Business Beyond Borders: Impactful Insights for CPAs

Struggling to find and keep great talent as your firm grows?   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam sits down with Naveed Saya, Vice President of IBEX, to discuss why CPA firms need to rethink traditional staffing models. They explore how global talent, strong culture, and strategic workforce planning can help firms scale sustainably while maintaining quality and profi...

Is your outsourcing strategy ready for extension season—or are the same problems about to repeat themselves?   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam sits down with Mitsu Shah and Khanjan Shah from Accseed to unpack what really happened during tax season—from process breakdowns and onboarding delays to staffing, security, and the growing role of AI in outsourcing.   In t...

Feeling overwhelmed by AI? So are your clients. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam is joined by Thomas J. DeMayo, Partner and Practice Leader at PKF O’Connor Davies, to break down what AI adoption actually looks like inside a large CPA firm—and how to help your clients do the same. From governance to growth, Tom shares how PKF is leading the charge and what firms of...

Jumping into new initiatives without a strategy? It’s costing you more than you think.   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam talks with Erin Daiber, founder of Well Balanced Accountants, about how CPA firms can better align people strategy, AI adoption, and leadership development through intentional planning and accountability.   In this episode, you will be able to:...

SPECIAL EDITION: What the HIRE Act Could Mean for Outsourcing in the CPA World! On September 5th, Senator Moreno introduced the HIRE Act (Halting International Relocation of Employment Act)—a proposed bill that could impose a 25% excise tax on payments to foreign service providers when serving U.S. consumers. This could dramatically impact CPA firms that rely on outsourcing or offshoring.   In thi...

Is your firm losing its people because your culture is more talk than action? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam welcomes Trisha Daho—a former Big Four partner and now a fractional Chief People Officer—to unpack what it really means to build and sustain a high-performing culture inside today’s CPA firms.   They explore how culture must be intentional and measurable,...

Struggling to make outsourcing work for your CPA firm? In this episode, host Laurence Whittam introduces the Mastering Outsourcing course—built from years of experience helping firms overcome offshoring challenges. Whether you’re exploring outsourcing or trying to improve your current strategy, this episode gives you the roadmap you’ve been missing.   In this episode, you will be able to:   Uncove...

When is it time to stop doing and start owning your business?   In this episode, Laurence Whittam sits down with Eli Raff , Operational Efficiency & Business Systemization Expert at Owner-Free Systems Advisory to explore the mindset shift—and operational strategy—needed to grow a firm beyond the founder. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t take a real vacation without things falling apart, this...

How do you build a thriving firm culture in a remote world—and why does vulnerability matter more than ever?   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam sits down with Randy Crabtree—CPA, co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals. Known for championing culture, mental health, and people-first leadership, Randy shares practical insights from decades of experience.   In...

What does it take to build a high-performing offshore team from the ground up?   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, guest Ben Town shares how his frustrating outsourcing journey led to the creation of his own offshore team, now supporting firms.   In this episode, you will be able to:   Understand the stages CPA firms go through when exploring outsourcing Identify the common challenges of...

Is AI replacing marketers—or finally making them effective?   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam talks with Kristofer Lenz, Founder of Kailos Marketing Lab, about how AI is reshaping marketing for CPA firms—and why most firms are still missing the mark.   In this episode, you will be able to: • Discover how AI accelerates content, outreach, and BD for accounting firms. •...

Struggling with cultural friction in your offshore team? You’re not alone—and it’s more common (and fixable) than you think.   In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam dives into one of the most overlooked reasons firms fail to scale their outsourcing success: cultural disconnects.   In this episode, you’ll be able to: • Recognize common cultural challenges when working with of...

Is your firm missing the real advisory opportunity behind M&A? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam sits down with UK-based exit planning expert Christine Nicholson to unpack what firms often overlook when guiding clients through succession and acquisition decisions.   In this episode, you’ll be able to: • Understand why mid-sized firms struggle to evolve—and what to do...

Facing internal resistance to outsourcing? You’re not alone. In this launch episode of the Business Beyond Borders mini-series, host Laurence Whittam dives into one of the biggest barriers firms face when expanding globally—getting internal buy-in for outsourcing. Whether it’s resistance from partners, disconnected service lines, or uncertainty about how to roll it out across offices, these challe...

Are you focusing too much on outsourcing and not enough on what’s happening inside your firm? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam sits down with Tavi Meketon to spotlight the Profit Team—a powerhouse group of operational leaders helping CPA firms become more efficient, forward-thinking, and future-ready.   In this episode, you will be able to: • Understand how the Profit T...

Thinking about outsourcing, but unsure how involved your firm needs to be? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam and Shrinivas Gangesh Karthikeyan of GKM Global Services Pvt Ltd dive into how firms can successfully navigate outsourcing—without getting bogged down in cultural or operational headaches.   In this episode, you’ll be able to: • Understand how the post-COVID talen...

Is Your CPA Firm’s Tech Strategy Already Outdated?   Many firms are still struggling with cloud adoption, while AI is rapidly reshaping the industry. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Steve Perkins, Founder of Invicta Advisors LLC, shares why so many firms are behind in IT strategy—and what they need to do now to stay competitive.   In this episode, you will be able to: • Understand why...

Think your firm is playing it safe with 7216 compliance? You might be wrong. Many firms are struggling with the disclosure rules—especially when outsourcing tax work. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam breaks down the critical steps firms must take to stay compliant and avoid legal risks.   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the 7216 disclosure rules and why...

In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam sits down with David Kells to explore the impact of private equity (PE) in the accounting industry, focusing on Citrin Cooperman’s transformative journey. Gain actionable advice for firms looking to prepare for growth and navigate a changing competitive landscape!   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the role of private equ...

Discover the game-changing trends shaping the accounting profession in this insightful episode of Business Beyond Borders with Laurence Whittam and Terry Putney. From private equity’s influence to the strategic role of offshoring, this conversation dives into the key factors driving transformation in the industry.   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the groundbreaking Citrin Cooperm...

Struggling with staffing challenges, tech trends, and evolving firm strategies? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, host Laurence Whittam chats with a seasoned expert Kathy Towne-Sautters of BDO Alliance about the dynamic shifts in the CPA profession. From recruiting innovations to embracing AI and offshoring as strategic solutions, this conversation is packed with insights to help your fi...

Tune in to the latest episode of Business Beyond Borders, where Laurence Whittam hosts Ashley Platt, founder of Clear Cut Outsourcing, to discuss how CPA firms can effectively leverage outsourcing to drive efficiency, tackle talent shortages, and build stronger, tech-enabled workflows.   In this episode, you'll be able to: •  Explore why Pakistan is becoming a key outsourcing destination for CPA f...

In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Laurence Whittam and Brendan Quirk dive into the opportunities and challenges of outsourcing and nearshoring for CPA firms in Latin America. Brendan shares insights from his extensive experience in the region, offering valuable perspectives on strategy, talent acquisition, and cultural nuances.   In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the benefit...

In this insightful episode, Laurence Whittam sits down with Abhilasha Parikh to explore the essentials of creating and managing effective offshore teams. Abhilasha shares her expertise on what firms need to know to establish strong, sustainable partnerships with offshore providers and how to turn these relationships into true assets for growth.   In this episode, you will be able to: Choose the ri...

In this insightful episode, Jeff Panik of Balanced Wealth Partners and Laurence Whittam explore the vital role financial advisors play in creating meaningful, long-term relationships with clients, especially CPAs aiming to be trusted advisors. Jeff shares his journey, key strategies, and practical advice for CPAs to strengthen client retention by fostering a "sticky" relationship with both clients...