CPA Life

Liz Farr has had a remarkable life's journey, from a childhood where she learned accounting principles, to many years later taking a tax preparation class, then working as an accountant navigating chaotic tax seasons, to finally, becoming a successful ghostwriter and podcast host. Join John Randolph on Episode 44 of CPA Life as he gleans insights from Liz's time in and around the accounting profes...

John Randolph and Ron Baker dive back into part 2 of their discussion on Episode 43 of CPA Life , covering the challenges faced by CPAs, such as the moral injury the profession inflicts, the shift from fee-for-service to the subscription model, client advisory services, and more. They discuss the importance of niche expertise, the value of transformations over transactional services, and strategie...

Ron Baker is a pioneer in the field of modern accounting. He joins John Randolph for this first installment of a special two part episode of CPA Life , and the two delve deep into the groundbreaking topics of value and subscription-based pricing and client advisory services that are reshaping the landscape of public accounting. An advocate for getting free of traditional timekeeping since 1989, Ro...

On Episode 41 of CPA Life , rejoin host John Randolph for part two of his conversation with Jeff Bartsch of Story Greenlight, as they delve deeper into the significance of storytelling within the accounting industry. Learn about the impact of crafting authentic narratives about you and your firm, and discover the benefits of being personal and intentional in your communication, with a focus on soc...

Jeff Bartsch began his career in Hollywood before founding Story Greenlight, where he coaches CPA firms on how best to present the story of who they are. He joins John Randolph on Episode 40 of CPA Life , part one of a two part episode, to discuss how accounting professionals can differentiate themselves through communication and thought leadership, stressing the power of storytelling. Jeff emphas...

John Randolph resumes his conversation with Jason Blumer of Thriveal and Blumer CPAs on Episode 39 of CPA Life . Continuing their focus on strategies for firm growth, they tackle the complex problem of team management in the modern, often remote-based accounting world, stressing that leadership comes from the relationship leaders have with their charges, and that time spent cultivating that relati...

Jason Blumer, CEO of Blumer CPAs and Thriveal, joins John Randolph for part one of their conversation on Episode 38 of CPA Life . Discussing his journey of building a sustainable CPA firm and the importance of intentional leadership, Jason explains that the entire concept behind Thriveal is that he made a lot of mistakes and had a lot of wrong ideas about entrepreneurship, and he wants to guide en...

Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching returns for part 2 of her conversation with John Randolph on Episode 37 of CPA Life . She delves into the intricacies of employee motivation, hiring practices, and compensation in CPA firms, and they discuss the vital role culture plays in everything a firm does, from hiring, to acquisitions, to turnover. Jen highlights the importance of learning from cultura...

John Randolph welcomes Jennifer Wilson to a two part conversation starting with CPA Life episode 36. Jennifer discusses her journey from BDO to founding ConvergenceCoaching, her deep history of driving technological innovation in business and accounting, and her understanding of the evolution of and challenges within the accounting industry. With a focus on the dynamics of remote work, they also e...

Host John Randolph continues his conversation with David Hartley on Episode 35 of CPA Life. They delve into ditching billable hours in favor of value billing, the potential for AI to vastly improve efficiency within CPA firms, and the importance of recruiting the next generation through values that appeal to them. Innovation is a key focus according to David, host of the But Who's Counting? podcas...

David Hartley joined Anders CPAs + Advisors when they were looking to establish an Advisory practice, demonstrating how even a large firm can "steer its ship" in an active, anticipatory way. David talks to John Randolph on Episode 34 of CPA Life in part 1 of their two part conversation about the strategic planning and growth of the Advisory practice under his watch, and David delves into how to ha...

In Part 2 of this special CPA Life episode, John Randolph returns as the guest to talk to producer Justin Grant about many of the key concepts in talent acquisition and advisory that CPA firms simply don't know that they don't know. John explains this as the basis behind his Talent + Advisory model, which integrates value-based pricing, strategic discussions, managing a firm's talent brand, online...

The tables are turned as CPA Life producer Justin Grant takes the role of host to interview John Randolph, founder and principal of Benaiah Consulting Group —not just your regular host!—on Episode 32. John delves into his history in the recruiting and accounting space and the lessons he's learned from his vast and diverse experience: the importance of finding a niche, the role of private equity in...

