The Unique CPA: Recent Episodes
Randy Crabtree, CPA
The Unique CPA is the show where we’re going beyond compliance into forging new pathways of delivering value to clients, diversifying your revenue streams, and leading edge management techniques and styles. We’re keeping you at the forefront of the changing face of public accounting with fascinating leaders, bringing you their stories and advice inside the accounting industry.
Episode 216 of The Unique CPA kicks off a three-episode CAS block, starting with Randy Crabtree’s conversation with Christine Triantos. Christine, who has over 30 years of experience as one of the trailblazers of CAS within the profession, discusses its fundamentals, differentiating it from traditional accounting services like bookkeeping and write-ups. She highlights the importance of proactive guidance and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, and explores how her own service providers, Infinite Advisors and Infinite Ties, can smooth this process. Delving into best practices, pricing strategies, managing client expectations, and the significance of industry-specific niches, Christine emphasizes the value of effective client communication and the boon to work-life balance that maintaining a successful CAS practice can provide.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Terrell Turner back to The Unique CPA for his third appearance in anticipation of the upcoming Bridging the Gap Conference 2025 in Denver, Colorado, July 22nd-24th. Terrell will be interviewing several participants this year as well as giving his own talk, as he did each of the first two years, and he and Randy take this opportunity to discuss the history and unique aspects that have come out of the conference as it’s found its identity. Perhaps unsurprisingly for longtime listeners of The Unique CPA, community and relationship building are among the central themes. Randy and Terrell also preview a few sessions and speakers for the conference, including discussions on topics like vulnerability in leadership and redefining the accounting industry.
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Randy Crabtree connects with Carlos Garcia, co-founder of the Reframe Conference with his brother, former Unique CPA guest Hector, on Episode 214. Carlos’s focus is on transforming how accounting professionals communicate with clients by promoting confidence and clear messaging. Sporting a certification in the “Exactly What to Say” methodology, which aids accountants in becoming strategic partners rather than mere compliance officers, Carlos emphasizes the importance of curiosity, empathy, and trust in interactions with both clients and your team, and delves into the impact of language on trust building. The Reframe Conference takes these important ideas into its mission to rebrand the accounting profession as innovative and forward-thinking.
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Mike Whitmire returns to The Unique CPA to share his unique perspective on the profession on Episode 213. The co-founder and CEO of FloQast, Mike talks to Randy about the expansion and shift in responsibilities for controllers and others within accounting, going beyond traditional functions to include operational efficiency and strategic planning. Focusing on the impact of technology and AI in automating mundane tasks, Mike explains that accountants’ ability to focus on more high value work is key to this transformation. Rather than the talent pipeline issue being a major concern, Mike emphasizes that by using oft-discussed themes of the show like mental health awareness, strong workplace relationships, and putting people in positions to do work they love, everyone can get more out of their careers and see increased engagement and fulfillment, which can benefit every person and organization from top to bottom.
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On Episode 212 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree digs into an extraordinary alternative firm model with Jacob Schroeder, the founder and CEO of Ascend Consulting. In addition to balancing multiple businesses, Jacob’s entrepreneurial journey has been informed by his passion for innovation and invention in the context of the accounting profession. Jacob’s bold move to split Ascend Consulting into three separate firms to allow for separate focuses on advisory services, tax, and bookkeeping has so far been a resounding success, and he and Randy delve into the central role that collaboration, partnerships, and allowing each individual to focus on their strengths and passions have played in driving that success.
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Randy Crabtree goes in-house with Tri-Merit’s Barry Devine, a veteran in the specialty tax incentive space, on Episode 211 of The Unique CPA. Renewable energy tax credits have come to the forefront as a way for nonprofits to fund community-strengthening projects, and Barry pulls from his extensive experience in leveraging these credits and incentives to illustrate the incredible opportunities that are out there right now. Highlighting the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on making these credits accessible to nonprofits, they discuss real-world examples Barry was a part of, including projects for the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and a Minnesota hospital, while delving into the legislative landscape and future prospects for renewable energy incentives. Barry’s strong advice to CPAs on how to support their nonprofit clients in taking advantage of these lucrative credits is a must-listen.
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Randy Crabtree connects with business development specialist Chris Cocca on Episode 210 of The Unique CPA. The President of Strategic Sales and former actively practicing CPA, Chris now specializes in helping accounting firms grow and scale by identifying and leveraging their rainmakers, implementing effective business development processes, and formalizing sales methodologies. Focusing on efficiency in business development and highlighting the importance of having a sales leader within the firm, Chris emphasizes the need for a tailored approach to coaching salespeople and aligning business development with firm growth goals on a person-to-person level.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Geni Whitehouse, an influential figure in the accounting profession known for her diverse roles including founder of The Impactful Advisor, ITA president, and winery consultant, on Episode 209 of The Unique CPA. Geni talks about things that made a difference in her career trajectory, highlighting her transition from an uninspired CPA to a passionate advocate for enhancing the accounting profession and the experiences of everyone involved. She stresses effective communication, the power of humor in public speaking, and the need to connect and make an impact. Geni’s commitment to training and mentorship—and her experiences in stand-up comedy and TED Talks—underscore her mission to make accounting a better profession.
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Questian Telka and Nancy McClelland join Randy on Episode 208 of The Unique CPA to discuss their new podcast, She Counts, aimed at addressing the unique experiences of women in the accounting profession. The podcast will focus on authentic conversations with subject matter experts and leaders in the profession, with discussions about breaking through isolation, challenging industry norms, both providing and receiving support and practical advice, #MeToo, mentorship, vulnerability, the importance of DEI, and more. Launching She Counts in mid-May, Questian and Nancy understand the need for intentional change in hiring and promotion practices and invite both women and men to join these important conversations through the podcast.
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Randy hosts a very special Episode 207 of The Unique CPA, with now three-time guest Dawn Brolin. Dawn, the “Designated Motivator,” discusses her latest book, The Elevation of Empathy: Leading for the W.I.N., and she delves into how empathy transforms leadership, organizational culture, and mental health. Dawn’s impactful personal stories about dealing with leaders who lack empathy highlights the importance of vulnerability, transparency, and intentionality if you want to be the kind of leader that people look up to and remember for the right reasons. Emphasizing the detrimental impact of poor leadership on mental well-being, the significance of positive mentorship, and the need for genuine care in professional relationships, Dawn’s practical advice on practicing empathy is valuable currency when it comes to humanizing the accounting profession and the experiences of those who are in it.
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Randy Crabtree is joined by Annette Wehrli of Effectivity Consulting on Episode 206 of The Unique CPA to talk about aligning business strategy with people strategy. They discuss the significant challenge many accounting firms face: transitioning professionals from technical experts to effective leaders, the importance of identifying the right leadership types and styles, and the need for a balance of technical, visionary, thought, and people leadership within firms. Annette highlights storytelling, culture, and customized leadership training programs as ways to enhance individuals’ innate leadership potential, seeing it as a path forward for the profession and aiding in its continued positive transformation as it addresses its talent attraction and retention challenges.
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Randy Crabtree concludes his conversation on community with Nancy McClelland, The Dancing Accountant, on Episode 205 of The Unique CPA. They focus particularly on the vital role bookkeepers play in the accounting world, and the importance of collaboration between them and tax professionals. This, along with creating effective systems, are keys to building a culture of shared resources, proper communication, and continuous learning—essentially, forming stronger bonds within the community will lead to better results for service provider and client alike. Nancy highlights practical steps to educate small business owners, bookkeepers, and tax pros to foster better working relationships, underscoring the need to transform accounting’s landscape through enhanced cooperation and training.
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Randy Crabtree kicks off a two part conversation with Nancy McClelland, the Dancing Accountant, on Episode 204 of The Unique CPA. Their discussion will conclude the series on the impact of community in the accounting profession, where they delve into Nancy's journey from bookkeeping to becoming a CPA and the evolution of her business and identity. Nancy shares her insights on how pivotal relationships are to everything she does as owner of a “hyperlocal” firm, and the inspiration behind her initiative, “Ask a CPA,” which aims to foster collaboration between bookkeepers and tax professionals. The discussion highlights how better connections within the profession can lead to a more efficient and more mentally healthy work environment, which increases productivity and satisfaction, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.
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Randy continues his focus on community in accounting with Yuri Kapilovich on Episode 203 of The Unique CPA. Also known as #TheFunCPA, Yuri shares his mission to redefine accounting, making it more dynamic and engaging through his social media content, networking events, and YouTube series. Discussing his journey of building a full-service accounting firm with a focus on work-life balance, Yuri explains how he maintains a limited work schedule while providing high-value services to his clients. Yuri’s continuing efforts to create unique and enjoyable networking events are just one of the many ways that he contributes to the accounting community.
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Logan Graf returns to The Unique CPA to continue the show’s focus on community in the accounting profession on Episode 202. The owner of Graf Tax and founder of Counter, Logan talks to Randy about the community he’s built with Counter, which was inspired by his YouTube channel and the transparency he had around sharing his financials there. This had prompted a lot of questions for many people around the profession, especially those with an entrepreneurial bent, and Logan’s response was to create a welcoming, supportive group for new and aspiring firm owners. Logan shares some of his insights on overcoming barriers in the profession, the need for accounting professionals to have confidence in themselves when approaching client interactions, and the impact innovative practices can have on the entire profession.
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Episode 201 of The Unique CPA kicks off a block of episodes focused on building community in the accounting profession, and to start, Randy talks with Ashley Carroll, founder of Operations House, about addressing burnout while driving firm profitability. Ashley details her mission to help accounting firms rethink their business structures and cultures and think of their employees more as human beings. Ashley recently introduced a “professional pep talk” initiative that provides support and encouragement to accounting professionals, and she discusses her own journey from accounting to operations, her mental health struggles, and her passion for fostering psychologically safe and profitable work environments.
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We have reached yet another mile episode of The Unique CPA, number 200, and Randy Crabtree joins producer Justin Grant to celebrate the show’s journey. They reflect on the supportive community that has sprung up around the show, the Bridging the Gap Conference, and plans for the future, while having some fun too with a bloopers segment that’s sure to make you laugh along with them. Randy also shares his thoughts on new directions for the podcast, such as becoming a go-to source for specialty tax news and analysis, and the rise of private equity in the accounting profession, before closing things out looking forward to the next hundred episodes.
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Randy Crabtree is joined by Dave Lane, founder of Grove & Grain Leadership, on Episode 199 of The Unique CPA. As a business executive, leader coach, keynote speaker, and fractional COO, Dave discusses his journey and philosophy around the concept of being a “force of awesome.” He elaborates on the importance of self-awareness, vulnerability, and identifying your true self for both personal fulfillment and professional success. Sharing methodologies and tools he uses, such as the “Listen, Reflect, and Ask” model, Dave seeks to help individuals and teams overcome challenges, improve their emotional intelligence, and foster a more cohesive and effective work environment, with focuses on the impact personal growth can have on business outcomes, and the importance of integrating personal passions with professional duties.
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Randy welcomes Michael Haynes, go-to-market specialist and Director of Listen Innovate Grow, on Episode 198 of The Unique CPA. Michael explains how accounting firms can transition from transactional to advisory services, focusing on the importance of understanding client needs and conducting internal analysis to create a comprehensive go-to-market strategy. Michael instructs firms to identify their niche, develop the relevant advisory services, and leverage existing expertise for growth, as he stresses the importance of depth of expertise and strategic client engagement, shedding light on various advisory offerings and revenue opportunities.
