Firms Need New Metrics, Accountants Worried About Iran

Can the accounting profession grow with fewer people? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack how AI is reshaping firms, from PwC Australia’s staffing cuts and rising partner pay to new questions about performance metrics, CPA pathways, and the future of CAS. They also cover the IRS’s tax season recap, tariff refunds, Deloitte’s fake AI citations, and why firms need better ways to measure value in an AI-driven world.

Sponsors
Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Wurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthy

Chapters

• (00:00) - Show kickoff and tax season
• (01:05) - Sponsor Digits AI bookkeeping
• (02:45) - IRS CEO tax season recap
• (06:18) - Direct File and enforcement debate
• (07:54) - Tariff refund portal CAPE
• (09:54) - IRS CI pulled to ICE then back
• (11:49) - CAS growth engine for firms
• (15:12) - New firm metrics beyond hours
• (24:02) - AI ROI metrics survey
• (25:30) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing and OnPay
• (29:45) - Rethinking Course Requirements
• (31:44) - States Drop 150 Hours
• (33:16) - Experience Sign Off Hurdles
• (33:59) - Geopolitical Risk Survey
• (35:25) - Deloitte Fake Citations
• (38:46) - Big Four Cuts and Pay
• (41:51) - Worthy Sponsor Break
• (43:23) - ARR Metric Trouble
• (48:37) - Shorter Contracts Shift
• (49:49) - Ilhan Omar Filing Error
• (53:18) - Wrap Up and Free CPE

Show Notes

IRS CEO Touts Successful Tax Season Despite Cutbacks

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-ceo-touts-successful-tax-season-despite-cutbacks

The CAPE Tariff Refund System Is Here — Are You Ready?

https://globaltrainingcenter.com/the-cape-tariff-refund-system-is-here-is-your-global-trade-team-ready/

IRS Shakes Up Leadership Ahead of Tax Season

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-shakes-up-leadership-ahead-of-tax-season

Looking to Grow Like a Top 100 Firm? Try CAS

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/looking-to-grow-like-a-top-100-firm-try-cas

Accounting Firms Need New Metrics for an Old Model

https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/accounting-firms-need-new-metrics-for-an-old-model

Only 18% of Organizations Track AI ROI

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/only-18-of-organizations-track-ai-roi

CPA Licensing Laws Are Constraining Accounting Firms in the AI Era

https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/accounting-firms-schools-must-craft-next-generations-future

Maryland Approves CPA Licensure Pathways Bill

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/maryland-approves-cpa-licensure-pathways-bill

Nevada Implements CPA Licensure Changes

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/nevada-implements-cpa-licensure-changes

Accountants Worried About War in Iran

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accountants-worried-about-war-in-iran

Accounting Watchdog to Investigate Deloitte Over Fake Citations in $1.6M Healthcare Report

https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/accounting-watchdog-to-investigate-deloitte-over-fake-citations-in-1-6-million-healthcare-report/

PwC Australia Profit Drops, But Fewer Partners Split the Pot

https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/pwc-australia-profit-drops-but-fewer-partners-split-the-pot

Deloitte US to Cut Benefits for Segment of Employees Amid Job Architecture Reshuffle

https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026/04/20/deloitte-us-to-cut-benefits-for-segment-of-employees-amid-job-architecture-reshuffle

What Is ARR? Behind the Least-Trusted Metric of the AI Era

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-07/what-is-arr-behind-the-least-trusted-metric-of-the-ai-era

AI Tools Are Upending Typical Software Contracts

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-25/ai-tools-are-upending-typical-software-contracts

Rep. Ilhan Omar Cites Accounting Error in $30 Million Financial Disclosure

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/18/rep-ilhan-omar-cites-accounting-error-30-million-financial-disclosure/

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