Journal of Accountancy Podcasts

On May 24 in New York, the AICPA and CPA.com hosted the inaugural ESG Symposium, bringing together a group of accounting leaders, investors, standard setters, and others to exchange ideas and perspectives on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. One presenter and a leader in the ESG field is Ami Beers, CPA, CGMA, senior director–Assurance and Advisory Innovation at the AICPA. In the episode, Beers explains the reasons for increased focus on ESG, what she took away from the symposium, and what’s coming next. She mentions several resources that can be found online. One good place to start is the AICPA’s ESG-focused resource page.

J’Maine Chubb, CPA, CGMA, studied avionics in high school and also took an interest in a law career. He followed a familial career path, however, becoming an accountant, and he discusses some of that journey in this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Chubb, now the CFO at TravelWifi, was previously CFO of the Houston Airport System, where he worked for almost six years. Read more about Chubb in the JofA’s Last Word feature from the May issue.

About three years ago on the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA, spoke about how to get over fearful moments in our careers. That topic is revisited in this episode, a follow-up conversation with Stevenson, now the chair of the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee. Stevenson talks about CPAs and their comfort zones and discusses some of the key points in her career journey. Also, get a summary of recent Journal of Accountancy coverage of a report on the IRS’s calculation of recovery rebate credit eligibility.

Amy Radin, the author of The Change Maker’s Playbook: How to Seek, Seed and Scale Innovation in Any Company, serves on the board of directors for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. She wrote for FM magazine on how CFOs can enable innovation in late 2020. And, in early 2021, Radin was a guest on the FM podcast to discuss establishing innovation metrics. Innovation and metrics are the topic for this episode, in which Radin talks about how innovation principles can play a role in an organization’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A) functions. In two weeks at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE 22, Radin is co-presenting with Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Engagement and Growth for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Burnout at work was a concern even before the COVID-19 pandemic quickly left so many people isolated. The components of burnout are heightened now, according to author Britt Andreatta, Ph.D., in a December interview. In this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, you can hear more about burnout and how it can affect overall mental health. Stefan van Duyvendijk, Accounting Operations Evangelist with FloQast, shares data about burnout among accountants, explains why some of us struggle to see the signs of burnout, and offers advice for managers.

How soon is too soon to have a debrief after busy season? And what should be the goal of such a debrief? Those topics are addressed in a special crossover episode with the AICPA Town Hall series. Hear three CPAs discuss the topic, how it’s applicable to more than tax season, and how firm leaders of different sizes approach the debrief. The full Town Hall episode is here, and the speakers in this segment are: Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, vice president–Firm Services at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants; Brandon Lagarde, CPA, director of the Tax Services Group at Postlethwaite & Netterville; and Brent Forbush, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of Forbush & Associates. The conversation is a follow-up to an article Lagarde and Forbush co-authored in early 2020 in The Tax Adviser. Also, learn about the IRS response to a TIGTA report that noted the IRS destroyed millions of unprocessed information returns.

This episode of the podcast focuses on a busy week in news and a story of finance transformation in action. Janis Parthun, CPA, and Steve McKechnie, leaders in RGP’s finance transformation practice, explain how a recent client engagement led to efficiencies for the client, a global food and beverage company, and lessons learned for RGP. Also, here are links to Journal of Accountancy articles mentioned in the news roundup: S. sanctions that include a ban on providing accounting and management consulting services to Russia. A TIGTA report on e-filing and the IRS. Puerto Rico residents get guidance on claiming the child tax credit. TQAs provide guidance on auditor reporting.

Because of their training and experience, CPAs are rightly considered the foremost providers of tax services to taxpayers. Some CPAs also serve the taxpaying public at large — with appreciation for Congress’s task to enact equitable tax laws and the IRS’s job to diligently and fairly administer them — by recommending improvements to both. They can do so in many ways, but in this episode, we’ll explore two paths: the AICPA’s volunteer tax committees and a council directly advising the IRS’s top leadership — from the experience of a longtime trailblazer, Jeff Porter, CPA.

Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, is one of two accounting firm leaders presenting at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE on where to begin when it comes to starting a technology-focused advisory practice. Client advisory services (CAS) are a growing opportunity for firms, so the presentation by Shimamoto and Liz Mason, CPA, is timely. In this episode, Shimamoto takes a look back — at how firms and CPAs in general worked to integrate technology — and a look ahead — to what advisory services could look like in the future.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s the focus of this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Kari Hipsak, CPA, CGMA, senior manager–Firm Services at the AICPA, explains why mental health matters to her and shares advice for how managers and organizations can better promote mental health of their staff. Several resources are mentioned in the episode: Hipsak’s interview about mental health on the What’s Your “And”? PCPS mental health resources. A recent Journal of Accountancy article on companies expecting to increase pay for employees.