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On Episode 197 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree welcomes Greg Adams, Senior VP and CFO at the American Management Association and author of the novel Green Shade$. Greg discusses his career journey, his passion for the profession which served as inspiration for his novel—which features an accountant protagonist—and his advocacy for improving the image and perception of accountants. He emphasizes the importance of soft skills in the accounting profession and offers insights on how to address the declining number of CPA exam takers by improving the image and appeal of accounting as a whole.
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Episode 196 of The Unique CPA brings Liz Farr, a CPA and influential freelance writer, in conversation with Randy Crabtree. Liz discusses her diverse career path and how she transitioned from biochemistry to linguistics, then eventually to accounting, and finally writing within the profession. Taking a 30,000 foot view, they discuss the significant shifts happening in accounting such as innovative firm models, improvements in work-life balance, and the importance of a strong firm culture. Liz highlights the new generation’s entrepreneurial approach and the increasing emphasis on leadership and technology integration, as both reflect on their personal experiences and the evolving landscape, expressing optimism about the future of the profession.
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Randy Crabtree hosts Brian Floriani on a special Episode 195 of The Unique CPA. The founder of Bernie's Book Bank, Brian shares his moving story behind how he founded the organization in memory of his father, with the goal of addressing educational inequity through book ownership. Brian discusses the significant impact of providing books to under-resourced communities and reveals that a small increase in literacy could dramatically boost the economy. He highlights the organization’s achievements in Chicagoland, their expansion plans, and their commitment to efficient and sustainable operations.
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On Episode 194 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree chats with Kelly Rohrs, founder of her own CPA firm and co-host of the podcast From Zero to Millions: Accounting Edition. Kelly shares her journey from working in a traditional CPA firm to establishing her own practice and the strategies she employed to make it a success, such as leveraging LinkedIn for exposure and building authentic relationships. Kelly has been recognized by CPA Practice Advisor, making their “Top 40 Under 40” list, and she shares her insights on boundary setting, discusses her efforts to help other professionals through her mastermind groups, known as Fiscal Minds, and her podcast, and she emphasizes the importance of openness to innovation, of community, and maintaining work-life balance, as keys to her continuing success.
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Happy new year to The Unique CPA community! David Hartley joins Randy on Episode 193 to kick off 2025 with a chat about a timely topic: The profession’s future and looking forward to the key things that will drive change within accounting. The Partner in Charge of Advisory at Anders CPAs and Advisors, David hits on the shift towards advisory services, emphasizing innovation and the future readiness of firms. Outlining Anders' proactive approach to strategic planning, compensation transparency, and technology integration, Dave also highlights the mental health and work-life balance initiatives at the firm while delving into the evolving importance of value over billable hours in the accounting industry.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Megan Tarnow on Episode 192 of The Unique CPA to discuss Megan’s unique niche: the intersection of nonprofits and QuickBooks. A speaker, trainer, and Top 100 Pro Advisor, Megan has lent a hand to numerous nonprofits over the years and even developed a Facebook group for nonprofit finance that boasts over 11,000 members. She explains the concept of fiscal sponsorship and its benefits, discussing tools like Ribbon which help streamline nonprofit administration, and she and Randy go over hypothetical and real-life examples of nonprofit operations and sponsorship, showcasing the vital aspects and potential challenges in running a nonprofit. If nonprofits intersect your accounting world this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
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Loren Fogelman joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 191 of The Unique CPA to reveal her keys to enhance accounting firm owners’ earning potential while reducing their hours. Having transitioned from sports psychology to business coaching, Loren emphasizes the similarities between athletes and growth-minded firm owners, translating these similarities into concepts like value-based pricing and the importance of moving away from hourly billing to enhance earning potential without increasing hours worked. Loren shares actionable strategies including her Raise Your Rates formula and Good, Better, Best pricing model to help accountants price their services effectively. Underscoring the need for accountants to recognize their own value, Loren and Randy stress the need to adopt new pricing models to achieve a better work-life balance and financial success.
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Join Randy in his conversation with Josh Malancuk, a state property tax specialist, on Episode 190 of The Unique CPA. Josh discusses his role and the complexities of property tax reductions for businesses. He highlights how most businesses overpay on taxes due to a lack of expertise in reviewing tax assessments and compliance, especially in particular states where the rules differ significantly from most others. Josh explains the importance of bringing in specialists to find savings and ensure accurate assessments, with 20% savings across the board not an uncommon result when collaborating in this fashion.
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On episode 189 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Anthony Venette of DeJoy to discuss the intricacies of succession, gift, and estate planning. Anthony shares insights from his career journey, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning for business continuity and ownership transfer, and he delves into succession planning's critical aspects, such as defining goals, internal vs. external transitions, and the impact of current legal landscape changes. Anthony outlines practical approaches for CPAs and offers examples of successful engagements, highlighting how important it is for just about any CPA to engage in early and ongoing planning to optimize outcomes for their clients.
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On Episode 188 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree connects with Isaac Perdomo, co-founder of Opzer, with a focus on automation in the profession. Isaac explains how Opzer helps accounting firms streamline their operations through process mapping, optimization, and custom workflow automation. Randy points out that oftentimes, those who would benefit most from automation don’t understand just how much time it can save, so they are reluctant to “take the plunge.” But from improving efficiency, enhancing client and team experiences, and gaining better insights, Isaac offers examples of automation in practice that have been more than worth it to his clients. Tune in and hear these valuable insights into how accounting firms can buy back their time and improve their operations through automation.
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Randy welcomes Dan Berenholtz, co-founder and CEO of StanfordTax, to Episode 187 of The Unique CPA. Dan discusses how his company is revolutionizing the tax season process for accountants and clients alike. Detailing his passion for tech entrepreneurship, Dan explores StanfordTax's innovative approach to automating tax data collection, enhancing both client experience and accountant efficiency. He also highlights the integration of AI and future developments in tax technology that aim to make the profession more profitable and less time-consuming.
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Randy Crabtree talks to Lisa Simpson, Vice President of Firm Services at AICPA, on Episode 186 of The Unique CPA. Lisa stresses that essential transformations are needed to ensure a prosperous future for the profession. Fostering a healthy community of accounting professionals and critical shifts in the traditional business model are keys to staying relevant, as are leveraging technology and diversity to drive growth. As talent retention, compensation, and the importance of flexibility remain on the forefront of people’s minds, Lisa encourages firm leaders to engage with these topics because unlike the recent past, there won’t be another time when accounting students are “falling from the sky.” It will take major adaptations to keep your firm relevant in the coming age of change in the profession.
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On Episode 185 of The Unique CPA, Randy digs into advisory platforms with David Snider, CEO and founder of Harness Wealth. Harness is one such platform making waves in the profession, and David, in discussing his journey from the real estate tech industry to tax and wealth management, explains how these worlds linked together for him to found Harness. Sharing his understanding of how technology can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tax advisors, helping them to better serve their clients, David spotlights various industry challenges, the importance of specialization, and the need for innovation in the tax advisory space, all of which he has addressed in creating a unifying platform that can aid advisors in client acquisition and managing their practices more efficiently.
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Randy Crabtree returns to a very personally important topic to him, burnout, on Episode 184 of The Unique CPA. He sits down with specialist Anna Lovell-Nesmith to discuss the pervasiveness of burnout among accounting professionals. Anna shares her insights on recognizing and managing burnout, emphasizing the importance of time management, prioritization, and personalized strategies, which she provides through her work as a burnout specialist. Randy stresses the importance of creating awareness, and they agree it’s vital to seek help when you need it and find joy both inside and outside of the office. No matter where you feel you are mentally, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.
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Randy Crabtree engages in an enlightening discussion with Hitendra Patil, seven-time Accounting Today Top 100 Most Influential Person, on Episode 183 of The Unique CPA. The President of Global F&A Services for Datamatics Business Solutions, Hitendra is an author and speaker who, like Randy, seeks to improve accounting as a whole. Highlighting the talent shortage and the evolving landscape of the profession amidst technological advancements and AI, Hitendra emphasizes the value of better narratives around the profession, especially as they relate to AI. He points at value pricing, client experience, outsourcing, and adapting business models as keys forward.
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We go back in time on this special five-year anniversary Episode 182 of The Unique CPA, as original guest Tim Jipping, founder of Journey Advisors & CPAs, returns to interview Randy Crabtree on the podcast’s milestone show. Discussing the podcast's inception, evolution, and its impact on the accounting profession, Randy reflects on things that have surprised him about becoming a podcast host and the podcast “scene” in general, the influence guests like John Garrett, Josh Lance, Al-Nesha Jones and more have had on him, and the broader changes in the industry that the show has come to reflect as it has evolved, including improvements in work-life balance and the integration of tech. Join us for a nostalgic and insightful look back—and forward—at The Unique CPA.
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Randy Crabtree talks to Tori McKee, the owner of Best Practice Bookkeeping and Payroll, on Episode 181 of The Unique CPA, and they focus on burnout. Tori shares her journey of professional transformation, having decided to “burn down and rebuild” her business. Having struggled through 70-80 hour weeks for years, Tori moved away from the traditional CPA firm methodologies she’d always known, adopting useful tech. Highlighting the power of community, she explains how she “found her people” on #TaxTwitter, which helped her through these transitions and also led her to come out of her shell and attend conferences on her own for the first time. Tori’s truly unique perspective of saying enough is enough and deciding to rebuild from scratch is one you certainly don’t want to miss.
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On Episode 180 of The Unique CPA, Chris Williams, the CEO of System Six, joins Randy for a conversation about the direction modern accounting is headed. System Six is a cloud-based finance and accounting firm Chris acquired, and he shares his journey, from his background in investment banking and private equity. With a focus on strong company culture characterized by joy, collaboration, and flexibility, the conversation covers Chris’s plans for the future of System Six, including potential acquisitions and expanding services to include tax and advisory offerings. Personal interactions are at the core of what Chris looks to do, with the desired effect being to maintain strong work culture while weathering the challenges of integrating new services and acquisitions.
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Join us as we take a look back at six top rated episodes and guests to celebrate International Podcast Day on Episode 179 of The Unique CPA. Featuring Josh Lance, Allan Koltin, Tim Petrey, John Garrett, Eric Green, and Al-Nesha Jones, Randy reminisces about each guest and the impact they’ve had on the Unique CPA Community and the profession as a whole.
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Randy Crabtree is joined by Andrew Leck, CEO of MSI Global Alliance, on Episode 178 of The Unique CPA. An international association of lawyers and accountants, MSI brings professionals together, and Andrew discusses the thriving and collaborative community MSI has created, with a special emphasis on its benefits to mental and physical well-being. Integrating accountants and lawyers under one umbrella brings a host of advantages, especially in the modern accounting context of global expansion and the impact of private equity. Andrew himself started his career as an accountant, so his insights on the evolving partnership model and of cultural differences in international business are not to be missed.
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On Episode 177 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree interviews Logan Graf, Chief Tax Officer and Founder of The Graf Tax Co. Logan took an unusual path to starting his own firm, with him jumping into the fully remote model in the middle of Covid, and he’s continued on that unconventional trajectory by hiring his first employee through social media. Social media has been a key for Logan for both professional networking and marketing potential, as well as featuring prominently in his plans for expanding his firm’s client base. Offering tips to expanding into specific niches, the episode explores the broader challenges and opportunities in the accounting profession from the perspective of a new, “modern” firm owner.
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Lauren Bahr, VP of Finance at Occupier and podcast host, joins Randy to “bring the fun to finance” on Episode 176 of The Unique CPA. Lauren pursued her passion for startups, a sector she was exposed to during her time at PwC, ultimately leaving public accounting and further turning her energy towards educating others through her podcasts. Touching on the importance of creating a positive corporate culture, Lauren underscores the significance of relationships in building a thriving work environment.
