The Unique CPA

Kaitlin Borncamp left a promising Big Four accounting career to become a certified nutritional therapy practitioner, but she didn't just change jobs, she redefined what it means to thrive in a demanding profession. Kaitlin joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 243 of The Unique CPA to share how her own struggles with burnout and unhealthy habits led her to champion the brain as an accounting professiona...

Alan Whitman, former CEO of Baker Tilly, returns on Episode 242 of The Unique CPA to share the hard-won insights behind his new book, Break the Mold: How to Achieve Transformational Change, Scale and Grow Simultaneously. In a candid conversation with Randy Crabtree, Alan unpacks the real challenges of leading a firm through rapid growth and cultural reinvention, where trust and transparency mean e...

Dominic Piscopo didn't set out to disrupt the accounting world, he just wanted to know if he was being paid fairly. That simple question led him from pen-and-paper salary surveys at Deloitte to building Big 4 Transparency, a crowdsourced database now relied on by countless people in accounting. On Episode 241 of The Unique CPA, Dominic talks to Randy about how a weekend project snowballed into a v...

President and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society Geof Brown returns to The Unique CPA for Episode 240, bringing with him the results of a bold research initiative that set out to map the "readiness divide" between new accountants and their managers. Geof describes the moment when scattered frustrations from firm leaders, young professionals, and academics converged, prompting his team to launch a sur...

About a decade ago, Dr. Jackie Meyer hit a wall of exhaustion running her CPA firm, but she refused to hide behind the industry's mask of perfection. Diagnosed with chronic fatigue and juggling motherhood and her work responsibilities, she began to question the relentless pace and the culture of stoicism that define the profession. On her return to The Unique CPA for Episode 239, she explains that...

When Paul Peterson looks across his firm, he sees a new generation rewriting the rules. On Episode 238 of The Unique CPA, he joins Randy Crabtree to trace the ripple effects of Gen Z's arrival in accounting as young professionals who expect flexibility, are driven by their purpose, and challenge the status quo while setting new standards for everyone. Paul recounts how a twenty-something team memb...

Tara Whitney, CEO of White Birch Advisory, steps into the studio with a confession: she was drawn to accounting for its clear rules and right answers. But as the conversation unfolds, Tara reveals how the very habits that once defined her success, like perfectionism, self-reliance, and yes, rule-following, became obstacles as she rose to leadership. On Episode 237 of The Unique CPA, she and Randy...

When Bob Doyle stepped into the role of CEO at the Michigan Association of CPAs, the world shut down three weeks later. Instead of retreating, Bob drew on his background in engineering and association leadership to reimagine what it means to be a CPA. On Episode 236 of The Unique CPA, he tells Randy he subsequently borrowed a pair of white sunglasses, embraced the "Coolest Profession Around" mantr...

Lori Zukin's path began in a small-town family drugstore, where work and love blurred together behind the counter. Years later, after earning a PhD in industrial and organizational psychology, she found herself coaching leaders at Booz Allen Hamilton and, eventually, guiding the transformation of Baker Tilly's executive team. On Episode 235 of The Unique CPA , Lori shares how a single phone call,...

When the pandemic shuttered her thriving travel and Airbnb businesses overnight, Allanté Collier faced a crossroads, and she tells Randy all about that journey and more on Episode 234 of The Unique CPA. Instead of retreating, Allanté rebuilt from scratch, this time designing a business that could weather any storm. Sharing the hard-won lessons behind her "famine-proof" approach to operations and l...

Episode 233 of The Unique CPA centers on Dr. Kristy Short's raw account of living with anxiety, depression, and burnout throughout her 25-year accounting career. Kristy tells Randy about the origins of her struggles, from her first "spiral" in her 20s—marked by relentless work, academic pressure, and suicidal ideation—to her more recent breakdown in her 50s, which ultimately led to her writing her...

Erica Goode, the "15 Hour Accountant" and host of the Consultants & Money Podcast, joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 232 of The Unique CPA and proves you can build a thriving, six-figure accounting firm without sacrificing your life. From burnt out Big Four auditor and Fortune 50 finance director to solo firm owner, Erica now earns over $200K a year working just 15 hours a week. Having made intentio...

