John Randolph dives deep into a discussion on reshaping the public accounting space with Chris Williams, owner and CEO of System Six, on Episode 68 of CPA Life. A remote, cloud-based accounting firm, System Six’s culture-driven, employee-focused environment serves as a model for balancing employees’ professional growth with their personal lives. They delve into the dynamics of private equity in professional services and as someone with a finance background, Chris has a unique perspective on the firm’s strategy for growth through both organic methods and strategic acquisitions. Ultimately, the episode underscores the importance of adapting management practices for a remote workforce in order to maintain employee satisfaction and client retention.

John Randolph concludes his conversation with Rob Brown of Accounting Influencers on Episode 67 of CPA Life. Focusing on talent and leadership in accounting from multiple perspectives, they delve into the need for entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of taking risks and overcoming the fear of judgment. They analyze the pandemic-induced shift to remote and hybrid working, noting that while it’s clearly better for the rank-and-file, it’s not without negatives, particularly the loss of mentorship and osmosis-style learning. They highlight the importance of intentionality and deliberate actions by leaders to maintain culture and productivity in the fact of this, touching on what a complex problem talent acquisition and retention is. The fact that a large proportion of acc

Join John Randolph for part 1 of his special two part interview with Rob Brown, the founder of Accounting Influencers, on Episode 66 of CPA Life. The concept of “story” figures heavily into their conversation about talent in the profession, highlighting the value of both personal and employer branding to drive better outcomes. Rob looks at the role of thought leadership as pivotal insofar as changing the paradigmatic, Big Four-oriented story that permeates the general perception of accounting, and they agree that there is a shared responsibility between individual accountants and firms that are making a difference in the space, to rebuild some of the lost trust and prestige accounting has lost in recent years.

Episode 65 of CPA Life is a particularly special episode—a re-broadcast of John Randolph’s appearance on Who’s Really The BOSS with Rachel and Marcus Dillon of Dillon Business Advisors! In this collaboration, John shares insights into the recruiting landscape in public accounting from his perspective as Principal at Benaiah Consulting, delving into what he sees as keys to healthy recruitment: work-life balance, a positive firm culture, flexible working arrangements, and decisive leaders, to name but a few. Rachel and Marcus recount their recent recruiting experience where they found going it on their own wasn’t working out, and they have been thrilled with their experience letting John and Benaiah handle things. John

John Randolph concludes his conversation with Allan Fisher of Premier Financial Search on Episode 64 of CPA Life. Delving into the evolving dynamics of the accounting profession, the two discuss how the competitive landscape has expanded beyond local firms to national competition, the advantage boutique firms have had as that landscape changed, and some of the myths surrounding accounting recruitment. Allan emphasizes that firms need to tell a compelling story, explores the challenges posed by private equity in the industry, and touches on talent shortages, offshoring, CPA credentialing issues, and strategies firms can adopt to retain top talent. Allan’s valuable insights on how firms can align better with market expectations are content you don’t want to miss.

Host John Randolph kicks off a special two part conversation with Allan Fisher, president and founder of Premier Financial Search, on Episode 63 of CPA Life. Continuing the theme of recruiting in the profession, they explore the ongoing transformation in public accounting, with a key focus for firms that wish to improve their talent pool being a sustainable, people-centric work culture. Allan’s “unconventionally conventional” path to recruiting did take him through work as an accountant, so as a recruiter, he is able to frame things “from the other side;” he discusses how firms that have adapted to retain talent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have seen better talent acquisition and lower turnover, emphasizing empathetic leadership and enhanced benefits, and stre

John Randolph delves into the evolving landscape of public accounting with Kerry Billington, Managing Partner at Spartan Placements, on Episode 62 of CPA Life. Kicking off a month-long series focused on perspectives in the recruiting space, their conversation highlights the significance of culture, flexible work environments, and the impact of private equity in the industry, as Kerry provides insights into recruiting trends, the role of AI, and strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in the profession. She emphasizes the need for transparency, autonomy, and the right work-life balance to keep professionals engaged and fulfilled, with a simple, unifying theme: That listening to what people want is the best thing you can do to land the workforce you need.

The concluding part two of John Randolph’s conversation with Chris Johnson awaits on this special Episode 61 of CPA Life. Expanding his thoughts on accountability and “extreme ownership,” Chris discusses the challenges inherent in self-reflection and holding oneself and one’s firm to a higher standard. Given the significance of not tolerating poor performance and attitudes within teams, the ability to self-reflect is paramount. Chris also introduces his firm’s unique “Spark of Joy” initiative, where employees and even clients are given money to enable them to perform acts of kindness in the community. The pair conclude by delving into the importance of integrating AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney into business processes to enhance productivity and creativity.