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On Episode 175 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree connects with John J. Fenton who discusses his transformative journey from college athletics to public accounting to leadership coaching. John served as managing partner at BDO USA, and his experience of the profession drives his insights on leadership, employee engagement, trust, and progressing beyond the billable hour. John has drawn upon his time as a college athlete and his black belt certification to help him better appreciate the role of mindfulness and continuous self-improvement in effective leadership.
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It’s once again time to dive into the ERC and update the profession on its current status! Nick Pantaleo joins Randy Crabtree for a special live streamed Episode 174 of The Unique CPA where they delve into the Employee Retention Credit’s journey. The two experts review the current state of play, with everything from legal updates, to IRS interpretations and processes, including their new risk assessment system, a second opportunity for amnesty, and further forecasting for the future. They then conclude their discussion by answering questions directly from the listeners! You won’t want to miss this to find out how best to serve your clients as the era of the ERC reaches its twilight.
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Randy Crabtree is joined by Rafael Casas, Director of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships at QuickFee, on Episode 173 of The Unique CPA. Rafael opens by explaining QuickFee’s mission to aid accounting and legal firms in accelerating AR while leading the way in the profession on thought leadership around mental health, AI and automation, technology, and more. Through these initiatives, Rafael hopes to elevate the accounting profession, and on those lines, he touches upon the value of intellectual curiosity, resourcefulness, and community collaboration.
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Episode 172 of The Unique CPA brings Jody Padar, The Radical CPA, into conversation with Randy Crabtree. They discuss the evolution of accounting technology, from the early days of cloud computing to the current advancements in artificial intelligence, all of which Jody has been at the forefront of. She shares her journey as an early adopter even back in the pre-internet days, her influential role in shaping accounting practices, and her current work at april, which develops innovative, AI-powered tax software. Stressing the importance of adapting to new tools and the potential future changes in accounting, Jody emphasizes the need for accountants to embrace these new technologies with the end goal being a happier profession with a healthier work-life balance.
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Randy welcomes back Roman Villard from Full Send Finance for Episode 171 almost a year after the recording date of Roman's first appearance on The Unique CPA. They discuss the progress and growth Full Send has seen in nearly a year, including updates on new service lines, team expansion, and a re-focus of how to track what progress actually means for the firm and its clients. Roman stresses that looking at internal operations over revenue metrics means that they are measuring something that is more impactful than just making money for the firm, and discusses the successful implementation of a data intelligence vertical. They also touch upon maintaining a strong company culture and the positive impact of letting go of a major client for the sake of team well-being.
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Roman Villard joins Randy Crabtree for Episode 170 of The Unique CPA to discuss his social media marketing approach and his founding of Full Send Finance. In a conversation recorded nearly a year ago, Roman discusses establishing his niche: Seed to Series B, primarily tech, startups. The key for Roman is his passion for working with early-stage companies, drawing from his family's entrepreneurial background and his own career choices. He also emphasizes the importance of creating a positive workplace culture, leveraging relationships for client acquisition, and his strategic use of social media for outreach and education. Roman won the “Social Media Influencer” of the 2024 Bridging the Gap conference, and shared that one of his goals nearly a year ago was to increase his social media presence. Well we have to say you did a great job, Roman, and Randy will be checking back in with you in the next episode to see how your plans have panned out over the past year!
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On Episode 169 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree connects with Katie Thomas, founder of Leaders Online, a marketing firm focused on business-to-accountants (B2A) services. They discuss Katie's journey from her entrepreneurial childhood to her professional experience in a Big Four accounting firm and her eventual venture into establishing Leaders Online to help accountants market their firms. Exploring the shift in marketing strategies for accounting firms, Katie emphasizes the importance of niche marketing, creating demand, and leveraging social media. Randy and Katie also touch on the evolving business development roles within firms, the necessity of following one’s professional passion, and the critical role of a long-term marketing plan.
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For our third and final bonus episode of The Unique CPA, Rob Brown from The Accounting Influencers talks to Kasidy Kersey and Robb Zbierski about their upcoming appearances at Bridging the Gap 2024. Kasidy, the founder of Marina Bay Yoga, will be the Wellness Coordinator for this year's Wellness Room, reprising her role from the 2023 edition. Bringing her own personal experience with burnout, her passion is to show overworked and stressed professionals how to better look after themselves. Robb Zbierski is a professional speaker, trainer and personal coach with Freedom Personal Development. The author of Train Your Brain for Success, Robb talks about taking an active role in managing your mind and thoughts and turning them towards working for you, rather than against you. Tune in to hear these last two guests' great insights, and be sure to attend Bridging the Gap 2024 to see them in person!
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Join Randy Crabtree on Episode 167 of The Unique CPA as he talks with Jake Kessenich, former COO and Partner at Encurio, about their recent rebranding journey, developing niche markets, and unique pricing strategies. Jake shares his insights into their industry transition, client relationships, and the importance of aligning personal values with business goals, which led to Encurio entering the death care services industry niche—an invaluable episode for accounting professionals looking to elevate their practice.
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On this second bonus episode of The Unique CPA, host Rob Brown from the Accounting Influencers Podcasts returns to preview the Bridging the Gap Conference 2024, scheduled for July 22-24 in Rosemont, Illinois. This time, he is joined by speakers Nancy McClelland, Kristen Keats, Seth Feinberg, and Dawn Brolin as they discuss their roles and sessions at the event. Highlighting the conference's unique focus on mental health, professional growth, and community among accountants, all the speakers agree that Bridging the Gap is not like any other conference they’ve attended. The emphasize the elements of vulnerability, mental well-being, practical insights, and peer support that you don’t see anywhere else. Listeners are encouraged to attend for actionable advice, networking opportunities, and a chance to reinvigorate their careers, as well as end the conference with the red carpet gala event!
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On Episode 165 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree talks Bridging the Gap 2024, highlighting the vital support of Diamond Sponsor FreshBooks with guest Laura Crean. Laura serves as Partner Program and Education Manager at FreshBooks, and she dives into her journey from Ireland to Canada as well as her role in FreshBooks' exciting new ventures, particularly FreshBooks’ recent transition to a full general ledger system and the innovative Collaborative Accounting Framework. The goal is a synergistic approach between accounting professionals and business owners, and Laura shares her insights on certification, onboarding, and maintaining a balanced work culture within the profession, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts and continuous learning in today’s accounting landscape. She and Randy further explore strategies to elevate the accounting profession while creating a healthy, fulfilling work environment.
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On this special bonus episode of The Unique CPA, host Rob Brown from The Accounting Influencers Podcasts interviews prominent speakers of the upcoming Bridging the Gap Conference 2024, set to take place from July 22-24 in Rosemont, Illinois. Featured guests include Chad Davis, Roman Villard, Al-Nesha Jones, and Hitendra Patil, who share their backgrounds, insights about the accounting profession, and their excitement for the conference. They discuss their individual sessions, which range from exploring mental health and work-life balance to advanced automation and dealing with the accounting talent shortage. The episode provides useful tips on making the most out of attendance at such events, emphasizing the importance of building genuine connections and approaching the conference with an open mind. The episode concludes by highlighting the unique aspects of the conference and the impact of its organizer, Unique CPA host Randy Crabtree.
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Dan Luthi, Partner at Ignite Spot Outsourced Accounting joins Randy for Episode 163 of The Unique CPA. They discuss the importance of corporate culture in maintaining a positive work environment, through highlighting Dan's journey at Ignite Spot, his approach to leadership, and how a supportive culture can attract and retain top talent. Dan explores unique strategies for developing a cohesive virtual team, emphasizing the significance of vulnerability and personal connection in leadership, and they both share valuable insights on building a healthy and fulfilling workplace for accounting professionals.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Francesca Reicheter, founder and president of Inspiring My Generation, to Episode 162 of The Unique CPA. Francesca shares her personal journey with mental health challenges from a young age, including her experiences with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, and the importance of mental health awareness, strategies to manage mental well-being. Her nonprofit organization aims to prevent suicide through awareness, conversation, education, and support. A poignant and inspiring discussion on overcoming mental health struggles and supporting others in their journey—this is one you don’t want to miss.
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The Unique CPA returns for Episode 161 with host Randy Crabtree welcoming Dave Olsen, founder and CEO of Nimbl and Nimbl Staffing. Dave delves deep into the essential elements of leadership, culture, and growth that have fueled Nimbl's success, including his transition from a Big Four auditor to a trailblazing business leader, building a thriving remote team across the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines.
Dave identifies his evolution from an accounting “technician” to a leader as a key aspect of his growth and success, and highlights the importance of cultivating a strong people experience (PX) and client experience (CX). Nimbl’s innovative strategies ensures the company remains adaptable and resilient, and Dave shares numerous actionable insights on fostering exceptional team culture and achieving sustainable growth.
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Bridging the Gap Conference 2024 is July 22–24, 2024, is Rosemont, Illinois, and on Episode 160 of The Unique CPA, Randy interviews Andrew Lassise, founder of Tech4Accountants, now a part of Rightworks, a platinum sponsor of the conference. Andrew and Rightworks specialize in cybersecurity and compliance in accounting. With their expertise, they help firms establish WISPs, Written Information Security Plans, aid them in navigating the FTC Safeguards Rule, educate on cybersecurity best practices, and more. WISPs are not optional for almost anyone with a PTIN, so tune in to learn what you need to do to safeguard yourself, and your clients.
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Host Randy Crabtree welcomes Dawn Goldberg to Episode 159 of The Unique CPA. The author of The Smarter Accountant, Dawn shares her journey in public accounting, working for major firms like Deloitte Touche and Ernst & Young, and explains how understanding our own cognitive processes can lead to a less stressful, more productive tax season—and year-round experience as an accountant. Dawn addresses common pain points for accountants, such as stress, overwhelm, and imposter syndrome, emphasizing the significance of using the higher brain to manage thoughts and improve time management and productivity, aiming for better work-life balance and professional fulfillment.
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On Episode 138 of The Unique CPA, join host Randy Crabtree as he chats with Timothy Wingate Jr., founder of G+F Business and Financial Consulting, about his journey from wanting to be the next Doogie Howser to creating a niche accounting practice focused on the construction industry. Timothy’s father worked in construction, so his experience runs deep and across generations, so his insights on niching, work-life balance, and effective marketing strategies are sure to be relevant to any accounting firm that is looking to drill down.
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Geraldine Carter rejoins Randy for a second appearance on The Unique CPA for episode 157. Geraldine recently published her book, Down to 40 Hours, as a more accessible guide to many of the principles she stresses in her coaching: Achieving efficiency and work-life balance through understanding client value, strategic pricing, niching, and more. She discusses navigating business strategies, balancing professional and personal growth, and transforming your understanding of value and where profit actually comes from.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Lauren Baptiste to Episode 156 of The Unique CPA. A kindred spirit on the topic of mental health for professionals, Lauren shares her profound journey from CPA burnout to work-life balance. Her actionable insights into recognizing burnout, lifestyle changes, and redefining productivity in the accounting profession could very well make a difference to any listener who is looking to take the first step to changing the direction their career is taking them. Discover strategies for self-care, identifying signs of burnout in yourself and others, and more.
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On Episode 155 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree talks to SALT expert Jordan Goodman about various state and local tax issues including market-based sourcing, the impact of the pandemic on remote workforces, the ongoing implications of the Wayfair decision, and nuances of passthrough entity tax laws. Always an enthusiast, Jordan takes the complexities of tax law and offers fun and engaging insights for professionals navigating these topics.
