The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast

Эпизоды

• 
  How the 2026 IPA 100 Changed the Firm Model: INSIDE the IPA 500 11.08.2026 23мин

  This episode is brought to you by Bill.com. Learn how Bill can help your firm automate financial operations at Bill.com/IPA, where IPA listeners can access an exclusive offer.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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.The 2026 IPA 100 data shows a profession in transition. Many strategies that once looked experimental are becoming standard practice.In the second episode of INSIDE the IPA 500, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown examine five-year trends shaping IPA’s Top 100 firms, including slower organic growth, accelerating M&A, private equity investment, offshoring and the continued expansion of advisory services.They also explore what separates the IPA 100’s most profitable firms and preview what’s ahead as the series turns to firms ranked No. 101 through No. 500.View the complete 2026 IPA 500 rankings and learn more about IPA’s benchmarking and analysis at insidepublicaccounting.com.
• 
  INSIDE the IPA 500: Meet the 2026 Rankings 04.08.2026 17мин

  This episode is brought to you by Poe Group Advisors.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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.Welcome to INSIDE the IPA 500, our new series exploring the data, trends and firms shaping the accounting profession.Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown kick off the series by breaking down the newly released 2026 IPA 500 rankings, highlighting the year's biggest climbers, new IPA 100 entrants, notable acquisitions and the trends reshaping the profession.Among the biggest takeaways:Thirty-five firms from last year's IPA 500 were acquired.Every new IPA 100 entrant is backed by private equity.Nine of the 10 fastest-growing firms are private equity-backed.Organic growth slowed while acquisition-driven growth accelerated.Whether your firm made the rankings, is working toward them or simply wants to understand where the profession is headed, this episode provides the context behind this year's biggest moves.View the complete 2026 IPA 500 rankings and learn more about IPA’s benchmarking and analysis at insidepublicaccounting.com.
• 
  From Perception to Action: Rewriting the Story of Accounting 28.07.2026 35мин

  This episode is brought to you by Bill.com. Learn how Bill can help your firm automate financial operations at Bill.com/ipa, where IPA listeners can access an exclusive offer.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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.What does it take to move from diagnosing accounting’s talent challenges to actually fixing them? In the finale of IPA’s Rewriting the Story of Accounting series, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown turn the conversation into a practical action plan for firm leaders.They discuss why firms should improve the employee experience before rewriting their recruiting materials, how AI and offshore capacity can create more meaningful early-career work and why unanswered candidate questions should be treated as strategic feedback.They also explore promotion transparency, internships, earlier student outreach, local pipeline development and the role firms, associations and individuals can play in changing the profession’s story.Learn more about INSIDE Public Accounting: https://insidepublicaccounting.com
• 
  What the Next Generation Wants from Accounting Firms 21.07.2026 28мин

