Accounting Influencers Podcast

Brian Hock: Qualifications Matter More Than Ever | Accounting Influencers

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“It’s a five-year degree for accounting versus four years for finance, and finance graduates often earn more.”

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Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

Brian Hock, founder of HOCK International, argues that accounting certifications and qualifications are more important than ever in an era of automation and artificial intelligence.

Hock says the rapid shift in accounting standards is spawning a host of new specialty skills, including data analytics, cybersecurity, and automation.

“When I took the CPA exam almost 30 years ago, it was paper-and-pencil,” Hock recalls. “Now, technology is embedded in every aspect of accounting.”

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Ed Kless: Accounting Must Innovate Beyond Technology | Accounting Influencers

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In an era when traditional models fail, accountants should rethink relevance, client experience, and the power of language.

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Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

Accounting visionary Ed Kless challenges the profession to move beyond the traditional billable hour and embrace a proactive, subscription-based model. In this episode of Accounting Influencers, Kless, known for his strong stance on abolishing hourly billing, offers actionable insights into how accountants can redefine their services and stay relevant in an evolving landscape.

Kless wastes no time challenging one of the industry’s longest-standing practices: billing by the hour. “It’s an absolutely dead model, and it’s a problem not only for accountants but also for their customers,” he argues. By emphasizing efficiency over effectiveness, Kless says hourly billing creates a barrier to innovation and true client satisfaction. “Think about it—if you had a brain tumor, would you want an efficient surgeon or an effective one?” he asks, underscoring the need for quality service over rigid time-tracking.

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Kate Johnson: How Accountants Can Grow with Video | Accounting Influencers

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Diversify your revenue streams with video and build a virtual accounting career.

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Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

Kate Josephine Johnson owns Heritage Business Services, LLC, a virtual bookkeeping firm serving small businesses across the United States. She is also the Chief Hustler at Bookkeeping Side Hustle, where she helps other accounting professionals build virtual accounting careers they love.

Johnson urges accounting professionals to diversify their revenue streams by leveraging eBooks, monthly membership for DIY clients, vendor referral links, YouTube, and newsletter and video content sponsorships. She says you need two skills to make videos: creating and communicating. 

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