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On Episode 154 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree engages in a far reaching discussion with Alan Whitman, former CEO at Baker Tilly, who now serves as an advisor and coach to professionals. They delve into the necessary evolution of the accounting profession, exploring themes of innovation, breaking traditional molds, and fostering a sustainable and attractive future for CPAs. Whitman shares his remarkable journey from a bright-eyed associate to a visionary leader, emphasizing the vital shifts needed in professional services and the “enjoyment gap” that seems to exist in the accounting profession, driving the pipeline problem we are currently facing.
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Byron Patrick of the B³ Method Institute joins Randy for Episode 153 of The Unique CPA, and they delve into Byron's transition from an “okay accountant” to a technology expert. Byron is passionate about well-being and its interplay with the profession, and he and Randy discuss the key that technology can improve efficiency, which eliminates the stresses and time sinks of the job, which leads to better work-life balance, but he holistically broadens his focus to things each person can do for themselves, too. That said, he shares information on AI tools like Bard, ChatGPT, and more, discussing their impact, ultimately stressing that making incremental, small changes is all you need to do to improve your workflow in this rapidly changing technological arena.
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Randy Crabtree sits down with Chris Farmand of Small Batch Standard on Episode 152 of The Unique CPA. They delve into the complexities and financial management gaps in the brewing industry, and how that relates to niching principles generally: the importance of deep relationships, industry concentration, and adapting to market changes. Lead generation, value pricing, and client transitions feature as well, with Chris reviewing the experiences he’s had in running Small Batch Standard.
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On Episode 151 of The Unique CPA, Darryl Bates-Brownsword joins Randy Crabtree to discuss the importance of succession planning and its associated challenges. They delve into the benefits of early exit planning, with Darryl identifying the transition from selling hours to value-based service offerings as a key obstacle. Ultimately, exit planning is vital for businesses, and for CPAs looking to boost their advisory offerings, Darryl’s platform Capitaliz provides a guided way to do just that.
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Curt Mastio, who established Founder’s CPA, joins Randy for Episode 150 of The Unique CPA. They delve into Curt's transition from Big Four to his own firm, the complexities of dealing with the blockchain and crypto industries, and FinTech niche and the unique challenges it presents for accountants. They also discuss modern firm practices, tax planning strategies including utilizing R&D tax credits, and the journey of tech startups from seed stage to exit.
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On Episode 149 of The Unique CPA, Joe Woodard joins Randy to discuss hot topics like the Private Equity revolution in accounting and the Scaling New Heights conference coming up in Orlando in June. Joe introduces the Woodard Ideal Practice Model, a multi-partite plan for firms to both determine and differentiate their services, and he offers wisdom about the difference between management and leadership. They discuss Scaling New Heights in some detail, mentioning the talk Randy will be giving on firm growth and culture at the event.
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Randy Crabtree talks to Jen Cryder, CEO of PICPA, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, on Episode 148 of The Unique CPA. They discuss the role of state societies in accounting, with a focus on bringing some of the ideas that larger firms have come up with to smaller firms and adapting those ideas to fit. Jen draws on her extensive experience as an audit senior and partner to touch on company culture, preserving that through mergers, and the opportunities that are in front of firms to deal with and thrive through the staffing crisis. PICPA's vision involves human capital, innovation in startups, and offering a wealth of support and resources to firms of all sizes. Randy probes Jen's thoughts on salary transparency, work-life balance, and leveraging technology in the tax profession.
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In this episode, Randy Crabtree chats with Al-Nesha Jones, founder of ASE Group, about her career transition, starting her own firm, and the lessons she learned to get it to where it is today. ASE Group serves as a beacon of DEI, employing full-time mothers and championing a four-day workweek with empowered employees and flexible schedules based on value billing that isn’t timesheet based. Al-Nesha discusses many of the stumbles she had along the way, resulting in improving firm processes, managing client expectations during COVID-19, the role of advisory services, and creating a firm that truly allows for proper work-life balance.
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On Episode 146 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree is joined by Jeremy Wells, founder of JWellsCFO, to discuss Jeremy’s transition from grad school and earning a PhD, into a teaching career in academia, then changing careers mid-stream, resulting in him earning and maintaining both his EA and CPA. Jeremy’s and his transition from teaching to tax advising was multi-faceted, and buffeted by a mentor who helped “show him the ropes” as he made his way, while also giving him insights into the kind of firm he wanted to run. Jeremy highlights the challenges and rewards of self-employment and the importance of identifying the right clients for your niche.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Accounting Today Editor-in-Chief Dan Hood back to The Unique CPA on Episode 145 to discuss the significance of community in the accounting profession. They explore the shift to other forms of communication and education that has developed over the past several years, from social media to webinars, then shift gears to focus on the good, old-fashioned conference: their value for community building, and the role of conversation and direct, personal interaction generally, in professional development. In the process, they provide all the details for Accounting Today’s Firm Growth Forum and Tri-Merit’s Bridging the Gap Conference for 2024.
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On Episode 144 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree chats with Tim Petrey, CEO of HD Growth Partners and White Glove Payroll. They delve into the impact of Private Equity on accounting through an examination of the newly announced strategic partnership between HD Growth Partners and ASCEND. Tim strongly believes that the Private Equity model provides for a new paradigm in the accounting profession, and with the right partnership, a progressive firm with solid foundations of corporate culture and client service can grow precipitously, powered by Private Equity’s “rocket fuel”, and safeguard itself against the “coming storm” that will affect the prospects of everyone across the profession in the coming years.
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On Episode 143 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree chats with Amy Vetter about her diverse roles both inside and outside her career life, and the value of authenticity. A CPA, a yoga instructor, a technology business executive, an author, and more, Amy discusses her experiences with identity and career transitions, and the Business Balance Bliss concept she constructed as a result. Amy goes into her work at the B³ Method Institute, her achievements as a Certified Speaking Professional, and the programs she’s developed to make work-life “harmony,” rather than just balance, an achievable goal for CPA firms.
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On Episode 142 of The Unique CPA, we take a look back at Tri-Merit’s Live Chat featuring Randy Crabtree, Nick Pantaleo, and Dan Chodan discussing the changes in the Employer Retention Credit (ERC), the impact of the moratorium, and the benefits of the amnesty and voluntary disclosure programs for the coming year. They delve into the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, risks of litigation, and the importance of detailed filing. They conclude with an analysis of the new bill's expanded aspects and the need for voluntary disclosure.
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On Episode 141 of The Unique CPA, join Randy Crabtree as he takes a dive into the dynamic world of accounting marketing with the insightful Karen Reyburn of The Profitable Firm. As a CPA turned marketing guru, Karen shares her expertise on effective client education, the power of niche marketing, and how accountants can leverage AI to transform their practices. Explore the importance of understanding your audience, the benefits of choosing a specific focus, and how to ensure your firm stands out in a crowded market. Whether you're looking to refine your marketing strategy or you’re curious about the future impact of tech, this episode is full of actionable advice and forward-thinking ideas.
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On Episode 140 of The Unique CPA, fellow podcast host Ed Kless of the Sage Thought Leadership podcast and The Soul of Enterprise with Ron Baker, talks to Randy about the importance of the shift from traditional to value-based pricing, knowing your target market, and the fact that what you are offering is access to knowledge, not a service. They delve into the implementation of subscription pricing and transitioning from a generalist to a specialist or niched firm.
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Matthew May, the president of Acuity, returns to The Unique CPA on Episode 139, and he gives Randy the insider’s perspective on Benefit Corporations, better known as B Corps. Acuity started the process of being recognized as a B Corp in 2020, and Matthew talks about the community that surrounds B Corps, the employee-centric image being a B Corp projects, and the difficulty that faces service firms that wish to become B Corps because they don’t have physical supply chains.
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On Episode 138 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree chats with Greg Kyte about his unusual journey in accounting. From the controversies around the CPE available for listening to his Drunk Ethics podcast, as well as Oh My Fraud, another podcast Greg co-hosts, they discuss the importance of finding a niche in accounting in order to make yourself, and your work, more interesting—which has a cascading beneficial effect on everything you do.
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The first episode of The Unique CPA in 2024, Episode 137, features Jason Blumer of Blumer CPAs, Thriveal, and Deeper Weekend. Jason started Thriveal to support accounting firm owners by building a community and resources for them to seek support. As he tells Randy, this led to Deeper Weekend, his exclusive annual conference for around a hundred accounting firm owners. The event fosters peer learning and relationships through workshops and socializing, with the fundamental idea behind it being that people have had successes and mistakes before you and there are always things to discover by building connections with them.
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Episode 136 of The Unique CPA features Ilya Radzinsky, co-founder of TaxDome, talking to Randy about how TaxDome’s practice management platform helps accounting firms organize their work, clients, and teams in an efficient yet easy-to-use way. TaxDome streamlines workflows, provides visibility for managers, and creates a professional client experience through their secure online portal. Ilya also shares insights on embracing technology to add value for clients and how in addition to the increase in efficiency, digitizing a practice can increase its sales value.
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Episode 135 of The Unique CPA features the important topic of mental health in the accounting profession. Gaynor Meilke talks to Randy about her experience with mental health struggles from a young age and how she now helps others, including children, tackle their challenges. She provides insights into the stressors accounting professionals face and signs of burnout. Randy also opens up about his personal journey with mental health after experiencing a stroke. They emphasize the importance of self-care, finding your passions, and getting help when needed. Through this candid conversation, they both hope to shine a light on a longstanding problem facing not just the accounting profession, but people in all walks of life.
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Randy Crabtree gets together with Will Lopez of Gusto on Episode 134 of The Unique CPA to talk about innovation in the accounting profession. Will shares his entrepreneurial journey from running his own practice to developing People Advisory as a service offering for accountants at Gusto. He explains the structured approach firms can take to modernizing by constantly experimenting and keeping services fresh, provides insights into the talent crisis in accounting, and how that crisis can be met by attracting new professionals with interesting, cutting edge offerings like People Advisory. His insights are rich for firms looking to enhance their value and stay competitive.
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Dan Hood, Editor-in-Chief at Accounting Today, returns to episode 133 of The Unique CPA to talk to Randy Crabtree about the keys to creating an unbeatable company culture. They discuss the intricacies and the delicate balance between rules and relationships that attracts top talent and builds a sustainable firm environment. Discover what can truly set firms apart and ordered, pre-planned strategies for navigating growth while maintaining a distinct identity. Hear firsthand how defining small cultural nuances can build a team people don't want to leave. Dan is full of invaluable insights as the quintessential industry insider.
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Episode 132 of The Unique CPA features an inspiring conversation with Rich Kane about his experience surviving a stroke at a young age. Rich talks to Randy about his harrowing stroke story and recovery journey, including the lingering effects it’s had on his daily life and career. Both of them discuss the emotional impact the stroke has had on their lives. For accounting professionals, this episode highlights the real-life challenges stroke survivors face and promotes greater awareness of risk factors, with Randy and Rich discussing how to identify stroke symptoms through the BE FAST acronym. Overall, it's an insightful look at overcoming adversity through the lens of two stroke survivor CPAs.
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Episode 131 of The Unique CPA features Randy’s insightful discussion with Michael Ly, CEO of Reconciled, a leading virtual bookkeeping and accounting firm. Michael talks about building Reconciled from the ground up and his key strategies for growth, including acquiring other accounting firms. He provides valuable perspectives on remote work culture, the current state of AI in accounting, and his outlook on the future of the profession. He follows up with practical advice on building a thriving remote business, as well as a better understanding of trends shaping the industry—a must-listen for anyone looking to learn from the experiences of a successful entrepreneur.