Continuing the momentum of the new Season 3 of CPA Life is this special two part conversation between John Randolph and Chris Johnson, CEO of CJ CPAs in San Antonio, Texas. Chris started his career in a way typical of many accounting professionals, with a spell in the Big Four and with a local firm before being presented with an unusual opportunity that ultimately led to him founding CJ CPAs. And although many firms claim to value their employees, be committed to work-life balance and innovative practices, and so forth, Chris has proven they mean what they say, with an offered 50K sign-on bonus (the highest publicly known bonus in American accounting history) being one such indicator that they do things a little bit differently. Tune in for part one of this conversation with in

We return to part two of our special 2025 kickoff Episode 58 of CPA Life as John Randolph “switches sides” to be interviewed by producer Justin Grant. Focusing on evolving definitions of career success and the need for firms to offer flexible, individualized opportunities to retain talent, John goes deeper in exploring the impact of remote work, its relationship to proactive hiring practices, and the need for smaller firms to leverage their agility to compete with larger firms. Although such firms face challenges in attracting and retaining talent, John’s insights into their ethos and the competitive advantages it actually provides them is content you do not want to miss as you plan for strategy for the coming year and beyond. 

John Randolph “sits on the other side of the studio” on this special two-part Season 3 kickoff episode of CPA Life. With hosting duties accounted for by producer Justin Grant of ProfessionalProductions.net, John delves into the challenges firms will face in 2025 and beyond, such as losing key talent, increased competition and specialization in the profession, and the need for technological adaptation. Highlighting the importance of embracing remote work and modern recruitment strategies to attract and retain top talent, John also explores the potential and mindset of new entrants into the profession, marking an optimistic view of the future—at least, for those firms willing to do what it takes!

Season’s Greetings from CPA Life! Today, we look back at one of John Randolph’s most impactful conversations of 2024, where he was joined by accounting legend Ron Baker of VeraSage. The two delved deep into the groundbreaking topics of value and subscription-based pricing and client advisory services. The author of eight books, Ron’s extensive writings, keynote speeches and general advocacy on these and other topics are distilled down in this Rewind episode. Tune in to discover Ron and John’s insights on niche expertise, the value of transformations over transactional services, and strategies for retaining talent in your firm while enhancing client relationships.

John Randolph sits down with Roman Villard, co-founder of Full Send Finance, on Episode 56 of CPA Life. Sharing his journey from finance major to starting his own firm, Roman emphasizes the importance of a culture-forward approach and how that has helped Full Send shoot out of the blocks, growing from zero to 12 full-time employees in just over two years. Highlighting the need for technology to attract and retain talent, Roman dives into things that have given Full Send cross-generational appeal, such as work-life balance, which is achieved in large part through hybrid working, and the significance of creating a resonant brand narrative. Touching on so many vital aspects that can make or break the success of your own firm, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Join host John Randolph on Episode 55 of CPA Life, as he talks to James Rainwater, founder of RainwaterCPA, about his journey and unique approach to public accounting. James discusses his non-traditional career path, how he ultimately discovered he prefers the public accounting space over private, and the evolution of his fully remote firm, which is in its second iteration after James founded a much more traditionally focused firm over 20 years ago. Emphasizing the benefits of a nationwide client base, subscription-based pricing, and intentional communication within a geographically dispersed team, James also shares insights on incorporating social media for client acquisition and the importance of flexibility in building a successful, people-focused CPA firm.

Eric Joern started his accounting career at James Hamlin & Co., a traditional firm founded in the 1960s in Antioch, Illinois, right out of college. He joins John Randolph on Episode 54 of CPA Life to talk about his role in transforming that firm into Kaizen CPAs and Advisors, where he now serves as Partner. Doing away with traditional CPA practices to focus on team wellbeing, sustainability, and national impact, Eric shares his journey, the firm’s rebranding efforts, and strategies for maintaining a balanced work environment. With a roughly 50/50 split between in-office and remote workers, systems and processes are key to Kaizen’s success, and maintaining cultural cohesion within the firm, a top priority, highlighting the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and supp

John Randolph talks with Kelly Rohrs, owner and founder of Kelly A. Rohrs CPA, who shares her journey to building a sustainable and flexible accounting firm, on Episode 53 of CPA Life. Having been recognized by CPA Practice Advisors on their Top 40 Under 40 list, Kelly discusses her transition from a traditional firm to launching her own practice amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, implementing modern software solutions, and the importance of community in helping you navigate your journey, especially so you don’t end up bringing all the bad habits and inefficient processes over to your own venture. In order to grease the skids for accounting firm owners to do just that, Kelly established Fiscal Minds to help accountants network and

