Episode 30: Beer, sports and the 5 steps to stand out as an accountant with Tyler Skelton

In this week's Future of Accounting podcast episode, I chat with Tyler Skelton, the Business Development Manger for the Pacific Northwest at Roger CPA Review. 

In this episode, you will learn:

1. The biggest mistakes college students and emerging leaders make in their accounting career
2. How Twitter helped Tyler land his job and how social media can help you stand out in the profession
3. Tyler's five steps for standing out as an accountant

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Roger CPA Review
2. Tyler's LinkedIn
3. Connect with Tyler on Twitter

This episode is brought to you by Avalara.

In this week's Future of Accounting podcast episode, I chat with Tyler Skelton, the Business Development Manger for the Pacific Northwest at Roger CPA Review.  In this episode, you will learn: The biggest mistakes college students and emerging leaders make in their accounting career How Twitter helped Tyler land his job and how social media can help you stand out in the profession Tyler's five steps for standing out as an accountant Resources mentioned in this episode: Roger CPA Review Tyler's LinkedIn Connect with Tyler on Twitter This episode is brought to you by Avalara.

Episode 29: Indirect Tax Trends Part II with Scott Peterson from Avalara

In this week's episode, Scott Peterson, Director of Governmental Affairs at Avalara, provides more insight on the future of indirect tax. You can check out Part I of this conversation on Episode 28 with Marshal Kushniruk.

 In this episode, you will learn:

1. Scott Peterson's depth of experience with indirect tax regulations
2. Is Twix a candy or cookie? And why this makes it so hard for states' to change their tax policies 
3. Trends that accountants should pay attention to

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Avalara
2. Avalara's sales tax blog
3. Scott's LinkedIn

In this week's episode, Scott Peterson, Director of Governmental Affairs at Avalara, provides more insight on the future of indirect tax. You can check out Part I of this conversation on Episode 28 with Marshal Kushniruk.  In this episode, you will learn: Scott Peterson's depth of experience with indirect tax regulations Is Twix a candy or cookie?

Episode 28: Indirect tax trends and the opportunities it presents for accountants with Marshal Kushniruk

In this week's Future of Accounting podcast episode, I chat with Marshal Kushniruk the EVP of Global Business Development for Avalara.

In this episode, you will learn:

1. Why technology is impacting indirect tax regulations.
2. The global trends within indirect tax regulations. Specifically within Brazil, India and the United States. 
3. How you can take full advantage of these shifts to create lucrative career opportunities.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Avalara
2. Background on the Quill vs. North Dakota sales tax ruling
3. Marshal's LinkedIn

In this week's Future of Accounting podcast episode, I chat with Marshal Kushniruk the EVP of Global Business Development for Avalara. In this episode, you will learn: Why technology is impacting indirect tax regulations. The global trends within indirect tax regulations.

Episode 27: How to land a job at a Top 100 firm after college with Terry Pierce

In this episode, Terry Pierce shares the key steps every college student needs to take to land an awesome job at a Top 100 accounting firm.

Terry Pierce began his career as part of the audit staff at Arthur Anderson. As an auditor, he traveled around throughout Asia. He then worked for Ernst & Young as the National Diversity Recruiter before taking his current role, Regional Recruiting Manager for Moss Adams- a Top 100 accounting firm.

In this episode, you will learn the seven core characteristics recruiters are looking for in college students, resume tips and how to put your best foot forward during the interview.

In this episode, Terry Pierce shares the key steps every college student needs to take to land an awesome job at a Top 100 accounting firm. Terry Pierce began his career as part of the audit staff at Arthur Anderson. As an auditor, he traveled around throughout Asia.

Episode 26: Culture and Cybersecurity with Ranica Arrowsmith

On this week's Future of Accounting episode, we chat with Accounting Today's Technology Editor, Ranica Arrowsmith. 

Based in New York, Ranica keeps a close eye on the research that Big 4 firms are doing within blockchain and emerging technology platforms. In her words, blockchain and its impact is "not here yet" within accounting firms. Once it is, it will have a profound impact on cybersecurity and the role of the accountant.

So, what does this mean for accountants? Ranica believes blockchain, and other technological advances, will require accountants to get really good at being human. 

