Summing up economic sentiment and concerns about inflation, recession
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Release Date: 03/05/2026
The Auditing Standards Board’s priorities for 2026 and beyond
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Halie Creps, CPA, chair of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board, joined the JofA podcast to discuss the ASB’s refreshed and its focus on responsiveness, collaboration, and technology. She also explained why taking part in AICPA committees and boards is important to her and mentioned the link that members can visit to explore . Creps highlighted current projects, including , , confirmations, and . She also explained how practitioner feedback and international standard‑setting influence the board’s work. What you’ll learn from this episode: Why Creps said that serving on the...
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The risks of quick‑turn SOC engagements and what CPAs should know
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports are examinations performed by CPAs in accordance with the AICPA’s Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements to evaluate the controls over customer data that service organizations such as cloud providers or payroll processors have in place. SOC reports provide independent assurance to the service organization’s customers, aka user entities, that those controls are suitably designed and operating effectively. The entrance of technology vendors into the realm of SOC reporting has created some efficiencies, but it also has led to that...
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How to start a CPA practice: Lessons from a firm founder and a risk expert
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Starting a CPA firm can be both exciting and daunting, with financial, operational, and personal risks along the way. In this Journal of Accountancy podcast episode, Michael Meihaus, CPA, founder of Meihaus CPA, shares what he learned after launching his practice. Alvin Fennell, vice president and senior risk adviser at Aon, adds a risk-management perspective on what new firm owners must plan for from day one. Together, they discuss practical steps, common blind spots, and how CPAs can balance growth with protection. They reference an . The e-book’s first chapter is unlocked, and...
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A Machu Picchu moment and what it means for aging and retirement
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Younger generations are rethinking retirement — considering more flexibility and well-timed breaks over a traditional model of holding a job until a certain age and then stopping work. Kelley Long, CPA/PFS, joined the Journal of Accountancy podcast to discuss how modern financial planning is changing. She also explains how health savings accounts can support career flexibility and reduce reliance on employer‑sponsored health insurance later in life. Long will explore these topics further in June at , the profession’s biggest conference. She is presenting sessions and on on...
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What small firms are getting right about tech and why they're not alone
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Small CPA firms play a critical role in the accounting profession, and new tools are helping them compete, innovate, and grow. In this episode of the JofA podcast, Stephanie Otero, CPA, the AICPA’s vice president–Small Firm Advocate, discusses why small firms matter, how AI and automation are leveling the playing field, and where innovation thrives in smaller practices. She references real-world examples and previews the PCPS , a free, CPE-eligible webcast series for AICPA members. The conversation also looks ahead to in Las Vegas and the ways AICPA resources and communities...
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Liability lessons on documentation, high-profile clients, CAS engagement letters
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Sarah Ference, CPA, a risk control director at CNA, joins the Journal of Accountancy podcast to discuss recent topics of the JofA’s Professional Liability Spotlight column. The conversation covers lessons learned from claims involving bankrupt clients, the importance of strong and consistent documentation, and the particular risks associated with serving high-net-worth or high-profile clients. The episode also highlights the April column on writing effective engagement letters for client advisory services. The articles discussed in the episode: January: “.” February:...
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The surprising way one CFO grows her network and her knowledge
Journal of Accountancy Podcast
Wassia Kamon, CPA, returned as a guest on the Journal of Accountancy podcast to preview her sessions at the and . Kamon also discussed the growing expectations placed on today’s CFOs and how those expectations helped shape one of her conference sessions. Kamon also reflected on how launching her podcast, , has expanded her network and grown her knowledge. What you’ll learn from this episode: Kamon’s summary of her session with Paul Young at the CFO Conference in April. Why she says her podcast “is almost like a business card.” The importance of a true reset and how a reset is...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineOptimism among U.S. CPA decision-makers in February improved when compared with the outlook in November, but overall sentiment remains guarded. 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 optimism from the previous quarter.
- The reasons that both optimists and pessimists cite for their views.
- The “dance” that inflation and domestic economic conditions have done on the survey’s list of top challenges.
- Projected revenue and profit growth in the coming 12 months.