Rewind: Ensuring Fair Pay in the Profession
CPA Life
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. We look back at his conversation with John Randolph on CPA Life Rewind Episode 87 about how that experience, among others, led to him launching Big 4 Transparency, a platform which tracks salary data in the profession. Dom talks about Big 4 Transparency’s transformation from community project to full-time venture as a result of his feeling a “social responsibility” to supply this information for free to the community...
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Breaking the Tax Season Cycle: Finding Balance
CPA Life
When Brenda Cannon realized that tax season chaos didn’t have to be a foregone conclusion, she set out to reimagine her entire firm. Brenda shares how she moved from the brink of burnout on Episode 86 of CPA Life, juggling 1,500 clients and sleepless nights, to building a practice where April 15th is just another day. She tells John Randolph that by introducing intentional scheduling, raising fees, and letting go of the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset, Brenda not only transformed her own work-life balance but also created SchedulEase, a tool now helping other accountants do the...
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Beyond Strategy: The Human Side of BD
CPA Life
Neil Barrow returns for part 2 of his special double CPA Life episode to unpack the realities of business development beyond buzzwords. John steers the conversation from the pitfalls of hiring for growth without a plan, to the delicate dance of balancing capacity and opportunity within your firm, and Neil’s philosophy is refreshingly straightforward: keep things simple, focus on relationships, and don’t lose sight of what actually works. You won’t want to miss the unexpected parallel Neil draws between perfecting an award-winning chili recipe and building a business, or his insight into...
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Not Just Sales, But Strategy
CPA Life
John Randolph returns to the mic to sit down with Neil Barrow, founder of EnabledBD, on Episode 84 of CPA Life. Together, they unravel the real mechanics of business development in CPA firms, as Neil draws on his journey from structured software sales to the unpredictable world of accounting firm growth. Challenging the myth that business development is just about sales or personality, Neil frames it as a skill: one that can be built, measured, and tailored to each individual’s strengths. A discussion well beyond buzzwords, the pair focus on practical strategies for deepening client...
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Rewind: Go Full Send on Your Accounting Journey
CPA Life
We look back at John Randolph’s conversation with Roman Villard, co-founder of Full Send Finance, on Episode 83 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 helped Full Send shoot out of the blocks, growing from zero to 12 full-time employees in just over two years. Roman leveraged technology to great effect, particularly improving employees’ work-life balance, and he dives into discussing the things that have given Full Send cross-generational appeal. Hybrid working is a significant...
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Rewind: Flexible Solutions through a New Accounting Model
CPA Life
Tired of endless 80-hour weeks? Chris Vanover is the President and Chief Auditor at CPAClub, formerly AuditClub, and on this special CPA Life Rewind Episode 82, he talks to John Randolph about how he and his team aim to give firms flexible access to experts on demand. Having started AuditClub in January 2022, Chris rebranded to CPAClub in November 2023 as the available services expanded, but the commitment remains the same: bringing value to firms who need expert support to service their clients, while always looking after the number one priority: CPAClub's workforce. Get the full show notes...
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Rewind: Building a Remote Firm from the Ground Up
CPA Life
Zane Stevens co-founded Protea Financial, an accounting firm focused on the wine industry, and it was remote from the beginning. We look back on his conversation with on this special CPA Life Rewind Episode 81 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...
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CPA Life Rewind: Looking Ahead to the Future of Accounting
CPA Life
We take a look back at John Randolph's conversation with Liz Farr, host of The Disruptors Podcast on CPA Trendlines, on CPA Life Rewind Episode 80. Liz’s insights on innovative practices in accounting, the talent pipeline, modern methods and more, are things you simply don’t want to miss. So whether you caught Liz’s appearance the first time around or not, stay tuned for expertise on the profession that you’re not likely to find anywhere else. Get the full show notes and more resources at
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The Next Chapter of CPA Life: Fill Your Cup
CPA Life
For Episode 79 of CPA Life, a different sort of show: John Randolph and producer Justin Grant take a candid look at the evolution of the podcast itself. John, inspired by his recent break from social media, reflects on the boundary setting, creating margins for yourself, finding joy both inside and outside of work, and what productivity actually is and means. From stories about aligning personal values with professional roles, the impact of meaningful client relationships and more, John drinks directly from the podcast’s well in exploring the direction he plans to take Benaiah Consulting...
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CPA Life Rewind: Building a Modern Firm with an Eye to the Future
CPA Life
Check out this edition of CPA Life Rewind, as we reflect on John Randolph's conversation with Matt Patrick, the president and founder of Patrick Accounting and Whirks. They discuss the vision Matt has executed to build a modern, efficient, people-centric accounting firm. While focusing on the importance of retaining great employees, creating a family-friendly work environment, and developing a sustainable business model, Matt also delves into accounting’s many challenges, particularly around the impact of technology and talent retention. With a focus on core values and fostering a culture of...
info_outlineFor Episode 79 of CPA Life, a different sort of show: John Randolph and producer Justin Grant take a candid look at the evolution of the podcast itself. John, inspired by his recent break from social media, reflects on the boundary setting, creating margins for yourself, finding joy both inside and outside of work, and what productivity actually is and means. From stories about aligning personal values with professional roles, the impact of meaningful client relationships and more, John drinks directly from the podcast’s well in exploring the direction he plans to take Benaiah Consulting Group in as well. Tune in and find out what’s in store next!
Get the full show notes and more resources at CPALifePodcast.com