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Episode 130 of The Unique CPA features Giles Pearson, the co-founder and CEO of Accountests, who talks to Randy about his background in public accounting and how his 18 years as a partner at a large firm. This inspired him to create Accountests to help firms make more informed hiring decisions. He discusses the various technical skills and personality tests Accountests offers and how they can help firms hire the right candidates faster, improve onboarding, and reduce costly turnover. Giles also talks about how the tests benefit candidates by identifying strengths and areas for growth. This insightful conversation provides practical advice on leveraging data and science to hire better and help accounting professionals reach their full potential.
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Discover how to bring joy to accounting with cloud technology on Episode 129 of The Unique CPA! Kellie Parks talks to Randy Crabtree about her passion for bookkeeping and how she helps accounting professionals love cloud accounting as much as she does. Learn about the templates and tools Kelly provides to streamline your firm's processes and hear tips for implementing new technologies step-by-step without getting overwhelmed. Tune in to get insights on automating your work, improving work-life balance, and embracing cloud solutions to reduce stress in your practice.
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On Episode 128 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes tax attorney and author Eric Green, the founder of Tax Rep Network. Eric’s goal with Tax Rep Network is to help tax professionals build successful IRS representation practices. He shares stories, including one where he helped clients resolve large tax debts and avoid penalties, and another horror story that saw a preparer potentially on the hook for six figures. Eric provides valuable advice for tax season, such as considering collectability when filing returns with balances due. He discusses how Tax Rep Network supports members with extensive training, consulting support, and community resources.
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Randy welcomes a very special guest, legendary hospitality leader Horst Schulze, on episode 127 of The Unique CPA. The co-founder and former COO of Ritz-Carlton hotels, as well as the founder of Capella Hotel Group, Horst shares invaluable insights on achieving excellence through defining a specific goal for your business, empowering employees, and making customers feel cared for. Underlying his philosophy, which is centered around having a concrete, attainable goal, is a sense of responsibility to people and society. He also discusses his book, Excellence Wins, which has been purchased en masse by CEOs around the world to help shape their organizations’ culture.
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Randy Crabtree talks to Hector Garcia, creator of RightTool, on Episode 126 of The Unique CPA. A QuickBooks expert, Hector discusses the future of the accounting profession in the age of AI and automation. He shares insightful perspectives on how software is changing the perception of accounting work, challenging the profession to get creative in redefining its roles and business models. Listen in to learn how to reinvent themselves and their firms to stay ahead of disruption, and get an exclusive look at Hector's upcoming conference focused on creative business models and future-proofing your role.
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Randy welcomes John Pace, the 2022 Digital CPA Innovation Practitioner of the Year, to The Unique CPA for episode 125. John transformed his outsourced accounting department, which is focused on nonprofits and government contractors, after becoming its director about a year into his time at GRF CPA in Bethesda, Maryland. He shares his insights into building a strong culture centered on employee wellbeing and work-life balance over billable hours. John's perspectives on leadership, innovation, and running a sustainable practice through empowerment are key listening for anyone in or looking to grow into a leadership position.
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On Episode 124 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Mike Whitmire, CEO and Co-Founder of FloQast. Mike discusses how he overcame burnout in public accounting brought on by personal pain points to build FloQast, such as long hours both at a Big Four firm and at an L.A. startup, the difficulty of the month-end close process, and the need for a better work-life balance in accounting. He discusses growing FloQast to over 500 employees with a focus on culture and transparency.
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Paul Hamann, the founder of RCReports, joins Randy for Episode 123 of The Unique CPA. Paul discusses reasonable compensation and how it plays a vital role in tax planning and compliance for closely held businesses. Paul debunks common myths around reasonable compensation and provides valuable insights into how to properly determine reasonable comp. He and Randy both stress the importance of advisory in accounting services and how that addition of value can boost your firm.
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On Episode 122 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by accounting business expert Tatiana Tsoir. Tatiana shares her journey from accounting to entrepreneurship, and how she helps businesses succeed. Also an author, Tatiana covers an incredibly diverse range of topics, from price psychology to establishing work-life balance. Her passion for developing educational courses and coaching clients with the ultimate goal of bettering lives really shines through.
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Episode 121 of The Unique CPA features Roger Knecht sharing with Randy the key aspects of developing an accounting firm. Roger is President of Universal Accounting Center, a postsecondary school for accounting professionals, and the UAC has developed training programs that include identifying core service offerings, sales and marketing methods, pricing models, and providing value-added advisory services to help businesses grow and increase profits.
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Randy connects with Chase Birky, co-founder of Dark Horse CPAs, on Episode 120 of The Unique CPA. Chase explains the platform model Dark Horse uses to support CPAs under the firm’s banner support services. CPAs can start, scale, and grow their practices through collaboration and shared resources within Dark Horse’s innovative structure. The two touch on how this model can help avoid burnout and promote mental health.
Chase joined us a speaker and panelist at the 2023 Unique CPA: Bridging the Gap Conference the week of August 28.
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On Episode 119 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes Seth Fineberg, founder of Accountants Forward. Seth is a veteran journalist and editor who has worked in the accounting industry for many years. He recently launched Accountants Forward, to consult with and help accounting professionals and vendors serving the industry. His vast experience in accounting media and in launching events and platforms inform his expertise. One major focus of his is on strengthening relationships between accountants and vendors, while his ultimate goal is to help as many people in the accounting profession as he can.
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Randy welcomes newly appointed President and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society, Geof Brown, on Episode 118 of The Unique CPA. Geof discusses Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the accounting profession and a report the Society recently published, going over Randy’s specific questions on a number of metrics. Jeff shares his insights and expertise around DEI and highlights the need to promote inclusion, recognize the benefits of diverse perspectives, and prioritize employees' mental health and wellbeing as ways not just to do the right thing, but to drive the success of your enterprise.
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Justin Korth of Lutz Accounting joins Randy on Episode 117 of The Unique CPA to discuss how his firm faced down the challenges currently endemic in the accounting profession. To tackle the shortage of accounting graduates and high turnover rates, among other issues, Lutz started outsourcing some tax and audit work to a team in India. Justin discusses how outsourcing has helped reduce employee workload during busy season while still maintaining a high level of client service. He provides five key recommendations for firms considering outsourcing some of their work, covering topics like client consent, training the offshore team, setting expectations, and measuring key performance indicators. Listen in to learn how outsourcing can help your firm tackle the labor shortage crisis and improve efficiency.
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On Episode 116 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Jonathan McGuire of Aldrich Advisors to discuss Opportunity Zones, a unique element of the tax code introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2018. Opportunity Zones allow investors to defer capital gains taxes and later taxation by investing in designated low-income communities. Jonathan covers the tax benefits, requirements for Opportunity Zone Funds and Businesses, and types of eligible investments.
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On Episode 115 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Eileen Adao, Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships with Glean.ai. Eileen discusses her career journey from the Big Four to tech startups, and what she’s learned about the importance of culture, coaching, and diversity in creating an inclusive workplace where people can bring their authentic selves to work. She also details Glean.ai’s leveraging of AI to provide insights and efficient workflows for accountants.
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On Episode 114 of The Unique CPA, Randy gets together with Dawn Brolin, the CEO of Powerful Accounting and author of The Designated Motivator. Dawn discusses her journey of coaching a college softball team during tax season, the experience of which led her to write her book. She details how technology and relationship pricing models have helped her reduce her hours during tax season and provide more value to her clients.
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Randy talks to Zach Baughan, a mindfulness consultant and practitioner, on episode 113 of The Unique CPA. Zach discusses how mindfulness and meditation practices can help reduce stress and increase performance for accounting professionals through techniques like deep breathing and seated, silent meditation, as well as a number of book and app recommendations. Randy also talks to Zach about his own advocacy for mental health in the accounting profession and how he hopes to incorporate mindfulness into his talks going forward.
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Making technology work for your firm is the theme on Episode 112 of The Unique CPA. Randy talks to Ellen Choi, co-founder of Aiwyn, an automation platform for accounting firms. She talks about how Aiwyn helps firms streamline processes and overcome resistance to change. Leveraging AI, through what she describes as the “virtuous cycle of mutual learning,” can help not only to improve value based pricing and client experience for firms of any size, but increase the knowledge and understanding of the humans who use these AI-based tools.
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Randy Crabtree talks “coach-ulting” and tax optimization with Brian Amann of CPA Edge on Episode 111 of The Unique CPA. Brian was the former founder and partner at TaxOps, which has been recognized as a top accounting firm by Accounting Today and Inc. magazine, among others, and he took his experience developing TaxOps’ model and offered it to other accounting professionals by founding CPA Edge. He stresses the important of culture and brand, both difficult things to measure, but very important in ensuring the success of an enterprise.
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David Toth of Winding River Consulting brings his digital marketing expertise to the table in this conversation with Randy on episode 110 of The Unique CPA. David identifies the five core principles behind developing a successful digital culture that drives growth at a CPA firm amongst a plethora of other business development insights. He further touches on how important getting buy-in from people in important, decision making roles, as well as finding them “gems” within your firm that will carry on the torch in future generations.
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Randy Crabtree is joined by Gale Crosley of Crosley+Company on episode 109 of The Unique CPA. Gale’s specialty is in driving strategic, organic, revenue growth for CPA firms, and she has been recognized for her influence and insights into the accounting profession by The Advisory Board, CPA Practice Advisors, Accounting Today, Inside Public Accounting, and more. Gale shares her insights through actionable principles any CPA firm can take now to improve its growth and profitability, and delves into just how strategic organic growth works.
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Joe Woodard joins Randy for Episode 108 to talk about June's Scaling New Heights conference and automation as the key to helping your business soar. The founder of Woodard, a nationally recognized CPA coaching membership, and co-host of The Woodard Report podcast with Heather Satterly, Joe offers a road map for firms that are looking to automate more of their processes, shares tips for how to get it done in an efficient, scalable way, and relieves tensions around the onslaught of AI solutions with a reminder that the software solutions you already use will probably be integrating artificial intelligence into their functionality anyway—so you don't have to become an end-all, be-all expert on AI.
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Randy welcomes Tina White, the founder of Panoramic Academy, on Episode 107 of The Unique CPA. Tina started her career in the public accounting world, then transitioned to ownership of an HVAC servicing company, and now runs Panoramic Academy, which specializes in coaching business owners to improve their financials and make their companies self-sufficient. She discusses how important advisory services are in the accountant / business relationship, the human element of that connection, and how important it is for any business to tighten up every aspect of its operations.
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Randy welcomes Jody Grunden of Anders CPAs on Episode 106 of The Unique CPA. A two-time author, speaker and visionary, Jody helped pioneer virtual CFO services as well as subscription-based billing in the accounting profession, creating new ways for firms to do business. He recounts his unusual journey, including tales of lost luggage and declined credit cards as he tried to finally solidify a stable business.
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On Episode 105 of The Unique CPA, Jennifer Lee Wilson returns and is joined by Renee Moelders to talk to Randy about the latest, encouraging results of ConvergenceCoaching’s biennial Anytime, Anywhere Work survey. The survey results are available for free, and they show big developments for firms in making work more flexible and more accessible. The trend indicates that these were the firms not having trouble attracting new talent or keeping existing talent: Perhaps an unsurprising consequence, but one that all accounting firms should take serious heed of.
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Mary McDonald joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 104 of The Unique CPA to talk about #TaxTwitter. When Mary, Dan Heron, and Allison McLeod started planning the TaxTwitter Retreat, they had no idea that it would far exceed their expectations, potentially bringing together professionals from various areas of the tax industry in an environment of camaraderie, learning, and even wine and beer tastings—the latter, thanks to Randy! Who knew that the power of community and networking could lead to such unexpected results?
