Loving your work, leaving work behind, and returning refreshed
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Release Date: 08/21/2025
Ancient Greece to AI: The past and future of bank fraud
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
David Stone, CPA, CFE, MBA, is the author of the most recent FVS . In this episode, Stone, senior manager–Financial Services Practice Group at BerryDunn, shares insights from the report, which focuses on internal and external fraud risks facing financial institutions. Stone explains how long‑standing schemes — from misuse of dormant accounts to persistent check‑fraud activity — continue to evolve even as institutions strengthen their controls. Stone, a graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy, also describes emerging, technology‑driven threats such as deepfakes, more sophisticated...
info_outline
Tax advocacy: AICPA experts on new bills shaping tax preparer rules
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Two AICPA tax experts from the Washington, D.C., office joined the JofA podcast to discuss a recent on paid tax return preparers and why its findings matter during a busy filing season. Melanie Lauridsen, vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, and Todd Sloves, director–Congressional & Political Affairs, break down bipartisan legislation in Congress — including the TAS Act — and explain how . The conversation also highlights the SAFE Act and its aim to simplify the task of filing extensions for taxpayers and practitioners. The Q&A also outlines where broad consensus...
info_outline
Summing up economic sentiment and concerns about inflation, recession
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Optimism among U.S. CPA decision-makers in February improved when compared with the outlook in November, but . That’s one conversation topic in the latest Journal of Accountancy podcast episode. In the episode, Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, associate director–Management Accounting Research & Development for the AICPA and CIMA, break down the sentiment about the domestic economy, the global economy, and respondents’ companies. The discussion also touches on top challenges, hiring plans, and recession expectations. What you’ll learn from this episode: The increase in own‑company...
info_outline
Talent shuffle: Why people want to change jobs and how leaders can adapt
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
At several points over the past six years, employee retention has ebbed and flowed. In part, workforce trends have been tied to the COVID-19 pandemic hastening the predominance of remote and hybrid work. And, more recently, economic uncertainty has contributed to employee sentiment. On this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, two Robert Half executives discuss general hiring trends and the outlook for accounting and finance roles. Additionally, they examine the dynamics of promoting from within versus hiring externally. And, in case you missed it, news dropped on publication day...
info_outline
Inside the AICPA’s effort to enhance the skills of early-career CPAs
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
, the AICPA launched its . In this episode of the JofA podcast, Carl Mayes, CPA, the AICPA’s vice president–CPA Candidate Quality and Competency, explained more about the initiative and why a rapidly changing workplace demands new skills from emerging and early-career CPAs. He discussed how automation, AI, and offshoring are reshaping entry-level work — and how research is informing the initiative. Listeners will learn how to get involved, what’s planned for ENGAGE, and how the effort benefits both early-career professionals and experienced CPAs. What you’ll learn from...
info_outline
Lessons in internal control lapses from major fraud cases
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Tammy Thomas, CPA/CFF, CGMA, is a co-author of the most recent FVS Eye on Fraud report, focused on the importance of . In this episode, Thomas breaks down how failures in segregation of duties allowed two major embezzlement schemes to persist for years. She explains how small control gaps and role consolidation can quietly erode an organization’s defenses. Thomas also outlines how deadline pressure and resource constraints can unintentionally weaken internal control environments. Also, hear the previous , about the role of company culture, from July 2025. What you’ll learn from this...
info_outline
Differentiating agentic and generative AI — and more with a Tech Q&A author
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
In this episode, Wesley Hartman, co‑author of the Journal of Accountancy’s Technology Q&A column, discusses how AI is reshaping work for accounting firms. He explains the difference between generative and agentic AI and why both matter for firm workflows. Hartman also outlines the most pressing AI risks for CPAs, including hallucinations and emerging deepfake‑driven scams, which . He closes the conversation with practical guidance for adopting AI tools methodically while avoiding common pitfalls. Also, here are a few Technology Q&A columns related to the discussion: “,”...
info_outline
Why stablecoin controls create a solid foundation in an evolving environment
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
A new episode of the JofA podcast breaks down the AICPA’s updated criteria for stablecoin controls, explaining what issuers and practitioners need to know as regulatory expectations evolve. This episode explores how revised AICPA stablecoin criteria support more consistent reporting, disclosure, and control assessments across a rapidly developing digital asset landscape. What you’ll learn from this episode: Why the AICPA developed updated criteria for stablecoin controls and how they complement existing presentation and disclosure criteria. How the criteria help issuers and auditors...
info_outline
Accountability the ‘No. 1 thing’ and other reflections from Bill Reeb
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
In this episode, former AICPA Chair Bill Reeb, CPA/CITP, CGMA, reflects on more than 40 years in the profession and why he believes accountability is the starting point for a successful leadership effort. Reeb, speaking from the Digital CPA Conference in December, discusses how momentum, clarity of direction, and facing fear help leaders navigate today’s rapid pace of change. He also addresses technological shifts including the rise of artificial intelligence and explains why a book he wrote about succession planning was not predominantly about succession. What you’ll learn from...
info_outline
Tom Hood on AI, hybrid work, and other 2026 themes shaping accounting
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
On this episode of the JofA podcast, an AICPA executive and regular guest discussed trends from discussions with numerous finance professionals, delving into how AI and hybrid work might affect accounting this year and beyond. “Now we're going to be talking about managing AI agents in finance and accounting,” Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, said. “That's going to be a whole different world, and it's going to be exponential in what we can do with it.” Hood, the AICPA’s executive vice president–Business Engagement and Growth, also explained why CFOs are cautiously optimistic about growth...
info_outlineJen Wilson admittedly loves her work. As partner and co-founder at ConvergenceCoaching LLC, she’s on the road often, advising accounting firms and profession leaders. Sometimes, that travel and love of work can give her colleagues cause for concern.
“It troubles them if they can't see me unplug,” Wilson said.
This episode of the JofA podcast, the second of a three-episode Midwest series focusing on summer travel, features Wilson talking about the value of time away. It was recorded in person, at her house in Bellevue, Neb.
Wilson discussed the benefits of a two-week, end-of-year closure and why despite understanding the importance of a refresh, she sometimes takes work with her on vacation.
Additionally, as the independent facilitator for the National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG), Wilson is plugged in to the talent issues facing the profession. She provided an update on where things stand with accounting talent with 2026 about four months away.
What you’ll learn from this episode:
· Wilson’s background as a longtime resident of Nebraska.
· The reasons she travels often for work in the summer.
· Why Wilson sometimes takes work with her on vacation – and her family’s reaction to that decision.
· The benefits of an extended, full-company closure.
· Her assessment of the accounting talent pipeline.
· The meaning she finds in the quote, “Your direction is more important than your speed.”