Future-proof | A Podcast For Tomorrow's Accounting & Finance Pros

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are all the rage in accounting and finance circles. ESG criteria are a set of non-financial factors that socially conscious investors can use to assess their potential investments, such as how the company manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the community, the company’s impact on nature, and executive pay, internal controls, and shareholder rights. This is a fairly recent shift in the mindset of stakeholders, but it is only getting more popular and it can no longer be ignored.Here to discuss the impact of ESG is Ami Beers, the Senior Director on the Assurance and Advisory Innovation Team at the Association of Certified Professional Accountants. She is responsible for the development of assurance and/or advisory services guidance and criteria, thought leadership, and member and market communications to maximize awareness and advisory services on business reporting such as the ESG.She shares what auditors need to be aware of with thes

It’s legislative season here in Maryland, and getting involved in the process is more important than ever for the CPA profession.With more changes coming that promise to directly impact the accounting and financing profession than we’ve ever seen, our world is on high alert. We need to stay on top of those changes – which is why it’s nice to have a little help from CPA societies.We take a close look at what’s happening in Annapolis right now, because there are sure to be similar stories playing out in whatever state you’re located in. To help us with that is Tom Hood, former CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs, current executive vice president of Business Engagement and Growth at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, and chair of the MACPA’s Legislative Executive Committee.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomhoodFuture-Proof is a production of Crate Media

It has been a stressful couple of years for everyone. People are working longer and harder with fewer breaks, fewer vacations, and fewer days off, which is bleeding into our personal lives, especially those of us still working from home.Dr. Britt Andreatta is an internationally recognized thought leader who uses her background in leadership, neuroscience, psychology, and education to create brain-science-based solutions for today’s workplace challenges. She’s also a bestselling author and a top 20 learning influencer for 2021.She talks about the symptoms of burnout, the real-life impact it can have on individuals and organizations, what employees can do to protect themselves, and where they should turn for help. This is a very important conversation that impacts each of us and our organizations in profound ways.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:brittandreatta.comSix Causes of Burnout at Work95% of Workers Thinking of Quitting Their JobsEmployee burnout poses se

Today, we’re talking about jobs: Job hunting, searching for employees, filling the pipeline, The Great Resignation, and more.Our guest is Lauren Welkie. She manages strategic partnerships at ZipRecruiter, which is feeling the effects of The Great Resignation in a different way than most organizations. As Yahoo News said recently, “ZipRecruiter is finding itself in a sweet spot right now, as the demand for labor to support the economic recovery remains intense. And it showed up in the company's latest earnings report. ZipRecruiter saw third quarter sales surge 107% from a year ago. The company also lifted its full year sales and profit outlooks.”Lauren talks about the trends that she’s seeing in the market right now, the things that job candidates say they want most and what job seekers should be doing to make themselves attractive to employers. We cover the flip side, too, and discuss what employers should be doing to attract and keep talent in this new age of employment.To learn more, and for the complete sh

Usually, when we talk about AI in this profession, the conversation is all about automation, the things that artificial intelligence takes off our plate so we can create more value for our clients, face to face.But today, we look at AI’s potential for impact on big global issues like poverty, hunger, climate change, sustainability, and inequity. Of course, we bring the conversation back to what role accounting and finance might play in all of that.Joining that conversation is Neil Sahota. Neil is an IBM Master Inventor, an AI advisor to the United Nations, chief innovation officer at UC Irvine, and a best-selling author, among many other things.He’s also a founding member of the UN’s “AI For Good” initiative, a global community that’s centered on identifying practical applications of artificial intelligence to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and scale those solutions for global impact.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:sdgs.un.orgaiforgo

As we round out the year, tax professionals have more than just the holidays to look forward to. Tax season is upon us and there’s a lot to talk about this year.Edward Karl is the Vice President of Taxation for the American Institute of CPAs. He’s also a member of the Maryland Association of CPAs. He has his finger on the pulse of our nation more than almost anyone in the field. He joins us today to help break down all the changes happening for the upcoming tax season, review what’s in the Build Back Better infrastructure package, and comment on the state of IRS customer service.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/edward-s-karl-cpa-027a7442The tax impact of the infrastructure actFuture-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Barrett Young is a partner at Garbelman Winslow CPAs, a firm in Southern Maryland, and a Strongman competitor. You recognize the Strongman brand from those mind-blowing competitions on TV where people lift massive rocks and logs, or pull trucks, or flip huge tires. Those are the kinds of challenges that Barrett thrives on. We talk about how he got into such a heavy passion and how his work in the gym overlaps with his work at the firm.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:macpa.org/blogthedinniestones.comFuture-Proof is a production of Crate Media