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On Episode 103 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined once again by Donny Shimamoto of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies and The Center for Accounting Transformation. With the busy season completed, Donny is now looking towards solutions to improve the wellbeing of the members of the profession and strategies for healthy firm culture and growth—and he has commissioned two research studies to find out how best to accomplish those goals: one on advisory services, and one on staffing strategies. The two discuss all the details, how to participate, and what kind of positive steps they’re hoping to take based on the resulting data.
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Continuing the theme of special episodes around the century mark, The Unique CPA presents a re-broadcast of Randy Crabtree’s recent appearance On The Air with Accounting Today. Host Daniel Hood leads a discussion with Randy and other guests David Bergstein and Jasen Stein of the AccounTrends Podcast focusing on the future of accounting and how best to stay on top of all the changes the profession is undergoing.
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We're back with Part 2 of The Unique CPA's celebration of reaching the 100 episode milestone, with Episode 101. Randy is once again the “guest,” and producer Justin Grant of Professional Productions.net continues his hosting duties, as the two listen and respond to messages and questions sent in by several past and future guests on the show.
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The Unique CPA has reached a milestone on Episode 100, and the tables have been turned on Randy! Longtime producer Justin Grant, founder of Professional Productions, asks the questions on this special episode, which in addition to being the hundredth, is also the first Unique CPA Happy Hour episode. Wondering what that’s all about? Tune in and find out—there are a few more surprises waiting, too!
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On episode 99 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by John Briggs, the Founder and CEO of Incite Tax. John has created a very unique model through Incite, whereby accountants may enter a licensing agreement with Incite, which handles the backend systems and lead generation, while allowing the accountants to have their own lucrative practices without working 60 or 70 hours a week. He explains his idea and his passion for bettering the accounting community, preventing the dehumanizations of its members, and improving mental health for all.
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Things are changed up on Episode 98 of The Unique CPA as Randy co-hosts with past guest Stephen Vono. Together, they talk with John Pastore of Integrated Financial Partners, discussing the importance and profitability of integrating financial planning services into your accounting practice, and the process IFP has developed with the goal of making it a seamless process.
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On Episode 97 of The Unique CPA, Randy sits down with Jason Staats, founder of Realize, a community of accounting leaders, and the co-host of the AutomationTown podcast. The former owner of Brenner & Company, LLP in Salem, Oregon, Jason has turned his attention to Realize full time, as well as to marketing via social media. The two discuss Jason’s social media presence, tech solutions to increase accounting productivity, and much more.
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Daniel Hood, Editor-in-Chief of Accounting Today, joins Randy for Episode 96 of The Unique CPA. Daniel has served in his current capacity since 2011, and has covered the accounting industry for much longer. He recounts what he considers some of the top ways the profession is currently transforming, and what individuals and firms alike need to do to stay on top of these changes.
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Randy is joined by Heath Alloway of the Upstream Leader podcast for Episode 95 of The Unique CPA. Intelligence as it’s been traditionally viewed, is less important to the accounting professional and to leadership than a more vital factor: emotional intelligence. Heath talks about his journey to understand the impact of emotional intelligence, highlights the ways high levels of emotional intelligence and empathy positively impact people and firms, and discusses strategies for developing what he says is ultimately not an inborn trait, but a skill.
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Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching joins Randy on Episode 94 of The Unique CPA. Jennifer is a champion of right-sizing your accounting firm, which sometimes means difficult decisions for the sake of your employees, up to and including firing bad clients in order to, as Jennifer puts it, to “bring hope to the troops.” She shares some strategies for how to get to the right size, with a reminder that it’s the best path to prime your firm for growth.
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Randy welcomes Roger Knecht, president of Universal Accounting Center, on Episode 93 of The Unique CPA. The host of his own podcast, Building the Premier Accounting Firm, Roger talks to Randy about the systematic approach and educational process Universal Accounting offers to firms to grow, systematize, and improve the efficiency of their practices. He also shares some helpful tips and discusses the importance of focusing on your and others' mental health.
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On Episode 92 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Brandon Hall, the Real Estate CPA, about his modern approach to building an accounting firm: Results-based work tracking with no hours or hourly billing, a fully remote office staffed by accountants and tax advisors from all over the country, revenue targets reached through creative, content-based marketing, and more.
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On Episode 91 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes back friend of the podcast, Scott Scarano, who also co-hosted The Unique CPA's celebration at the Beer Temple in Chicago in the summer of 2022. Scott is the founder of Accounting High, and he also hosts the podcast of the same name, formerly known as the Sons of CPAs.
Scott brings some exciting news: March Appness 2023, also known as ABC, the Accountant Bracket Challenge, where you can nominate your top five apps and platforms that contribute to all of our success in the profession. Nominate The Unique CPA at bracket.accountinghigh.com.
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On Episode 90 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Donny Shimamoto, Founder and Managing Director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies, LLC, and “Inspiration Architect” at The Center for Accounting Transformation. An undisputed leader in the accounting industry, with accolades from Accounting Today, CPA Practice Advisor, CPA Technology Advisor and more, Donny's message is one of inclusivity, diversity, and belonging—and it's boiled down by the URL of The Center for Accounting Transformation's website: ImproveTheWorld.net.
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On Episode 89 of The Unique CPA, Randy chats with Dominique Molina, President of the American Institute of Certified Tax Planners. Dominique talks about her early days as a CPA, and how she thought opening her own practice would eliminate a lot of the negatives associated with working in the accounting profession. She realized, however, that a few more steps were necessary—with the key being control over one's own business and time. She discusses how accounting firms can achieve this, as well as delving into the Certified Tax Planner license and its utility in demonstrating that you are an expert at saving your clients money.
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On Episode 88 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Brian Kush, co-founder of Intend2Lead, about things leaders in the accounting profession can change to make themselves and their workplaces healthier, happier, and more productive. They discuss the concept of intentionality, the importance of being openly vulnerable because of the relatability and humanity that affords, the unique challenges to firm culture that have arisen with the rise in remote working, and more.
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Ryan Lazanis, host of the Future Firm Accounting podcast and founder of Future Firm, joins Randy Crabtree for Episode 87 of The Unique CPA. Randy queries Ryan about Future Firm, which helps accounting firms scale and systematize their offerings. They discuss tiered, consistent pricing and niching, as well as the nexus between the two concepts, and Ryan details some of the steps necessary to modernize an accounting firm.
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On Episode 86 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes Rob Santos and Rory Henry of Arrowroot Family Office, to discuss the opportunities for collaboration that exist between accounting firms and financial planners. Co-hosts of the AFO | Wealth Management Forward Podcast, Rob and Rory talk about the modern technological solutions that make individually tailored wealth management available to everyone—and explain what a massive improvement in the service offering they represent.
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On Episode 85 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Duke Alexander Moore, best known as the popular DukeLovesTaxes on TikTok, where he has 3.4 million followers and counting. Duke’s passion for the business of taxes is evident as he discusses the growth of his brand and social media presence. He shares some handy tips for dipping your toes into this arena of free marketing.
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On Episode 84 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree welcomes Kenji Kuramoto, CEO and founder of Acuity. Kenji follows on from Matthew May’s appearance last week, as the two of them are co-hosts of the Drink While You Think podcast, which Randy has also appeared as a guest on them. Randy and Kenji talk about what makes Acuity unique in the accounting space, including a plethora of information on how to maximize your accounting firm’s revenue and profitability, and with a focus on technology.
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Randy welcomes Matthew May for episode 83 of The Unique CPA. Matthew also appeared live at the Beer Temple with Randy, where they touched on some issues surrounding cryptocurrency and accounting, but in this episode, they dive into the details. Whether you’re just learning about how crypto works, both from a layman’s and an accounting perspective, or you’re well versed, you’ll find Matthew’s insights into this new frontier very useful.
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Randy Crabtree welcomes Ron Baker back for Episode 82 of The Unique CPA. Ron discusses his new book, Time's Up: The Subscription Business Model for Professional Firms, and the coming impact of the subscription model in the world of accounting. He reviews the reasons for making the switch in your own firm and makes the case for this metamorphosis through an evidence-based, data-driven approach.
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On Episode 81 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree speaks with valuation expert Melissa Gragg. Melissa’s focus is on gathering information about a business from a third party, neutral perspective, in order to help everyone involved in an event where business valuation is an important piece, to feel heard and fairly treated. She goes in depth with Randy about the process and about how regular business valuations can make the sale of a business so much more attractive to outside investors.
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The Employee Retention Credit continues to be a hot topic in the accounting space, so Randy Crabtree gets together with Nick Pantaleo of Tri-Merit, Dan Chodan from Trout CPA, and Chris Wittich of Boyum Barenscheer. They touch on the dos and don’ts of the ERC, with a focus on the slew of misinformation on the topic, some of which has been pushed by pop-up ERC “shops” looking to profit off the opportunity, with little regard for whether the claims are proper, or even free of fraud. They conclude with some sage advice about how to keep your clients—and their books—above board.
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Randy comes to you with a special announcement on the growth and future of The Unique CPA.
Charles McKissick joins Randy for Episode 79 of The Unique CPA, and they discuss how accounting firms can benefit from outsourcing. Charles’ company, Unison Globus, provides dedicated outsourced teams to accounting firms across four continents, providing an innovative solution to tackling ongoing problems with staffing and employee retention in the accounting profession amidst the “great resignation.”
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The “ERC Nerds” unite on Episode 78 of The Unique CPA, as Dan Chodan of Trout CPA joins Randy to discuss the multifaceted nature of the ERC. They most especially get into the confusion surrounding this program being administered by the IRS, as well as going over some common areas where the confusion seems to be hitting the most. They also talk about a number of “horror stories” they have encountered, many of which have been perpetrated by pop-up tax shops looking to make a quick buck off the “ERC frenzy.”
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On episode 77 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to John Spence, author of Awesomely Simple and CEO of John Spence LLC, about his streamlined, simple techniques and strategies for helping businesses—and businesspeople—improve every day. John talks about the importance of reading and synthesizing a lot of information into simple takeaways, discusses the concepts of IQ, EQ and AQ, and offers helpful advice for anyone looking to get a leg up in their business or career.
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Kristen Keats joins Randy Crabtree on episode 76 of The Unique CPA, or in her case, the very, very busy CPA. The owner or co-founder of four, vertically integrated companies, Kristen’s goal is to change the accounting industry—she sees the gaps and shortcomings of the traditional firm model, and she’s putting that goal into action by demonstrating that another way is possible.
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Episode 75 marks the end of festivities celebrating The Unique CPA from The Beer Temple in Chicago. In part 3, Blake Oliver, creator of Earmark CPE, and Matthew May, founder and VP at Acuity, join Randy Crabtree and Scott Scarano. They discuss the impact of technology, crypto, and the blockchain on accounting, talk more about the wave of private equity already sweeping firms, and hit on the most important thread of all running through good work in the profession: integrity.
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The celebration continues with Episode 74 of The Unique CPA, live from The Beer Temple in Chicago. On part 2 of this three-part series, Randy and Scott Scarano of the Accounting High podcast talk to Dawn Brolin of Powerful Accounting and The Motivation Movement, a two-time “40 Under 40” award recipient from Accounting Today, and previous Unique CPA guest Josh Lance of Lance CPA Group, who has won the same award five times.
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Episode 73 of The Unique CPA is live from The Beer Temple in Chicago, and the end of Season 3 celebrations are so big, we’ve had to split it into three parts! Randy is joined by Scott Scarano, host of the Accounting High podcast, and they talk to Tim Jipping, owner of Journey Advisors & CPAs, Allan Koltin, the founder of Koltin Consulting Group, and Kenji Kuramoto, the CEO of Acuity.