Dominic Piscopo’s journey in accounting started at a Big Four firm in Canada, where he discovered his firm was paying its employees well below the average in his area. He talks to John Randolph on Episode 52 of CPA Life about how that experience, among others, led to him launching Big 4 Transparency, a platform which tracks salary data in the profession. Although Big 4 Transparency started as a community project, Dom has transformed it into a full-time venture, and he talks about what he feels is his social responsibility to supply this information for free to the community while taking on firm clients who want to understand where their offerings stand in the marketplace. Underscoring the strategic use of timely data to attract and retain talent, Dom talks about how transpare

Chris Papin returns to CPA Life’s Episode 51 for Part 2 of his conversation with host John Randolph. Their discussion shifts focus towards effective communication, training, and adapting to new technologies in accounting firms. Touching on the challenge inherent in teaching communication skills in a technical field like accounting, Chris stresses the importance of aligning that pedagogy with both internal and client expectations. But underscoring everything, most importantly, is the human element, something that cannot and will not ever be provided by the tech tools that accountants nevertheless need to adopt. Indeed, fostering those connections has been made easier through technology, and they will be more important than ever as the profession continues to evolve.

CPA Life’s 50 episode milestone marks the beginning of a conversation between John Randolph and Chris Papin, owner and founder of Papin CPA in Edmond, Oklahoma. Discussing the transition from traditional to modern CPA practices, Chris prioritizes sustainability, employee well-being, and client needs. He shares insights into his firm’s growth, innovation in technology, and the challenges of balancing technical skills with client-facing roles. Looking to flexibility as a way to bridge those areas, Chris has looked to unorthodox schedules, remote work, and offshoring as solutions as he’s overseen his payroll doubling in size. Don’t miss part 1 of this two part discussion on how embracing modern practices and technological advancements can help you foster a successful firm th

Veteran accounting journalist and consultant Seth Feinberg rejoins John Randolph for part two of their conversation on Episode 49 of CPA Life. They pick back up on the closing theme of the first episode, that accounting’s image problem is largely self-made, and changes need to be made to solve the pipeline issues and other pressing matters within the profession at the macro level. Seth also touches on more focused topics: purposeful marketing in the social media age, the importance of firm culture, and the necessity of stressing the value accountants bring to their clients. The thread throughout Seth’s insights is one of authenticity and trust: Two things that are vital in ensuring any individual accountant’s—or any firm’s—success in the market.

Seth Fineberg spent more than 20 years as an accounting journalist before founding Accountants Forward and consulting with professionals looking to improve their firm and career prospects. He and host John Randolph engage in part one of a dynamic conversation on Episode 48 of CPA Life, centered around going beyond raw numbers and looking at the reality of the landscape in public accounting. Emphasizing the need for cultural change and the importance of work-life balance, Seth highlights the profession’s shift towards more holistic development, including mental health and leadership, a shift which John states had to happen given the unique environment younger generations have grown up in. Seth makes conferences a focal point, Bridging the Gap in particular, which is where he p

Part 2 of John Randolph’s special episode featuring Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway of Upstream Academy and the Upstream Leader Podcast continues, as the trio pick up their discussion of intentionality, a theme which runs through so many threads in the accounting profession. Intentionality is central to their discussions about creating firm culture, the value of deliberate planning, and the importance of effective mentorship. They emphasize that meaningful relationships and culture require intentional effort, even in a post-pandemic, hybrid work environment, also highlighting the importance of focusing on the right work, the right clients, and the right leadership style, best achieved through coaching and feedback. Among the ways to implement these themes successfully is by maintaini

Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway of Upstream Academy and The Upstream Leader Podcast join host John Randolph to discuss innovation and sustainable careers in public accounting on Episode 46, part one of a special two part episode. As influential thought leaders with more than a quarter of a century of accounting experience between them, Jeremy and Heath stress the importance of intentional leadership, creating a vision and culture that you actually stick to, and fostering a sense of community within your firm. John brings insights that connect with his Talent + Advisory offering, particularly focusing on the need for intentionality in leadership. They all emphasize how important it is for leaders to take ownership, be purposeful, and connect with their teams to drive engagement and succ

Episode 45 of the CPA Life Podcast features Anshul Chawla, Director of Corporate Development at Chawla & Chawla, PC, in conversation with John Randolph about his journey through public accounting and private equity. From working at Big Four firms and a private equity firm to returning to his family-run CPA firm after experience gained there as a child, Anshul discusses modernizing the firm, enhancing employee experience, the value of communication, and integrating younger talent. He also provides insights on navigating the influx of private equity into the profession, emphasizing the importance of maintaining firm culture amidst the potential for such rapid growth and change.