  This episode is brought to you by Bill.com. Learn how Bill can help your firm automate financial operations at Bill.com/IPA, where IPA listeners can access an exclusive offer.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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.What do accounting students and emerging professionals want from their careers?In the fourth episode of this five-part series on rewriting the story of accounting, Rob Brown speaks with Alex Romero, director of CPA Pipeline at AICPA, about how the next generation views the profession and what firms can do to attract and retain future CPAs.Romero discusses the appeal of accounting as a stable, flexible career, as well as persistent concerns about long hours, the CPA exam and the effects of AI. She also explains why firms need to communicate career paths more clearly, give emerging professionals greater visibility into advancement opportunities and create space for employees to influence how work gets done.Learn more about INSIDE Public Accounting: https://insidepublicaccounting.com
• 
  Rewriting the Story of Accounting: Culture in Transition 14.07.2026 17мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.Busy season. Burnout. Unclear career paths. For many accountants, these realities defined the profession for decades.In the third episode of season two, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown continue Rewriting the Story of Accounting. They discuss how firms are rethinking the employee experience through more balanced workloads, advisory services, greater flexibility, transparency and AI adoption — and why these changes matter for retention and the future of the profession.Follow the podcast for future episodes as we continue exploring the trends shaping the accounting profession.Learn more about INSIDE Public Accounting: https://insidepublicaccounting.com
• 
  How Accounting Leaders Build Visibility and Trust 09.07.2026 23мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.Doing great work has always been the foundation of a successful accounting career. But in today's profession, technical excellence alone isn't enough.In this bonus episode of The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, Rob Brown explores why visibility has become a competitive advantage for accounting professionals. As AI reshapes technical work and firms compete more aggressively for talent and clients, the professionals who stand out are often those whose expertise is known, trusted and remembered.Rather than encouraging accountants to become influencers, Rob reframes personal branding as the intentional process of building trust and sharing expertise. He explains why visibility matters at every stage of a career, how firm leaders can strengthen culture and recruiting through their own presence and what practical steps professionals can take to build a reputation that creates opportunities over time.Learn more about INSIDE Public Accounting: https://insidepublicaccounting.com
• 
  The Perception Gap: Why Accounting Has a Story Problem 07.07.2026 13мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE.The accounting profession has spent years talking about the talent pipeline challenge. But what if the real issue starts earlier?In the first episode of season two, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown kick off IPA's new series, Rewriting the Story of Accounting. Their conversation spans everything from outdated stereotypes to overlooked career opportunities, exploring how accounting has evolved and why the profession needs to do a better job communicating the value, variety and long-term opportunities it offers.They also preview what's ahead in this five-part series, including conversations on firm culture, personal branding and the future of talent in public accounting.Follow the podcast for future episodes as we continue exploring the trends shaping the accounting profession.Learn more about INSIDE Public Accounting at: https://insidepublicaccounting.com.
• 
  What's Next for INSIDE Public Accounting? 02.07.2026 13мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEOne year ago, we hit record and hoped someone would listen.In this special episode, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers reflect on the first year of the INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, the conversations that resonated most and the lessons learned along the way.They discuss memorable episodes, listener feedback and the impact of creating a space for honest conversations about the accounting profession.The episode also offers a preview of Season Two, including deeper multi-part series on the profession's perception gap, the IPA 500, practice management trends, Best of the Best firms, talent challenges and the future of accounting.Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared an episode and helped shape the conversation. Season Two starts next week.
• 
