ACCOUNTING VOICES

Pushing into Law? A Seismic Shift for Firms | Accounting Influencers

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AZ opens the door to multidisciplinary firms, and Big Four competitors are watching closely.

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Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

Accounting and law have long existed in parallel, separated by strict professional boundaries. That wall may be crumbling. KPMG is moving to become the first Big Four accounting firm in the United States to own a law firm, a step that could reshape the profession.

The opening occurred in Arizona, which recently amended its rules to permit non-lawyers to own law firms under alternative business structures (ABS). KPMG seized the opportunity, announcing plans to launch KPMG Law US. The firm will not enter courtroom litigation but instead focus on contract management, legal project support, and M&A contract harmonization.

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How Smart Firms Handle DEI | Accounting Influencers

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Accounting leaders face pressure to choose a path that could reshape talent pipelines and firm culture for years to come.

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Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

Deloitte’s decision to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program for 173,000 U.S. employees is sending shockwaves through the accounting profession, exposing deep divisions on a global scale and forcing firm leaders to weigh politics against talent priorities.

The move—ending DEI goals, disbanding related departments, eliminating annual reporting, and ordering staff to remove pronouns from email signatures—came just hours before Deloitte UK issued a memo affirming its commitment to DEI.

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Meet Your New Boss: Gen Z | Accounting Influencers

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Zoomers expect clarity, equity, and purpose—and they’re not afraid to walk if firms don’t deliver.

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Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

By 2025, one in 10 managers will be from Generation Z. That’s right—the so-called “lazy, entitled” group born between 1997 and 2012 is already leading teams in accounting firms. But instead of wrecking the workplace, Gen Z might be exactly what the profession needs to survive its crossroads.

MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown

On Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown explores the rise of Gen Z and what their entry into the accounting workforce means for leaders, firms, and the profession at large.

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The Truth Behind Accounting’s RTO Push | Accounting Influencers

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Firms blame culture and training, yet AI, real estate, and talent pressures tell a different tale.

Sponsored by “It’s NOT Just the Numbers: How to Move Beyond the Numbers and Deliver REAL Value for Your Clients.”
by Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead. See Today’s Special Offer

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

Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

The push to bring accountants back to the office is gaining momentum, echoing trends at corporate giants like JPMorgan, Amazon, and Meta. While firms frame return-to-office (RTO) policies as a way to boost collaboration, mentorship, and culture, industry observers question whether the real motivations include cost control, talent reshaping, and even quiet workforce reductions.

In the latest episode of Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown examines the drivers behind RTO in accounting, from Big Four mandates to real estate obligations, and explores whether being in the office truly advances careers or simply serves firm agendas.

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Why P.E. Is Winning the Talent Wars | Accounting Influencers

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PE-backed firms are luring top performers with faster promotions, equity stakes, and career paths that traditional firms rarely offer.

This is a preview. The complete video episode, with commentary and transcript, is first available exclusively to PRO Members | Go PRO here
Sponsored by “It’s NOT Just the Numbers: How to Move Beyond the Numbers and Deliver REAL Value for Your Clients.”
by Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead. See Today’s Special Offer

Accounting Influencers
With Rob Brown

Private equity’s influence on the accounting profession is shaking up more than firm valuations — it is rewriting the rules for attracting and retaining talent. A staggering 70% of top performers at traditional firms say they would move to a PE-backed competitor right now if given the chance, according to new industry insights.

And it’s not just about bigger paychecks. Private equity firms have zeroed in on what motivates high performers — opportunity, impact, and accelerated growth — and are building career models to match.

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