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Welcome to the CPA Life Podcast

The Public Accounting, Consulting and Advisory space is at a critical crossroad. 

After almost 150 years of “we’ve always done it that way” reasoning, the industry is facing a crisis like it never has before. 

Between a significant reduction in accounting graduates in the last decade, a firm ownership population that is at or fast approaching retirement age, a 150-hour requirement to sit for the exam which can add several thousand dollars to the already large debt load a graduate starts their career with – add to that the work hours expectations placed on employees by most large, national firms vs. adjacent industries offering more compensation, and it’s clear to see changes are a must! 

Join us here as we talk to industry insiders and firm leaders that are going against the grain and addressing many of these challenges head on while building forward-thinking, solutions-focused firms.

Like many of you, these firm leaders made the statement that most staff and senior associates have made over a beer or glass of wine after pulling an end-of-season all-nighter – “There’s Got To Be a Better Way!”

The difference?

These folks stepped out to find that BETTER WAY.  

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Our Latest Episodes

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Accounting
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CPA
culture
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firmdevelopment
firmmanagement
leadership
niche
remotework
remoteworking
staffing
Staffing
subscriptionmodel
valuebilling
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WorkLifeBalance

A Pioneer in Public Accounting: Looking Forward with James Rainwater

November 27, 2024

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.

Create True Culture and Watch Your Firm Excel with Jennifer Wilson

May 1, 2024

Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching returns for part 2 of her conversation with John Randolph on Episode 37 of CPA Life. She delves into the intricacies of employee motivation, hiring practices, and compensation in CPA firms, and they discuss the vital role culture plays in everything a firm does, from hiring, to acquisitions, to turnover. Jen highlights the importance of learning from cultural mistakes, with John pointing out the rose-colored glasses that certain clients and partnerships can impart. Jen, a member of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, encourages those in the accounting profession to have their say by completing the group’s survey, which closes May 3rd, 2024.

Steering Your Firm’s Ship: Future Transition with David Hartley

March 27, 2024

David Hartley joined Anders CPAs + Advisors when they were looking to establish an Advisory practice, demonstrating how even a large firm can “steer its ship” in an active, anticipatory way. David talks to John Randolph on Episode 34 of CPA Life in part 1 of their two part conversation about the strategic planning and growth of the Advisory practice under his watch, and David delves into how to have a forward-thinking approach, remote work experiences, and strategies for managing both remote and in-office work models. He touches on the future of the CPA profession, the importance of continuous learning, the impact of client relationships, and the importance of culling clients that are no longer a good fit for where your firm is today.

Caring for Your People: Creating a Culture with Randy Crabtree

January 17, 2024

Randy Crabtree is an Accounting Today Top 100 Influencer, the co-founder of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax, and the host of The Unique CPA podcast. On part one of a two part conversation, he joins John Randolph on Episode 29 of CPA Life to talk about the benefits of a niche focus within a firm and the good that comes from being intentional in creating a place people want to work. Related to these elements are allowing remote work, using value-based billing, and maintaining a strong company culture during a firm’s growth—one that makes people feel valued and like more than just a cog in a wheel.

Building a Remote Accounting Firm from the Ground Up with Zane Stevens

August 2, 2023

Zane Stevens co-founded Protea Financial, an accounting firm focused on the wine industry, and it was remote from the beginning. He talks to John Randolph on Episode 18 of CPA Life about how this allowed him to treat employees like adults and provide flexibility in their roles. He also emphasizes the benefits of niche focus, arguing that firms that try to be everything to everyone often underdeliver. Zane notes that communication is often the biggest challenge for remote teams, requiring purposeful structures and frequent adjustments. Still, he finds that remote work allows for more precise, focused conversations and improved productivity.

Contact

Benaiah Consulting Group
291 Private Road 5112
Grand Saline, Texas
Phone 903-962-2825
Email info@benaiahcg.com

Hours

Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm
Listen to our Podcast, CPA Life, at Libsyn
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