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Blake Oliver joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 72 of The Unique CPA. The founder of Earmark CPE, Blake pieced together the seemingly disparate ideas of podcasts—a world to which he contributes via co-hosting the Cloud Accounting podcast—and CPE, utilizing his skills in web design, tech, and business building to bring free CPE to accountants nationwide. Plus, The Unique CPA has joined the Earmark family! So now you too can earn CPE by listening!
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Episode 67 of The Unique CPA is all about the subscription model and how it can be applied to public accounting. Randy talks to Ron Baker, a LinkedIn Influencer acclaimed by Accounting Today and host of The Soul of Enterprise.
Tom Parker and Layne Bodily of FBP CPA first joined Randy on Episode 36, where they discussed their co-founding of the firm in Itasca, Illinois and their vision for their venture. Tom and Layne discuss its evolution so far, the challenges they’ve faced around the pandemic, employee retention, and establishing structures and best practices. As well, Layne has resiliently responded in the face of a cancer diagnosis, with the team and clients of FBP rallying around him.
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On episode 70 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Gary Shamis, CEO of Winding River Consulting, about being an entrepreneur and dealing with losing control. They also discuss Winding River Consulting and Gary’s Managing Partner Bootcamp.
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On episode 68 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to president and managing partner of GRF CPAs & Advisors, Jackie Cardello, about issues in the accounting industry like hiring and retaining employees, remaining diverse and inclusive, and the intimidating effects of social media.
On episode 69 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Jackie Meyer, founder of Meyer Tax Consulting, about running a completely virtual firm using her ROI plan. They also discuss her tax planning program called Tax Plan IQ, which helps people in the industry get around confusing AICPA standards, and what types of leadership will help your business succeed.
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On Episode 66 of The Unique CPA, Rob Brown joins Randy Crabtree to share their experiences as stroke survivors during Stroke Awareness Month. They highlight the key lessons they learned from these life-changing events, including the importance of being open and vulnerable with friends about struggles and of not waiting for a consequential event to make positive changes in one’s life.
Episode 67 of The Unique CPA is all about the subscription model and how it can be applied to public accounting. Randy talks to Ron Baker, a LinkedIn Influencer acclaimed by Accounting Today and host of The Soul of Enterprise. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com
On Episode 66 of The Unique CPA, Rob Brown joins Randy Crabtree to share their experiences as stroke survivors during Stroke Awareness Month. They highlight the key lessons they learned from these life-changing events, including the importance of being open and vulnerable with friends about struggles and of not waiting for a consequential event to make positive changes in one’s life.
Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com
Episode 65 of The Unique CPA is “pure vaporware”—just ask Randy’s guest, Scott Scarano, host of the Sons of CPAs Podcast and President of Padgett Business Services of Raleigh-Durham. Randy and Scott have a great time talking about everything under the sun, from beer and other methods of “relaxation”, to one of the key tenets of The Unique CPA, the changing face of public accounting, which also happens to be a heavy focus of Scott’s show.
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On episode 64 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Nick Cavuoto about the importance of personal branding. Nick shares his own experience with transforming businesses’ marketing efforts, including Fortune 500 companies, and stresses the importance of building a connection with people.
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On Episode 63 of The Unique CPA, Tom Gorczynski, Enrolled Agent, Certified Tax Planner, and non-attorney member of the Bar of the United States Tax Court, discusses his role in educating other tax professionals and providing IRS representation for tax preparers. Tom shares his approach to research and education, and he highlights the importance of being a constant learner within the profession.
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John Garrett returns to The Unique CPA for episode 62, and he talks to Randy Crabtree about the importance of ensuring that a firm's people are actually treated like people. The author of What's Your “And”, John specializes in helping especially CPA firms attract and retain talent by emphasizing the human element and ensuring that a firm's culture doesn't just exist, but is thriving and aspirational for its employees.
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On Episode 61 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree is joined by Joel Hess, a Principal at LeaseCrunch, which provides cloud-based lease accounting software solutions for CPA firms. Joel discusses the significance of new lease accounting standards and shares ways firms can efficiently implement them.
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On Episode 60 of The Unique CPA, Randy speaks with Randy Johnston, Executive Vice President at K2 Enterprises and a leading technology consultant. Randy discusses how to find the optimal software package for client accounting services and shares his thoughts on the radical technology transition he foresees the industry undergoing over the next five years.
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On Episode 59 of The Unique CPA, Robb Zbierski returns to discuss ways to boost productivity with Randy Crabtree. Robb shares ten tips from his book, Master Your Mind, where he recommends practices to bypass negativity, internalize objectives on a subconscious level, and deliver results more efficiently.
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On Episode 58 of The Unique CPA, Randy speaks with Rik Nemanick, the founder of Nemanick Leadership Consulting. Rik shares eight rules for becoming a strong mentor from his book, The Mentor’s Way. He discusses gaps in how firms currently structure mentorship programs and offers advice on how to overcome common pitfalls.
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On Episode 57 of The Unique CPA, Terrell Turner returns to discuss the fractional CFO concept with Randy Crabtree. Terrell discusses recent honors he’s received, strategies for businesses who are looking for fractional CFO services, how his firm provides those services using a tailored pricing model, and his passion for helping business owners make the most of what they have.
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On episode 56 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Grace Horvath, current Vice President of Services at CPAmerica, who will take over the role of President from January 1, 2022, onwards. Grace discusses her history in sales, her understanding of marketing and its importance for CPA firms, the changing landscape of the profession, and how important it member associations are to help guide succession, firm structure, and success both at the individual and firm level.
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On episode 55 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Doug Brown of Summit Success International. Doug and Summit specialize in helping professionals and businesses take control of their workflow and time in order to better serve their clients, their employees and coworkers, and themselves. Randy focuses his questions around burnout, and Doug shares his considerable insights, including a number of useful takeaways.
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On Episode 54 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Allan Koltin, CPA, CGMA, the CEO of Koltin Consulting Group. With a laundry list of accolades, including Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in the Profession for over two decades running, Allan shares his insights into what he calls the "perfect storm" for why private equity firms are taking another shot at investing in accounting firms. He discusses with Randy the benefits to older and younger partners alike, and the danger for firms of being left behind if they don't act decisively.
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Randy talks to Kathy Klang of Cummings Keegan on Episode 53 of The Unique CPA. She helped grow the firm as its Managing Partner for nearly 15 years, and she now serves as Success Management Partner. In this role, she has developed a pathing system within the firm that helps new and existing employees alike get on the right career track. She discusses the process of developing this, the pitfalls, and the ethos necessary to make it work.
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On Episode 52 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Craig Tobin of Tri-Merit about his Cost Segregation analysis services. With various tax laws becoming favorable, the opportunities for putting assets into a shorter life class, for lookbacks, and for other beneficial tax strategies are bigger than ever.
Randy starts off this episode by sharing more information about The Unique CPA Virtual Conference, Coming December 2.
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On episode 51 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Nellie Akalp, the founder and CEO of CorpNet, a legal filing company with services available in all 50 states. CorpNet can assist with filings to start a business, grow or expand a business, or make changes to a business. CorpNet also assists with compliance, winding up/dissolution, and other filing services.
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Randy returns in episode 50 of The Unique CPA to discuss new guidance from the IRS on the Employee Retention Credit. He talks about IRS Rev Proc 2021-33 (PPP loans, Restaurant Revitalization, Shuttered Venues, cash or accrual accounting) and IRS Notice 2021-49 (more on Shuttered Venues and Restaurant Revitalization), in addition to wage and employee counting methods that may apply to restaurants or all businesses generally, large and small.
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Episode 49 of The Unique CPA is a look back at Randy's conversation in Episode 6 with Richard Kopelman, CEO of Aprio, LLP. Richard heads Aprio's CPA-led advisory services, and in this Unique CPA Rewind, he talks to Randy about how vital it is to be a trusted advisor to your clients. The events since the episode aired have truly pushed this facet of the account-client relationship to the forefront.
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On episode 48 of The Unique CPA, we revisit Randy’s conversation with Founder and Managing Director of Lance CPA Group, Joshua Lance. Josh created a truly unique CPA firm—an entirely virtual practice with its 14 employees spread across the country, which provides accounting and consulting services only to craft breweries and digital agencies. Given the events of the past 18 months, Josh’s insights into working virtually are more relevant than ever.
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Randy continues his analysis of the Employee Retention Credit on Episode 47 of The Unique CPA. His focus this time is on the restaurant industry, arguably the hardest hit industry in the country due to Covid. His deep dive into various opportunities tax preparers have to help their restaurant clients will be useful to anyone looking to maximize benefits to those clients.
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The Employee Retention Credit, or ERC, saw significant expansion for 2021. Randy Crabtree talks about various ways for your clients to qualify for the credit, how much benefit they can receive, and how the credit interplays with other credits available, with a particular focus on the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP.
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On Episode 45 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Justin Elanjian, Partner-in-Charge of PPP & ERC Services at Aprio. Justin discusses how he navigated uncertainty and evolving guidelines while growing a new segment of the business that helps clients access COVID-19 relief funds. He shares some advice on the importance of thinking proactively and pursuing one’s passions, and he talks about what’s to come.
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On episode 44 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Caleb Jenkins of RLJ Financial Services. They discuss Caleb’s early start in entrepreneurship and accounting as a child. Caleb shares his insights on the growing Client Accounting Services sector and his experiences with SALT Microfinance Solutions, highlighting the importance of giving back.
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On episode 43 of The Unique CPA, Randy is joined by Geraldine Carter of the Smart Strategy for CPAs podcast, on which Randy was a recent guest. Geraldine's company, She Thinks Big Coaching, specializes in helping CPA firms find their niche in order to do more profitable, more efficient, better work for their clients.
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On episode 42 of The Unique CPA, Randy welcomes Kristen Rampe, whose company, Rampe Consulting, specializes in vital big picture issues for firms, including partner compensation, partner agreements, and strategic retreat facilitation. Kristen discusses the importance of getting these elements right in order to boost partner trust, accountability, and promote fairness from within a firm's structure.
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Randy talks to Deb Russell about her work in disability inclusion. Her company works to educate and provide resources to help companies employ more people with disabilities. Previously, Deb helped Walgreens in their drive for disability inclusion, leading to an increase in hiring until disabled workers made up 10% of Walgreens’ workforce.
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Especially in the midst of what may be the longest tax season in history, CPAs are feeling especially pressured, burnt out and in need of some serious R&R. On Episode 40 of The Unique CPA, Randy talks to Eva Medilek about maintaining balance in one's life, even while striving for high achievement. She stresses the importance of not losing sight of your “why,” whatever it may be, in the midst of the stresses and obligations of your work.
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On episode 39 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree talks to Doug Veliky, Chief Strategy Officer of craft brewery Revolution in Chicago. Doug’s unusual career path started in public accounting. After being knocked back for several positions which could have combined accounting with his love of craft beer, he started an Instagram account and a blog about craft beer for fun. These ultimately helped him land his first position with Revolution.
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Fractional CFOs are a relatively new, fast-growing, and unique segment of the financial space. Randy talks to Terrell Turner of TLTurner Group, a fractional CFO firm that offers a wide array of services to business owners in various industries. Terrell is also the host of The Business Talk Library podcast, a series of over 200 shows and resources for business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals.
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Randy talks to Barry Devine of Tri-Merit about the incredible opportunities available with the Employee Retention Credit, or ERC, in 2021. They explain the big changes that occurred with the two most recent stimulus bills—which expanded the amount of credit available to businesses—how excess credit exceeding payroll tax liability goes back into the business as cash, and talk about potential interplays between ERC and other tax credits.