Marcus Mire is the founder of Mire Group CPAs and the host of the Make It Count podcast. He joins John Randolph for Episode 31 of CPA Life to discuss the impact of cloud accounting on his accounting practice, the effect of COVID-19 on firm operations, and more. Marcus shares his advice for new firm owners and talks about the growth and core values of the Mire Group, exploring the transition to a s...

John Randolph finishes his conversation with Accounting Today Top 100 influencer Randy Crabtree on Episode 30 of CPA Life, where they discuss non-traditional leadership in remote, but also in-office culture, the importance of building relationships, and of making your people understand you care about them as human beings. They both into the financial advantage imparted by low turnover due to healt...

Randy Crabtree is an Accounting Today Top 100 Influencer, the co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax, and the host of The Unique CPA podcast. On part one of a two part conversation, he joins John Randolph on Episode 29 of CPA Life to talk about the benefits of a niche focus within a firm and the good that comes from being intentional in creating a place people want to work. Related to these element...

Mike Payne of BOSS Advisors rejoins host John Randolph for part two of their conversation about building a modern CPA firm on Episode 28 of CPA Life. They pick up on their discussion of how BOSS is breaking the traditional firm mold through a subscription-based pricing model, prioritizing employees over billable hours, and more. Mike details practical strategies for attracting and retaining top ta...

Mike Payne, founder and CEO of BOSS Advisors, had an atypical path into his career as he holds both a CPA license and is a member of the State Bar of Arizona. On Episode 27 of CPA Life, Mike talks to John Randolph about his unique educational journey, and his experience working at a Big Four firm, before striking out on his own. Mike had a number of experiences that highlighted the need for change...

Episode 26 is the second of a two part episode of CPA Life, and Henry Huie rejoins John Randolph to talk about his new firm and its subscription model where clients pay for ongoing advice rather than billable hours. A focus on building deeper client relationships puts the value in "value billing," and empowers clients to ask for the help they need without worrying about fees. Further, by leveragin...

In another two part special episode of CPA Life, John Randolph interviews Henry Huie about his journey from working long hours at top 25 firms to opening his own practice, Chrome Accounting, in October, 2023. Henry shares some of the lessons he's already learned, like thorough planning, having enough savings so you need not take on undesirable clients, and niching down your services. Henry prepare...

Episode 24 is a CPA Life Rewind, where we look back on a topic relevant to the accounting world right now. Today, having just gotten through another fall busy season, we feature John Randolph's conversation with John Mark Prewitt, Managing Member at Cohesion Companies, which he founded over a decade ago. John Mark's experience in the Big Four led him to choosing a radically different approach to r...

Tired of endless 80-hour weeks? Chris Vanover, President and Chief Auditor at AuditClub, talks to John Randolph about AuditClub's subscription model which aims to give firms flexible access to audit experts on demand. Listen in to learn how AuditClub's transparent bonus system and sustainable four-day workweek attracts top talent while prioritizing work-life balance. Chris also reveals how AuditCl...

Donny Shimamoto, CEO of IntraPrise TechKnowlogies, is a thought leader in public accounting who is transforming the industry through his focus on technology, people, and culture. On Episode 22 of CPA Life, Donny talks to John Randolph about how firms can address the staffing crisis through demand management, outsourcing, and automation. He also shares the results of surveys conducted by his Center...

Yuri Kapilovich started #thefunCPA movement to change the stale, grueling culture of public accounting. On Episode 21 of CPA Life, he talks to John Randolph about his journey through seven different firms, including time spent in the Big Four, until he finally settled on starting his own firm, with a focus on a better work-life balance. Yuri understands that with the availability of information on...

Host John Randolph continues his thought-provoking conversation with Geraldine Carter about transforming accounting firms on Episode 20 of CPA Life. Geraldine stresses the importance of understanding what clients truly value, explaining that all too often, clients don't actually understand the product you're selling them. She also takes issue with the oft-heard refrain that "CPAs are risk-averse,"...