In this episode, Ranica shares with us:

1. Blockchain and it's role in cybersecurity
2. The trends she is seeing within firms as it relates to work-life balance for their employees 
3. Why being human is the #1 skill an accountant needs to learn

On this week's Future of Accounting episode, we chat with Accounting Today's Technology Editor, Ranica Arrowsmith.  Based in New York, Ranica keeps a close eye on the research that Big 4 firms are doing within blockchain and emerging technology platforms. In her words, blockchain and its impact is "not here yet" within accounting firms. Once it is, it will have a profound impact on cybersecurity and the role of the accountant.

Episode 25: Blockchain and Emerging Platforms with Amanda Wilkie

Amanda Wilkie is widely regarded within the profession as a blockchain and emerging platforms expert.

As the former Chief Information Officer for a Top 20 firm, she redefined the role of Information Technology within the organization and transformed a disengaged IT team into a proactive task force of strategic business partners capable of supporting projected 67% revenue growth to $250M.

Now as a consultant for Boomer Consulting, she advises accounting firms on how to best leverage technology.

In this episode, Amanda shares with us:

1. Why and how technology is changing the accounting professional's role
2. The steps you need to take to thrive in your career
3. Her #1 tip for building a successful career as an accounting professional

This episode is brought to you by Avalara.

Amanda Wilkie is widely regarded within the profession as a blockchain and emerging platforms expert. As the former Chief Information Officer for a Top 20 firm, she redefined the role of Information Technology within the organization and transformed a disengaged IT team into a proactive task force of strategic business partners capable of supporting projected 67% revenue growth to $250M.

Episode 24: Step by step guide to become partner with Judy Vorndran

This week's guest on the Future of Accounting podcast is Judy Vorndran. Based in Colorado, Judy is a partner at Tax Ops, a Inc. 5000 member and named one of the best firms to work for by Accounting Today.  

Over the years, Judy has built her brand as the go-to state and local tax accountant for Colorado-based businesses. Prior to becoming partner, she worked for a number of Big 4 firms and a regional firm. While at the regional firm, she grew their SALT division from zero to over 1000 clients, and from one employee (herself!) to thirteen!

As partner, she has helped TaxOps grow their SALT services and create an environment that promotes collaboration and work-life balance.

In this episode, Judy shares with us:

1. Why technology is the key ingredient in building a successful firm
2. Specific techniques on how to communicate your value to clients and managers. In fact, one year, Judy negotiated a 40% raise using these techniques!
3. How to decide if the Big 4 is a good fit for you
4. The skills you need to move up the corporate ladder 
5. Why you need to learn how to be a revenue raiser not a cost center for your firm and your clients!

This week's guest on the Future of Accounting podcast is Judy Vorndran. Based in Colorado, Judy is a partner at Tax Ops, a Inc. 5000 member and named one of the best firms to work for by Accounting Today.   Over the years, Judy has built her brand as the go-to state and local tax accountant for Colorado-based businesses.

Episode 23: Keeping up with innovation as an accountant with James Solomons

This week's guest on the Future of Accounting podcast is James Solomons. Based in Australia, he is the the co-founder and managing partner of an accounting practice, the CFO for a publicly listed company and the Head of Accounting for Xero. Wow, he wears a lot of hats!

But, his favorite hat is being a mentor to up and coming leaders within the accounting profession. He is an guest speaker and educator at a number of universities and has been blogging about the shift within the profession since 2009. In fact, just before he started blogging, James felt stuck and uninspired as an accountant, and was ready to leave the profession all together.

In this episode, James shares with us:

1. Why there is a disconnect between University education and the real-world for accountants. 
2. How to find a mentor
3. The skills you need to be a modern accountant
4. And how to reenergize your career when you don't feel inspired

This week's guest on the Future of Accounting podcast is James Solomons. Based in Australia, he is the the co-founder and managing partner of an accounting practice, the CFO for a publicly listed company and the Head of Accounting for Xero. Wow, he wears a lot of hats!

Episode 22: Artificial Intelligence and its impact on accountants with Kriti Sharma

This week's guest on the Future of Accounting podcast is Kriti Sharma. She is the Vice President of Bots and AI at Sage. At Sage, Kriti led the creation of Pegg, a virtual assistant that can understand the human language to perform HR and accounting related tasks.