Sean Stein Smith, CPA, CGMA, DBA, is speaking June 7 at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE on the blockchain ecosystem. Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are a part of that ecosystem. In this podcast episode, Stein Smith explains what NFTs are and aren’t, how baseball cards or other physical items can be “tokenized,” and more. Also, get an update on two recent IRS items, related to estate and gift tax proposed changes and the public input sought on prioritization of tax issues. Resources Here are three recent JofA articles about NFTs: NFTs Come With Big Valuation Challenges Tax Consequences of NFTs How NFTs Work and Where They Get Their Value

Sandi Matthews, CPA, CGMA, was ready for a new adventure when she was hired in 2018 as an accounting manager for not-for-profit Khan Academy. It was not just a new job she accepted — it was a role in a faraway location. Matthews helped to establish Khan Academy’s subsidiary in India in its early days. She’s now head of finance, and in this podcast episode, Matthews discusses the barriers she faced moving from North Carolina to New Delhi, advice for others considering an international assignment, and why she recommends visiting a new country as a resident instead of as a tourist.

Denise Dettingmeijer, CFO of Randstad North America, is part of a panel discussion at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June in Las Vegas. In this podcast episode, she previews the theme of that session and explains why having fellow CFOs “along the same part of the journey” is helpful. Dettingmeijer also shares advice on how professionals can get the most out of attending a conference. Also, here are links to other JofA coverage mentioned in the episode: Paul Bonner’s coverage of progress reported in Treasury’s equity action plan. Brannon Poe, CPA, on why converting to the cloud has advantages related to a firm’s exit strategy.

Jill Schlesinger, a CBS News business analyst, author, and podcast host, built her brand as a purveyor of financial advice in part through radio call-in shows. She’s a seasoned speaker on all things money and the guest on this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast. Schlesinger is slated to be an emcee at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June in Las Vegas, where she looks forward to hearing more about how accounting and finance professionals are adapting to “accelerants” related to the economy and office work. Schlesinger also explains more about how inflation may keep some people working or send some retirees back to work.

“If anybody wants to accomplish anything, at some point, they have to believe it’s possible.” Those are the words of this episode’s guest, mental performance coach Chris Palmer. He discusses why belief is important, how it can be confused at times with arrogance, and why growing a sense of belief in ourselves can be done. Also, get an update on several IRS-related issues, including an update to Schedule K-2 and Schedule K-3 FAQs and news of a Government Accountability Office report on the 2021 tax filing season.  

John Garrett is rarely at a loss for words. A former CPA turned stand-up comic, Garrett these days is a speaker, podcast host, and author, and he’s a repeat guest on the Journal of Accountancy podcast for good reason. This episode puts a 2022 spin on two previous discussion topics: advice for presenting to groups and the tie-in between outside passions and work. And make sure to listen to Garrett’s wardrobe story before packing for that in-person work meeting or conference. Also, hear a summary of news from the IRS commissioner’s testimony at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

Floyd Amuchie, CPA, has been the corporate controller at Virgin Galactic, the space travel company, for about a year. In this episode, Amuchie discusses his early fascination with astronomy, why the phrase “lift as you climb” is meaningful to him, what parenting a newborn was like during the pandemic, and why “invest” is part of his career advice to aspiring CPAs. Also, hear a summary of two recent news items related to the IRS: The IRS has eased the application process for U.S. residency certification. The IRS issued proposed regulations that would revise the premium tax credit’s affordability test.

CFOs and other finance leaders “are all on the same quest” to transform finance into more of a value partner, according to Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Engagement and Growth for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Hood’s 2021 conversations with finance leaders led to the formation of the Future of Finance Leadership Advisory Group, which continues to grow in numbers and share knowledge about what it will take to upskill its talent and transform the finance function. In this podcast episode, Hood shares insights coming from the group’s recent virtual meeting and explains the vision for 2025 and beyond.

Chris Ortega is speaking on multiple topics at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE in June. One topic is a guide for CFOs on people and process optimization. Ortega, CEO of the consulting firm Fresh FP&A and a regular speaker at financial planning and analysis events, delves into the critical role CFOs played at the start of the pandemic and why he says FP&A practices are evolving. Also, hear his advice about vulnerability and taking chances and more. Plus, get a summary of recent JofA news coverage on these topics: What companies are doing to recruit and retain employees. A closer look at how “SECURE 2.0” would expand retirement savings options. The obstacles faced by the Biden administration’s proposed billionaire minimum tax. New SEC rules proposed to help investors better understand SPACs.

Transformation of the audit goes beyond simply automating rote tasks, as Amy Pawlicki, vice president–Assurance and Advisory Innovation at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, explains in this episode.   She details some of the ways that audits can be more data driven while still complying with standards. The interview with Pawlicki is part four of a series on audit evolution in action. Here are links to the previous three parts: An introduction to the topic, including the key drivers of the transformation. A closer look at audit data analytics with two firm leaders. The importance of “digital mindset” in audit transformation.