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On our new Nuts and Bolts series, Randy talks to Tom Parker and Layne Bodily, cofounders of FBP CPA. Tom and Layne started FBP with Tyler Fates in 2020 in Itasca, Illinois, with an eye towards establishing a modern accounting firm. Randy will have Tom, Layne and Tyler on in the future to check on the progress of their firm, and provide insights as to what has worked, what hasn't, and where the firm is headed as it continues to grow.
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On episode 35 of The Unique CPA, Randy has the opportunity to talk with Greg Skoda, one of two people who have built an accounting firm with a valuation in excess of $600 million. They discuss Greg's firm building exploits, and the regulatory and personal challenges Greg faced while building CBIZ over a frenetic two year period in the 90s. They also talk about Skoda Minnotti, the latest firm Greg founded, which merged with Marcum in 2019.
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Randy talks with Matt Wheeler, Managing Partner of Wheeler Accountants and co-host of the Avocado Toast podcast, about his unique approach to promoting financial literacy. Through his podcast and other initiatives, Matt advocates for education, since people don't know just how much financial support and advice they need. The more they learn, the more likely they are to seek out professional accounting and financial services.
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On Episode 33, Randy talks with Mark Koziel, CEO of Allinial Global, who discusses the unique challenges (and advantages) of taking over that role in the midst of the pandemic, accounting firms' status as "the ultimate trusted advisor" to the companies they serve, the need for cooperation among accounting firms as technology and automation transform the profession, the importance of correctly pricing flat fee services, and much more.
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Randy talks to Bob Lewis, who was recently named one of Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, about how CPA firms must position themselves to adapt to changes—especially as Covid rages on. Bob gives his insights into the best ways to develop prospects and referral sources, cross-selling strategies, the importance of a market niche, and the best ways for firms to position themselves through mergers and acquisitions.
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Randy is joined by Mike Pine, founder of Pine & Company CPAs, to discuss the evolution of Mike's practice. After cutting his teeth on tax in the Big Four accounting world, Mike started his own practice, subsequently merging with another firm. Since then, he has focused on low employee turnover and high client retention. He explains how he accomplished this, and how flexibility kept him able to respond to the demands of a changing market, especially amidst the upheaval of COVID.
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In business, especially in the world of accounting, people are often boiled down to what they bring to a firm, but not who they are. Emmy nominated writer and “Catalyst for Corporate Change“ John Garrett, himself a podcast host and author, talks to Randy about the importance of having interests, hobbies and passions outside of work. He explains how they make you a better professional, and how for him, everyone is a Unique CPA.
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One of the hottest topics in the financial world today is Data Analytics. But how does a CPA firm start utilizing analytics in its own practice, or even offer Data Analytics services to its clients? Randy talks to Jeremy Clopton, director at Upstream Academy, about the role Data Analytics can play in your firm, especially as AI and machine learning loom large—and about the future of the accounting profession in this changing landscape.
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The Covid pandemic has prompted many businesses, especially accounting firms, to take stock of who and they are, where they are going, and what they need to do to continue to be successful in a changed world. Randy talks with Jon Hubbard of Boomer Consulting, who specializes in helping firms identify branding opportunities, assess their strengths, and using the eight step process known as the Firm Pipeline Builder, grow their business.
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Randy sits down with Martin Moll, co-founder of Breakaway BA, who went from being a managing partner of a large CPA firm to starting a company that specializes in back office services for small and medium sized businesses. Martin talks about his fascination with and passion for what “America is really comprised of”—these integral parts of our society—and how Breakaway remains committed to “bringing joy” in everything they do.
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Generally speaking, selling is not a CPA's favorite thing in the world to do. But without sales and without marketing, CPAs wouldn't have any clients to do the work they actually enjoy doing, for! Randy talks with Gary Kravitz, longtime consultant and marketing professional, startup entrepreneur, and current partner with Integrated Growth Advisors, about the strategies CPAs can use to drive business to their practice.
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Randy talks with Alan Deichler, president of CPAmerica, about the importance for CPA firms to join associations and networks such as CPAmerica and CPA Connect. They discuss the opportunities these organizations provide for firms to share resources, clients, referrals, knowledge, and more—and most importantly, to build relationships and community.
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What would you do if someone dropped a dream-come-true offer of international travel and an exciting career into your lap? Adam Crowson said "yes" to just such an offer, and in this episode, the CEO of Inspired Professionals shares his remarkable journey from "yes" to ultimately creating a fascinating new development program to keep firms motivated, bonded, and thriving.
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In every accounting firm, there comes a time when managing partners will change for various reasons such as retirement. In this interesting episode, Dan McMahon, Founder and Managing Partner of Integrated Growth Advisors, shares some of the ways in which IGA prepares firms for the inevitable, as well as strategies for increasing their value prior to the firm changing hands.
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After witnessing the inevitable burnout that happens to many in the "old school" accounting business model, Erik Solbakken knew that he was destined for a different path. Applying entrepreneurial methods to his accounting practice, soon Erik discovered an exciting new way of doing business. In this episode, he shares some of his ideas that are helping accountants all over the world find new freedom in their practices.
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The entire planet has been impacted by the pandemic of 2020 and we can't begin to predict if or when it will ever return to what we knew as "normal." Most certainly, it has had a profound impact on the economy in many different ways. In this episode, host Randy Crabtree discusses some of the ways in which accountants can help put money back into their clients' businesses at this critical time.
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At the beginning of his career as a CPA, John Bly expected to be a "lifer" at PWC. But on discovering that it was possible to buy and sell firms, everything changed. In this episode, John shares his unusual journey, which took him from being part of a two-person company with his wife to merging with 14 firms and becoming one of the fastest-growing firms in North Carolina.
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Life and business can be stressful enough without the current global chaos caused by Covid-19. Many people are finding it difficult to stay positive and focused, especially CPAs who are immersed in a messy tax season complete with new legislation. In this episode, Robb Zbierski, speaker, trainer and coach, shares some important strategies to help keep you feeling positive and focused on your goals.
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Working for a couple of decades in the security and identity of a large firm offers numerous gifts of experience, learning, contacts, and more. But what happens when the decision is made to strike out on your own? In this episode, Heather Martin, CPA, discusses her journey through leaving a large CPA firm, and the planning and implementation of steps to create a new business on her own.
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As the world and technology continue to change rapidly, many accounting firms are diversifying and offering a range of services that are quickly becoming "the norm." In this episode, CEO and Managing Partner of Sikich LLP, Christopher Geier discusses some of the ways in which this benefits both firms and clients, as well as some interesting thoughts on their hiring philosophy.
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Despite transition being a constant theme in business, Skeet Haag, Managing Partner of Reynolds, Bones & Griesbeck, has taken a "right person, right seat" approach to maintaining consistency in the now 104-year-old firm, as did his predecessors. In this episode, Skeet shares some of the firm's core values as well as the impressive steps that are taken to ensure that everyone in the firm is living them.
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The world of accounting is changing faster than ever before. Many firms are even offering more services to their clients such as data analysis, marketing, and technology. In this episode, Michael Platt, managing principal of The Platt Group, shares information on how firms can prepare for the next recession, and insight into the needs of young professionals, including what they consider when choosing an employer.
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You don't have to be an accountant to know that tax season is their busiest time of year. In this episode, David Radke, President and Managing Partner of Williams & Company, shares his experience of having a stroke just as tax season was beginning, and the important factors that came into play to keep the firm - and his recovery - running smoothly.
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Mueller prides itself on thinking outside the box. This entrepreneurial spirit is perfect given that most of the firm's clients are unique business owners with unique services and products. In this episode, CEO/ President, Dave Nissen, shares some of the many ways in which Mueller's willingness to be unique has helped the firm to expand and become an international presence while maintaining close relationships with clients.
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t might seem difficult to come up with anything that is exciting about state and local tax (SALT). In this episode, tax lawyer and CPA Jordan M. Goodman, shares some of the challenges that make it interesting. In particular, he discusses how changes in the world have a direct and immediate impact on tax laws, and offers examples of new situations that offer opportunities to create new laws.
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We are living in globally unprecedented times. No one is immune from the impact that Coronavirus is having on the world. In this episode, host Randy Crabtree interviews six leaders and experts in the world of accounting and finance who offer suggestions and insights on how accounting firms can deal with the many issues and challenges that are arising as a result of the virus.
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In this episode, Jennifer Lee Wilson explains the relationship between change and convergence coaching, and how it impacts business, technology, accounting, leadership and management. She also shares some significant information regarding attraction and retention, examining your business model, and why it is essential to rethink promotion requirements.
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In this episode, Jeremy Clopton, Director at Upstream Academy, shares his insights on the dangers of using generational labels, and discusses some of the benefits of people working together with various ages, skills and experience. He has extensive experience in data analytics and fraud prevention, and he is also passionate about the value brought by each generation in the workforce.
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Sometimes tax services and credits change in ways that benefit businesses but they can't help if we aren't aware of them. In this episode, Randy Crabtree, CPA, discusses special services that could significantly impact how much your clients save on taxes. With more than 30 years' experience to his credit, Randy has worked closely with top company executives on tax planning and preparation.
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It's one thing to build a successful business and maintain it at that level. Expanding it is quite another. It won't happen if you've got an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. In this episode, Sam Allred, Director at Upstream Academy, shares his inspiring insights on stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing change, and challenging yourself and your team in order to create a high-performing firm.
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It's not enough to give clients what they want. It's also important to give them what they need. Being a trusted advisor and consultant for your clients can help you to go above and beyond in your efforts to best serve them. In this episode, Richard Kopelman, CEO and managing partner of Aprio, explains the importance of bringing head and heart to the table, which boosts not only the client's business but your own, too.
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In the world of accounting, it is essential to be diligent about risk management and protecting client information, especially during mergers and acquisitions.
Stephen Vono is Senior Vice President of McGowanPro; formerly NAPLIA. Since 1996 he has focused on Professional Liability Insurance and Risk Management for accounting firms. His primary aim is to lower the exposure to litigation for accountants and CPA firms.
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David Bergstein has been in the accounting profession for 50 years. He has had experience in a variety of interesting roles, including IRS Chief. Seen as a visionary by many, David has won several awards in the industry, is an adjunct college professor. In this episode, we get a look at why he is highly active on social media, as well as how important it is to keep up with technology and especially as it pertains to business.
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Joshua Lance is the founder and Managing Director of Lance CPA Group, a virtual CPA firm that focuses on providing accounting and consulting services to craft breweries and digital agencies. In this episode, Josh shares the journey that led him to establish an accounting practice in this unique style, as well as some of the unusual and interesting activities that keep the country-wide employees feeling part of the team.
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With 30 years’ experience in the active practice of public accounting, John Sensiba focuses leading professionals in the delivery of superior client service – helping the communities they serve, the clients they serve, and each other. When the bottom fell out of the global economy in 2008, John stepped into high gear. Determined to save the 30-year-old firm, he took over as Managing Partner and began a journey he could never have imagined at the time. In this episode, John shares the challenges he faced as he led the practice into a new way of thinking and being as a leader in the community and the profession, as an employer and as service providers. His efforts have more than paid off, taking them to the highly-respected B Corp status - the only CPA firm in California to have earned it.
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Many people think that accounting is a fairly static and unchanging profession. Numbers are numbers; facts are facts. But in this episode, Tim Jipping, CPA and CGMA, shares what led him to this career as well as his surprising discoveries about the importance of ongoing introspection, self-awareness and conscious personal development in enhancing his professional life.
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