Kriti is a civic leader within the Obama Foundation, recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30 person to watch in Technology, a Google Grace Hopper Scholar and won the Google India Women in Engineering Award in 2010. 

She builds AI that solves real problems facing the world today, from access to emergency services in developing countries to an AI powered financial assistant that helps entrepreneurs around the world. 

Kriti cares deeply about the ethics of AI and often writes about AI and bot design principles.

In this episode, you will learn what is AI and how it's already present in our daily lives. It's impact on the accounting profession and Kriti's #1 tip to accountants who want to stay ahead of the technology curve.

This week's guest on the Future of Accounting podcast is Kriti Sharma. She is the Vice President of Bots and AI at Sage. At Sage, Kriti led the creation of Pegg, a virtual assistant that can understand the human language to perform HR and accounting related tasks.

Episode 21: : The Guiding Principles of a Good Tax Policy with Annette Nellen

In this episode, Annette Nellen, walks us through the guiding principles that should govern an objective tax policy. One that stimulates economic growth. Professor Annette Nellen, CPA, CGMA, Esq. is the chair of the AICPA tax committee, a professor at San Jose State University, and the writer behind the 21st Century Taxation blog. She is an expert in tax policy, and how to modernize the tax system to accurately reflect the way we conduct business in present day.

Annette has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, California Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee, and tax reform commissions and committees on various aspects of federal and state tax reform. 

This episode is brought to you by Avalara.

In this episode, Annette Nellen, walks us through the guiding principles that should govern an objective tax policy. One that stimulates economic growth. Professor Annette Nellen, CPA, CGMA, Esq. is the chair of the AICPA tax committee, a professor at San Jose State University, and the writer behind the 21st Century Taxation blog.

Episode Twenty: Creative destruction of the accounting industry

In the final episode of Season One, we look at how technology and cultural shifts are impacting the accounting industry. Cited in this podcast is Joseph Schumpeter, an Austrian economist, known as one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century.

Creative destruction, a term coined by Joseph Schumpeter, describes the process of how innovation deconstructs long-standing arrangements and frees resources to be deployed elsewhere. Schumpeter describes the process as one that results in losses alongside profits.

The accounting industry is undergoing a destruction caused by technology and cultural shifts. Therefore, demanding a new skillset from accounting professionals who wish to remain successful.

In the final episode of Season One, we look at how technology and cultural shifts are impacting the accounting industry. Cited in this podcast is Joseph Schumpeter, an Austrian economist, known as one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century.

Episode 19: Ericka Harney, Executive Director of the AFWA

Ericka Harney is the executive director of the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA). The organization serves over 2,000 members across the United States and provides women within the accounting and finance industries, the best tools they need to thrive as professionals.

A former professor, Ericka shares why the education system is not adequately preparing accounting students for a successful career. And which skills accountants need to start developing in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Ericka Harney is the executive director of the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA). The organization serves over 2,000 members across the United States and provides women within the accounting and finance industries, the best tools they need to thrive as professionals.

Episode Eighteen: Okorie Ramsey, Vice President of Finance Compliance & SOX for Kaiser Permanente

In this episode, Okorie Ramsey shares his career journey to becoming Vice President of Finance Compliance & SOX for Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser is regularly listed in Fortune Magazine as one of the largest private U.S. companies.

Ramsey shares insights on how to land a prestigious internship while in college, how the current events around the Affordable Health Care act and cybersecurity affect his day to day tasks, and why nurturing relationships is the biggest key to success as an accounting professional.

In this episode, Okorie Ramsey shares his career journey to becoming Vice President of Finance Compliance & SOX for Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser is regularly listed in Fortune Magazine as one of the largest private U.S. companies.

Episode Seventeen: 5 steps to become a CFO with George Boyadjis

After watching Larry the bookkeeper help his family's business, George knew that he wanted to pursue an accounting career. He was eleven.

After getting an undergraduate degree in accounting, and then his MBA, George went on to be CFO for four different companies including the University of Minnesota Medical School. As an active member in the Financial Executives International, he is passionate about giving back to the profession and helping up & coming leaders have a thriving career in the financial industry.

In this episode, George shares the five steps you need to take in order to become a successful CFO for a large company.

