ACCOUNTING VOICES

PE Pushes Partners Toward Extinction | Accounting Influencers

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Two-thirds of current firm leaders risk being obsolete within three years.

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Originally published Sept. 3, 2025

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Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

A stark warning is shaking the accounting profession: 65% of current firm partners will be considered “digitally obsolete” within three years. The unsettling part? Private equity (PE) investors are not planning to retrain them—they are preparing to replace them.

On the latest episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, host Rob Brown uncovers how private equity–backed firms are redrawing the profession’s leadership map. The digital divide is no longer theoretical. It is already defining who will lead the future of accounting and who will be pushed aside.

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The Smart Accountant’s Guide to Choosing the Right Podcasts | Accounting Influencers

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Podcasts now serve every level of the profession, and intentional listening helps professionals grow faster.

This is a preview. The complete video episode, with commentary and transcript, is first available exclusively to PRO Members | Go PRO here
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Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

The accounting podcast world is no longer a niche corner of the internet. It is a sprawling ecosystem of news briefings, exam prep guides, leadership conversations, and tech trend breakdowns. For today’s professionals—from students to senior partners—the shows they follow influence how they think, how they show up, and how they lead.

In this episode of Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown breaks down the types of accounting podcasts in the market today and explains why some help you grow while others simply drain your time.

Not all accounting podcasts are built for the same audience. Some exist to help students pass exams. Others help partners stay current on regulatory changes. Some deliver tech deep dives. Others humanize the profession with personal stories.

Understanding these differences helps listeners choose wisely and avoid content that feels irrelevant or repetitive.

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How Smart Listening Builds Clout | Accounting Influencers

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Smarter, shorter, and more focused podcasts help firm leaders turn listening time into a competitive edge.

This is a preview. The complete video episode, with commentary and transcript, is first available exclusively to PRO Members | Go PRO here
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Subscribe to CPA Trendlines podcasts anywhere: Apple, Google/YouTube, Spotify, iHeart, Deezer, Amazon Music, Audible, Player FM, Audacy, RSS.

Sponsored by the Small Office / Home Office Protection Package: Get peace of mind with the right policy, technology, and strategy at an affordable price.

Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

In today’s crowded attention economy, time is the rarest currency. Every minute you spend consuming content needs to work for you. That’s why accounting leaders are turning to podcasts—not as entertainment, but as a professional advantage.

In this episode of Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown explores how podcasting is evolving and what that means for accountants and firm leaders who want to stay sharp, visible, and ahead of the curve.

The podcast industry is booming—worth an estimated $47 billion globally and projected to triple in the next few years. But as Brown explains, this growth isn’t about quantity; it’s about quality.

“The best podcasts,” he says, “cut through the noise. They know who they’re for, and they deliver the goods.”

Listeners today average seven podcasts in rotation, but loyalty is increasingly tied to the relevance of the content. The most trusted shows focus on niche audiences and deliver actionable value. READ MORE →

5 Ways to Stay Ahead of the AI Curve | Accounting Influencers

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Automation isn’t replacing accountants—it’s exposing who can’t evolve.

This is a preview. The complete video episode, with commentary and transcript, is first available exclusively to PRO Members | Go PRO here

Sponsored by Small Office / Home Office Protection Package: Enterprise-level cyber protection for small accounting firms. See Today’s Special Offer
Subscribe to CPA Trendlines podcasts anywhere: Apple, Google/YouTube, Spotify, iHeart, Deezer, Amazon Music, Audible, Player FM, Audacy, RSS.

Sponsored by the Small Office / Home Office Protection Package: Get peace of mind with the right policy, technology, and strategy at an affordable price.

Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

Artificial intelligence isn’t a future disruptor—it’s already embedded in accounting. The profession’s survival depends on how quickly firms adapt.

“The robots are coming—scratch that—they’re already here,” says Accounting Influencers host Rob Brown. “AI literacy isn’t optional anymore. If you’re treating AI as tomorrow’s problem, you’re already behind the curve.”

The latest episode explores the seismic impact of automation on accounting and the urgent need for firms to transform their skills, strategies, and structures.

Citing a McKinsey report, Brown notes that nearly 80% of organizations already use AI in at least one core function. “It’s pervasive now,” he says. “Reconciliation, data entry, transaction classification—AI eats those jobs for breakfast.”

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How to Fix the Broken Education Systems | Accounting Influencers

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“The classroom is no longer a pipeline for work-ready professionals.”

This is a preview. The complete video episode, with commentary and transcript, is first available exclusively to PRO Members | Go PRO here
Sponsored by Small Office / Home Office Protection Package: Enterprise-level cyber protection for small accounting firms. See Today’s Special Offer

Subscribe to CPA Trendlines podcasts anywhere: Apple, Google/YouTube, Spotify, iHeart, Deezer, Amazon Music, Audible, Player FM, Audacy, RSS.

Sponsored by the Small Office / Home Office Protection Package: Get peace of mind with the right policy, technology, and strategy at an affordable price.

Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

Today’s accounting leaders are facing an alarming truth: the next generation of recruits may be the least “work-ready” in decades.

They know their algebra, their Shakespeare, and their chemistry formulas—but not how to introduce themselves in a job interview, meet a deadline, or handle feedback. That’s the provocative premise explored in the latest episode of Accounting Influencers Podcast, where host Rob Brown tackles the widening gap between what schools teach and what firms need.

“The classroom is no longer a pipeline for work-ready professionals,” Brown warns. “And accounting firms are starting to feel the pain.”

Brown, a former high school math teacher, speaks from experience. He spent years coaching students to pass tests—not preparing them for the real world. “The curriculum is built for exams, not for the workplace,” he says. “No one’s teaching children how to build trust, handle tough feedback, or develop emotional intelligence.”

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