Michael Meihaus, founder of Meihaus CPA, returns to CPA Life for episode two of this special series. John Randolph picks back up on Michael’s social media post of the 16 things he wishes he’d known when he started his accounting career, and Michael talks more about the lessons he learned from founding his own firm after ten years in public accounting. Of utmost importance is building relationships and having advocates both inside and outside your firm—an overarching framework. Within this framework, he stresses how vital it is to overcome imposter syndrome, to realize that the firm you work for will go on without you if you decide to leave, and to take any advice you receive with a thoughtful grain of salt.

Michael Meihaus started Meihaus CPA in 2022. He had many motivations, but a particularly unpleasant experience with a client where his wellbeing was pitted against the client’s dollars was among the major reasons. In part one of this special two part episode of CPA Life, Michael talks to John Randolph about the insights he’s gained in his ten years in accounting—things he knows now that he wishes he knew when he started. They include that imposter syndrome is common, even for senior managers, that firms should invest in interns and staff, that health and wellbeing don’t have to be pipe dreams within the accounting profession, and that as accounting continues to become more global, having an international outlook is of vital importance.