Steve to talk emotional intelligence, mental health, and intentional leadership in the time of Coronavirus. Tune in!
Private equity, as Steve and Drew learn, is the business of buying businesses, making them work better, then selling them. Jennifer Neill and Emilie McLaughlin give them the full scoop, and Steve starts an international bus conglomerate for pennies on the dollar. Tune in now!
Ben Taylor from Softledger stops by again and offers more down-to-earth blockchain examples—wine, flour, and lettuce. Drew helps Steve with his debilitating reliance on bootleg Diet Coke. Tune in now!
Remember Nintendo’s third-party-vendor data breach? Yeah, it’s back again. Matt and Andy wrestle with the technical stuff, and Ernest drops the six-part Konami code for risk management, and Drew makes bad puns. Tune in now!
Dude, where’s my general ledger? Andrew Hunzicker of DopeCFO talks Ernest, Steve, and Drew through the labyrinth of accounting challenges of selling a federally illegal product in legal states. Plus, Steve resolves some tummy troubles. Tune in now!
With decades of CFO experience, and as a founder of the SEC and SOX Professionals Groups, Joe Howell has a ton to say about the historical perspective of the COVID-19 situation and how accounting pros can make the best of the change in their own careers.
Ben Taylor from Softledger comes back from the future to continue schooling the gang on cryptocurrency and blockchain. Then things shift to talking about lettuce, wine, and socks. Tune in!
Fake money? On an intangible general ledger? All living on the cloud? Ben Taylor of Softledger explains why that’s really not a bonkers idea, and why cryptocurrency and blockchain has benefits to accountants of all stripes.
So, Country A doesn’t want disclosures filed in the same way as Country B. And when you exist in both, that gets hairy. Paul Volpe walks the gang through the intricacies of the situation, and offers some advice for companies looking for an exit from the rat race.
Six months to comply to XBRL? Say watt? Shocking, but likely true for energy companies. April Brady and David Winn spark the conversation and share tips for FERC filers.
There are a ton of accounting memes out there, and Drew doesn’t understand them (or Harry Potter or Thanos, as it turns out). Steve breaks them down, and shares his own Avada Kedavra moment in accounting.
The crew gets schooled on the past, present, and future of XBRL—plus, what it means for reporting professionals, who uses that data, and how it’s pronounced (hint: it’s not “ex-err-bull”).
We check in with our European correspondent Conor O’Kelly for a look at what’s been happening in the world of accounting and finance overseas. Put a kettle of tea on and tune in!
Recently, an old third-party vendor of Nintendo was hacked, leaking valuable source data. Drew, Ernest, and Andy tune into the situation, and decode what that means to risk pros and technology fans. Warning: things get real nerdy, real quick.
It’s part two of our conversation with Professor Bill Dilla of Iowa State University! We’re talking about the future of accounting education, what those in the industry can learn from students, and more.
Grab your Trapper Keeper, we’re headed back to school! Professor Bill Dilla of Iowa State University gets us up to speed on the world of accounting higher education.
This episode’s on a different wave. Listen to a spooky tale based around a real-life accounting horror story shared by listeners.
The recent CARES Act includes provisions that delay the implementation of CECL. Yep, now the government’s involved with accounting standards. We dig in and find out what that means.
So the 2021 federal budget came out, and it calls for folding the PCAOB into the SEC. Say what? Join host Drew Deubner as he tries to make heads or tails of that, and asks risk and finance experts if this could ever really see the light of day.
In this episode Steve Soter, Camille Rudy, and Ernest Anunciacion discuss what a global pandemic means for accounting, finance, and audit. Drew herds the resident cats and gets his head around what it all means.