  Advisory Is an Identity, Not a Service Line 30.06.2026 27мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEAdvisory continues to dominate conversations about the future of public accounting, but what does it actually take to make the shift?In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, Chelsea Summers sits down with Matt Rampe, partner at Rosenberg Associates, to discuss findings from IPA's recent advisory survey and what firms are getting right and wrong about advisory growth.Matt shares why advisory is not a guaranteed path to higher margins, how firms should evaluate new service offerings and why partner compensation, governance and culture all play critical roles in successful transformation. The conversation also explores the impact of AI, client experience and strategic planning as firms prepare for a rapidly changing profession.If your firm is serious about growing advisory services, this episode offers practical guidance for turning broad ambitions into measurable action.Learn more about INSIDE Public Accounting at: https://insidepublicaccounting.com
• 
  Special Repost: Chelsea Summers Joins Accounting Voices' AI Reality in Firms Series 25.06.2026 11мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEChelsea Summers joins Rob Brown's Accounting Voices podcast for a practical conversation about how AI is reshaping accounting firms.Drawing on data from IPA's practice management and technology surveys, Chelsea shares where firms are seeing real change, what leaders are still getting wrong and what may separate leading firms from the rest by 2027.Topics include the future of pricing, AI training, leadership responsibility, change management and why investing in people may be the most important AI decision a firm can make.If you're looking for a realistic discussion about AI adoption inside accounting firms, this episode delivers insights grounded in data, not hype.
• 
  Why Hourly Billing No Longer Works 23.06.2026 45мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEFor decades, hourly billing has been the foundation of the accounting profession. But as AI accelerates efficiency and firms continue expanding advisory services, many leaders are questioning whether the traditional pricing model still works.In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Michelle Golden-River, founder of Fore LLC, about the evolution of pricing inside CPA firms and why worth-based pricing is gaining attention across the profession.The conversation explores why firms struggle to move away from hourly billing, how pricing models shape firm culture and operations and why AI is putting pressure on firms to rethink the relationship between time and revenue. Michelle also shares practical advice on scope management, client communication and how firms can begin experimenting with new pricing approaches without overhauling everything overnight.Throughout the episode, Michelle offers a grounded perspective on the mindset shifts, leadership and confidence required to modernize pricing in today’s accounting environment.
• 
  Advisory Reality, AI Results and the Metrics That Matter 16.06.2026 21мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEIn this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers unpack key findings from the June IPA Insights Report.They discuss early practice management survey results, including slowing growth, rising technology investments and an unexpected decline in advisory revenue. They also explore findings from a joint advisory survey with Rosenberg Associates, revealing that talent and partner alignment, not client demand, are the biggest barriers to advisory growth.The conversation examines rapidly growing niche practice areas, the current reality of AI adoption, overlooked KPI metrics such as net revenue retention and concerning succession planning trends across firms.Whether you're evaluating advisory services, considering niche specialization or preparing your firm for leadership transitions, this episode provides practical insights grounded in IPA's latest data.Learn more and order the IPA Insights Hot Topics Report at: https://insidepublicaccounting.com/about/ipa-quarterly-insights/
• 
  The Confidence Gap in Advisory Services 09.06.2026 40мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEAdvisory services continue to be one of the biggest growth opportunities for firms, but many firms are still struggling to scale them effectively. In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Eric Eager, CEO and co-founder of 4impactdata, about the “confidence gap” that may be holding firms back. The conversation explores why advisory work feels different from traditional compliance services, how AI is changing the pace of learning inside firms and why many professionals hesitate to make forward-looking recommendations. Eric also discusses the growing importance of human guidance in an increasingly automated environment and explains how emerging technologies like decision intelligence may help firms scale advisory while also accelerating staff development. Throughout the episode, Eric shares practical advice for firm leaders looking to strengthen client relationships, improve confidence across teams and rethink the role of CPA firms in the future business landscape.
• 
  A First Look at Early Data from the 2026 IPA Survey 04.06.2026