Small firms are facing a new era, and on Episode 231 of The Unique CPA, Randy sits down with Steve Shein, the co-founder of Franklin Alliance, to talk about a new partnership model in the profession. Steve shares his journey from capital markets to building a collaborative network that grants firms access to capital, while they maintain their independence. Franklin Alliance brings with it a vibran...

Forget everything you know about the billable hour. On Episode 230 of The Unique CPA, Randy Crabtree welcomes Chris Vanover, CEO of CPA Club, who's rewriting the rules of accounting with a subscription-based model and a bold focus on quality management. Learn how Chris and his team work directly with firms to tackle new compliance standards, champion work-life balance, and build a culture where ac...

Randy Crabtree welcomes John Jordan, a small firm owner from Raleigh, North Carolina, and fellow member of the Intuit Tax Council, for Episode 229 of The Unique CPA. John shares his journey from working at large and regional accounting firms to founding his own people-focused practice, where building lasting client relationships is at the heart of his business. Sales-oriented by nature, John enjoy...

What do accountants and NFL broadcasters have in common? More than you might think. The Unique CPA goes in an entirely different direction on Episode 228 to kick off the football season, with host Randy Crabtree joined by Jeff Joniak, the iconic voice of the Chicago Bears, for a conversation that's equal parts practical wisdom and behind-the-scenes storytelling. Jeff reflects on his journey to the...

Randy welcomes Hank Berkowitz, founder of HB Publishing and Marketing, for an insightful conversation on content, communication, and credibility in the accounting profession on Episode 227 of The Unique CPA. With over 25 years of experience helping CPAs and financial advisors amplify their voices, Hank shares practical strategies for building thought leadership, pitching stories to editors, and tu...

What happens when an IT pro with an entrepreneurial streak transforms a side hustle into a thriving accounting firm? On Episode 226 of The Unique CPA , Tony Proctor, founder and principal of Proctor & Associates, talks to Randy about how he built Proctor & Associates from the ground up, navigated the high-stakes acquisition of a legacy practice, and brought tech-driven innovation to traditional ac...

Episode 225 of The Unique CPA features Amy Franko, the author of the Amazon Bestseller The Modern Seller and a leading expert in sales strategy for professional services. Though covering a broad range of topics, Randy dives deep with Amy into the challenges and opportunities accounting firms face when building a strong sales and growth culture, noting that sales is often an afterthought in the pro...

Gail Perry, Editor-in-Chief of CPA Practice Advisor Magazine, joins Randy Crabtree on Episode 224 of The Unique CPA. Gail's fascinating four-decade career began as an aspiring musician, shifted to journalism, and ultimately led her to become a CPA, author of 34 books, and the owner of a small tax practice in Indianapolis. She shares stories of her early influences, her journey through diverse role...

Randy Crabtree welcomes Alex Drost, Managing Principal of Connection Builders, to discuss the evolving landscape of private equity in the accounting profession on Episode 223 of The Unique CPA. They delve into Alex's background in investment banking and his insights into how private equity is transforming accounting, and they spend time going over the increasing prevalence of PE-backed firms, the...

Courtney De Ronde, co-founder and CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting, joins Randy for Episode 222 of The Unique CPA . Courtney's groundbreaking approach to the accounting profession, with an emphasis on physical and mental well-being, efficiency, and a healthy work-life balance, takes center stage as she shares her journey from working nights and weekends to implementing practical st...

Randy Crabtree welcomes Nick Boscia, The Balanced CPA, to Episode 221 of The Unique CPA. Perhaps unsurprisingly considering that moniker, Nick, like Randy, is a big advocate of maintaining balance in your work and personal life, and they focus their discussion on using modernization and technology to improve that balance. Nick joined his father's CPA firm after several years at the Big Four and wh...

We have a very special Episode 220 of The Unique CPA for our listeners, focused on the massive changes brought about by the newly passed Reconciliation bill. Michael Warady moderates a discussion between Randy Crabtree and Phil Williams, and these Tri-Merit experts provide insights on immediate expensing for R&D, adjusting cost segregation strategy in light of permanent 100% bonus depreciation , t...

We're looking forward to Bridging the Gap 2025 at The Unique CPA, and on Episode 219, Randy sits down with Denise Thomas, founder of the Effective Communication Coach, about her journey into effective communication and leadership. With over two decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and educational institutions, Denise shares insights on the importance of effective communication...