After watching Larry the bookkeeper help his family's business, George knew that he wanted to pursue an accounting career. He was eleven. After getting an undergraduate degree in accounting, and then his MBA, George went on to be CFO for four different companies including the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Episode Sixteen: Build a practice you love with Jeff Maddux

In this week's interview on the Future of Accounting podcast, I chat with Jeff Maddux, the lifestyle accountant.

Jeff is a CPA and on his fifth sabbatical, what he calls his fifth #miniretirement.

After working in public accounting, Jeff realized that the traditional accounting career path was not for him. He wanted to build a career that allowed him to travel for several months out of the year and afforded him the freedom to work from anywhere in the world.

Jeff has been able to do just that and has now launched the Lifestyle Accountant community. A membership program where like-minded accountants to connect and find job opportunities that allow them to work while traveling the world.

In the episode, Jeff shares his insights on how to build an accounting career you love and how you can start taking #miniretirements sooner rather than later.

In this week's interview on the Future of Accounting podcast, I chat with Jeff Maddux, the lifestyle accountant. Jeff is a CPA and on his fifth sabbatical, what he calls his fifth #miniretirement. After working in public accounting, Jeff realized that the traditional accounting career path was not for him.

Episode Fifteen: Robotics Process Automation with Dwayne Brown

Dwayne Brown is the Manager of Finance and Risk Services at Accenture.

Brown is currently working on his doctorate with a focus in Conduct Risk Management in Global Financial Institutions.

In this episode, Brown highlights the importance of nurturing relationships, seeking out mentors and what it means to have job that oversees robotics process automation.

Dwayne Brown is the Manager of Finance and Risk Services at Accenture. Brown is currently working on his doctorate with a focus in Conduct Risk Management in Global Financial Institutions. In this episode, Brown highlights the importance of nurturing relationships, seeking out mentors and what it means to have job that oversees robotics process automation.

Episode Fourteen: Forensic Accounting with Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope

In this week's interview on the Future of Accounting podcast, I chat with former forensic accountant turned professor and documentarian, Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope.

Dr. Pope has a doctorate in accounting and is a former Senior Associate for KPMG. 

In this episode, Dr. Pope will share her career journey and the steps you need to take to become a successful forensic accountant.

In this week's interview on the Future of Accounting podcast, I chat with former forensic accountant turned professor and documentarian, Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope. Dr. Pope has a doctorate in accounting and is a former Senior Associate for KPMG.  In this episode, Dr. Pope will share her career journey and the steps you need to take to become a successful forensic accountant.

Episode Thirteen: The step by step process for developing your niche expertise with David Leary

In this episode, David Leary, shares the exact steps you need to take to determine your niche, and how to use your blog and social media to become the go-to expert for businesses within your vertical.

In 2015, David was named by Accounting Today as a "One to Watch" in their Top 100 Most Influential People issue. 

David Leary is a Small Business Ecosystem Evangelist at Intuit and an innovative force in the small business accounting world. His business sense, vast technical knowledge and domain expertise have helped bridge the gap between developers, small business owners and accountants.

In this episode, David Leary, shares the exact steps you need to take to determine your niche, and how to use your blog and social media to become the go-to expert for businesses within your vertical.

Episode Twelve: Use technology to position yourself as a trusted advisor with Jim Secord

In this episode, Jim Secord explains the importance of embracing technology in order to position yourself as a trusted advisor.

Jim is the CEO of Kashoo, a simple cloud accounting software for small business owners. Based in Vancouver, Kashoo was named the #1 accounting app on the iPad.

In this episode, Jim Secord explains the importance of embracing technology in order to position yourself as a trusted advisor. Jim is the CEO of Kashoo, a simple cloud accounting software for small business owners. Based in Vancouver, Kashoo was named the #1 accounting app on the iPad.

Episode Eleven: The Skills You Need To Be A Global Player with Wayne Schmidt

In this episode, the legend Wayne Schmidt shares why sales and public speaking are the two skills you need as an accountant to be a global player. Wayne was instrumental in expanding Xero, MYOB and Reckon's presence in Australia. He has also worked with firms in the States, UK and China, and has over 25 years of experience within the accounting profession.

In this episode, the legend Wayne Schmidt shares why sales and public speaking are the two skills you need as an accountant to be a global player. Wayne was instrumental in expanding Xero, MYOB and Reckon's presence in Australia. He has also worked with firms in the States, UK and China, and has over 25 years of experience within the accounting profession.