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEWhat are the latest numbers telling us about the accounting profession?In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Sarah Noonan joins Chelsea Summers to discuss preliminary findings from the 2026 IPA Practice Management Survey. With more than 350 firms already participating, the early data offers a glimpse into some of the profession’s biggest trends.The conversation explores slowing revenue growth, rising technology investments, increasing profitability and continued shifts away from traditional hourly billing. Chelsea also shares insights into turnover, advisory services and the impact of AI on firm operations and pricing strategies.While the data is still preliminary, the discussion highlights where firms appear to be gaining momentum and where important questions remain unanswered.For firm leaders looking to benchmark their performance and better understand where the profession may be headed, this episode offers an early look at the trends shaping public accounting today.
• 
  Designing a Firm for the Future 02.06.2026 31мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEWhat does it actually look like to build an accounting firm designed for the future?In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Rachel Farris, CPA, founder of a boutique advisory firm and TaxStack AI, about specialization, talent, pricing, AI adoption, and the evolving narrative around accounting careers.Rachel shares why narrowing a firm’s focus can strengthen client relationships and reduce operational friction, how firms can rethink hiring and onboarding, and why the profession’s talent challenges are about more than compensation alone.The conversation also explores fixed-fee pricing, responsible AI adoption, and the importance of building firms around flexibility, curiosity, and people-first leadership.Rachel offers a candid perspective on what accounting firms may need to rethink over the next decade: From the way they recruit talent to the way they define value for both employees and clients.
• 
  Is Your Governance Built for What’s Ahead? (Part 2) 26.05.2026 24мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEIn part two of this conversation, Rob Brown continues the discussion with Gary Thomson and David Bundy on one of the biggest challenges facing accounting firms today: governance that no longer fits the complexity of the modern firm.The conversation explores the warning signs of outdated governance structures, why consensus-driven decision making can slow firms down and how leaders can navigate the difficult transition from partner-led management to more scalable leadership models.Gary and David share practical insights on accountability, trust, change management and the importance of aligning governance with the firm’s future strategy. They also discuss why governance isn’t just a compliance exercise, it’s a foundational element that either enables or limits growth, innovation, and succession planning.For managing partners and firm leaders asking whether their current structure is ready for what’s ahead, this episode offers a candid and practical perspective on where to start.
• 
  Is Your Governance Built for What’s Ahead? (Part 1) 19.05.2026 27мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEGovernance may sound like a back-office topic, but it directly impacts how firms grow, compete and make decisions. In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Rob Brown sits down with Gary Thomson and David Bundy of Thompson Consulting to discuss why governance has become one of the most important conversations in the profession today. The conversation explores how governance affects everything from decision-making speed and succession planning to M&A activity, technology investments and leadership development. Gary and David explain why many firms are realizing that the structures which worked in the past may not support the pace and complexity of today’s accounting environment. They also discuss the importance of having the right people making key decisions, why governance should evolve alongside firm strategy, and how firms can stay competitive while preserving the culture and values that made them successful. For managing partners and firm leaders navigating growth and change, this episode offers practical insight into what governance really means and why it matters more than ever.
• 
  From Reactive to Intentional: What’s Emerging Across the Profession 14.05.2026 10мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPEConference season is underway, and Chelsea Summers is sharing the conversations that are surfacing across the accounting profession, not just on stage, but in hallways, dinners, and between sessions.In this solo bonus episode, Chelsea breaks down five themes showing up repeatedly across firms this year: a more mature approach to consolidation and private equity, AI moving beyond experimentation into practical application, the growing pressure to rethink traditional firm metrics, the structural barriers holding advisory growth back, and a talent market that’s finally beginning to stabilize.Rather than reacting to constant change, firms are starting to make more deliberate decisions about how they want to grow, structure their teams, and define success in the years ahead.If you’re a firm leader thinking about culture, technology, advisory, or the future of your business model, this episode offers a grounded look at where the profession stands today, and where it may be headed next.
• 
  Benefits That Matter: Rethinking the Employee Experience 12.05.2026 24мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPECompensation matters, but it’s no longer enough.In this episode, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown break down new insights from the 2025 IPA HR Report to explore what’s really driving recruitment and retention in today’s talent market.From remote work and flexibility to parental leave, mentoring and overlooked benefits like elder care, the conversation highlights where firms are meeting expectations and where they’re falling short.What used to be considered “progressive” is now table stakes. And firms that continue to treat flexibility and work-life balance as perks, not fundamentals, are making unintentional retention decisions.The good news? Some of the most impactful changes don’t require big budgets. Small, intentional moves like summer hours, stay interviews and better communication can significantly improve the employee experience.If your firm is still trying to solve retention with compensation alone, this episode offers a practical reset.
• 
  The True Cost of Losing Your Best People 05.05.2026 24мин

  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: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPETurnover may be down, but the real cost hasn’t disappeared.In this episode, we break down what most firms miss when they think about turnover. While recruiting fees and open seats are easy to track, the biggest impacts are often invisible: lost productivity, strained teams and fragile client relationships.Using IPA data, we explore three lenses: financial, cultural and client impact, to show how turnover quietly reshapes firm performance. From six-month ramp-up periods to institutional knowledge walking out the door, the numbers and consequences add up quickly.We also discuss why firms consistently underestimate these costs and what the firms who are getting it right are doing differently. The takeaway: turnover isn’t just a staffing issue, it’s a signal about how your firm operates.If you haven’t calculated the true cost of losing a senior manager, this episode will likely change how you think about retention investments.