The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast . Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: https://earmark.app/c/2777 How do you grow a six-person, $300,000 accounting firm into one of the largest in the U.S. with $1.3 billion in r...

The conversation around outsourcing and offshoring in public accounting has shifted. What was once viewed with hesitation is now firmly part of the playbook for firms across the country. In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast , hosts Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers dive into the numbers behind the trend. Drawing on IPA’s exclusive survey data, they explore: How outsourcing has grown...

Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown welcome Lexy Kessler, Chair of the American Institute of CPAs and partner at Aprio, to explore the 2040 Project — a strategic initiative mapping the profession’s future. From tackling pipeline challenges to integrating AI, Lexy shares why upskilling, adaptability and people skills are now strategic imperatives for firms of all sizes. We look at the disruptors ahead, t...

In this episode of the Inside Public Accounting Podcast, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers explore a timely question: Are new CPA firms still breaking through? While the average Top 100 firm is nearly 69 years old, some new firms are managing to carve out space in a landscape dominated by legacy players. Chelsea shares findings from IPA's latest research, spotlighting trends in firm formation, the gol...

In this episode of INSIDE Public Accounting , Rob and Chelsea analyze the full landscape of the 2025 IPA 500 rankings—not just the top-tier firms, but the hundreds of firms driving real innovation beneath the headlines. Topics in this episode: Performance trends in the top 100, including private equity influence, revenue growth and productivity metrics The strategic advantage of specialization in...

The 2025 IPA 500 list is here. In this fast-paced episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers go full horse race. No big-picture trends this time — it's all about who’s new, who’s rising fast , and who’s out . Highlights include: The debutants : Firms like Sorren (#61) and H&Co (#66) enter with bold moves or private equity support. Major exits : CBIZ’s acquis...

The IPA 500 is just days away—and in this episode, we take you inside the rankings that define the accounting profession. Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown break down how firms qualify for the list, the strategies behind the biggest climbers, and key trends firm leaders need to know now. You’ll hear: What it really takes to make the list The rising revenue thresholds and how they’ve shifted year over...

In this episode of The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers take a first look at early findings from the 2025 IPA Practice Management Survey. The data tells a story of change—but also one of adaptation, strategy and opportunity. From evolving growth rates to expanded outsourcing strategies and shifts in licensure, firms are making intentional choices that reflect a chang...

In Episode 2 of The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, hosts Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers unpack the results of a pulse survey of 163 accounting firms on one of the profession’s most controversial trends: private equity. Chelsea shares insights from IPA’s latest research, including how firm leaders are navigating growth, autonomy, and culture in a PE-influenced landscape. Are these firms growing f...

In this inaugural episode of The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast , hosts Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown introduce a new weekly show designed for firm leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve. Hear how this podcast will bring the profession’s most trusted data to life—translating charts and trends into actionable insights. Chelsea shares how IPA’s reports are evolving into something more convers...

Welcome to a new voice in the accounting profession. The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast launches soon—bringing you weekly insights, data-driven trends, and leadership strategies from the team behind the IPA 500 and the industry’s most respected reports. In each episode, hosts Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown will go beyond the numbers to unpack the “why” behind the profession’s most pressing issues...