This week, we’re focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Crystal Cooke, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the American Institute of CPAs, helps us shed light on these important topics. We talk about where our profession stands today, what changes are happening already, and what else needs to be done going forward.Crystal took her current role in February of 2020, just before the summer was enveloped in so many violent tragedies across the country. These events and society’s reaction to them brought social issues back into the spotlight, and gave new, heightened, meaning to her responsibility.She talks about what it was like to start the role in that kind of environment and takes a closer look at our profession as a whole — how far it’s come in the areas of diversity and inclusion and what each of us, individually, can do to help make it more equitable for all.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:aicpa.com/diversityLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/crystal-cook

We are a remote work world now. Which means, for all of you leaders and managers out there, that we have to figure out how to best manage remote workers. That means finding new ways to manage technology, engagement, wellness, culture, and trust.Jennifer Wilson is co-founder and partner of ConvergenceCoaching, a national consulting firmdedicated to developing leaders and transforming teams. She is also one of Accounting Today’s 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, one of INSIDE Public Accounting’s Top 10 Most Recommended Consultants, and one of CPA Practice Advisor’s Top 25 Thought Leaders and Most Powerful Women in Accounting.Jennifer gave a talk at the 2021 AICPA Engage conference on the topic of remote work, and she shares her insights here with us today. We touch on what the future of work looks like, potential landmines that employers have to watch out for with remote arrangements, the opportunities that these kinds of environments offer, and what employees themselves can do to make the transition e

Let’s talk about comedy and how it relates to business. In this episode, Peter Margaritis joins the podcast to talk about just that, and his new book, “Off-Script: Mastering the Art of Business Improv.” Improv, at its core, is about building a conversation out of what another person says instead of relying on our own agendas. In our business settings, most of us want to control the narrative to ensure ideal outcomes. We want to script the conversations, manage the problems, predict the future, and most importantly, win.But good leaders become better leaders by doing the opposite — by letting go of control, and going off script in their conversations, negotiations, and brainstorms. This improv-inspired approach builds the mental muscles we need to be more than merely present in the meeting, but to collaborate with others in truly authentic, empathetic ways.This might be a totally new role, but we can do it. Peter Margaritis can help us get there.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionl

We’re going to take a closer look at augmented reality (AR), also known as mixed reality. Augmented reality combines our real world with virtual information, images, sounds, or other media that augments our experiences in the real world. There are some really interesting case studies of how AR is being used in innovative and productive ways.Here to help us understand AR better are Dina Broydo and Rachelle Hernandez. Dina is a Manager in BDO’s Forensic Investigations and Litigation Services Practice, and Rachelle is an Experienced Senior Associate with BDO’s Digital Analytics and Automation Practice. They share how BDO is using this technology, how it’s worked for them, what they’re hearing from team members and clients, and even the role that the pandemic has played in how BDO is rolling out the technology. As the use of this technology becomes more widespread, it undoubtedly will have implications for other areas of the profession moving forward.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline

Dr. Freeman Hrabowski is the president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and he recently announced his retirement after three decades at the helm of UMBC. He will officially step down in June 2022. He's a leader in every sense of the word, particularly when it comes to educating and graduating an incredibly diverse and inclusive student body.Joining him is Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, accounting and finance's Wonder Woman. She's former chair of the AICPA, and the Maryland Association of CPAs, and chair of way too many organizations to mention. She's a graduate of UMBC, and she and Dr. Hrabowski have quite a history.Together, they have some interesting thoughts about the accounting profession that are going to make this a valuable conversation.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:Success is Never Final: A Message from UMBC President Freeman HrabowskiLinkedIn: Kimberly N. Ellison-TaylorLive. Learn. Lead. The Kimberly Ellison-Taylor Story | An MACPA short f

We are 20 years out from 9/11, the tragic event that changed everything in the US. We all have our 9/11 stories – the things we remember most when we think back to that fateful day.To mark the occasion, we’re going to hear from some of the leaders in the accounting and finance profession, their stories, where they were when it happened, and how the event has impacted the profession. Those leaders are:AICPA President and CEO, Barry MelanconTom Hood, Executive Vice President of Business Growth and Engagement with the Association of International Certified Professional AccountantsJessica McClain, Controller for Brand USA and a member of The MACPA Foundation.Ed Rommel, a retired CPA, a former partner with TRS CPA Group, and a former chair of the Maryland Association of CPAs’ Board of Directors.Tim Samuel, CFO of Bridgeway Community Church, and a member of the MACPA’s Board of Directors. Lexy Kessler, a partner with Aronson, and current MACPA Board Chair.MACPA President and CEO, Jackie BrownLet’s spend some t

We’ve dissected this pandemic in every way possible so far – its impact on our world, our health, our businesses, our employees, and the future of work – as well as its impact on leadership, innovation, technology, and the pace of change in general. It’s all speeding up, right?But let’s take a closer look at how COVID-19 has impacted the world of financial planning – not only for clients and the state of their finances, but for businesses, practices, and how the profession is changing as a result of this crisis.Lyle Benson is president and founder of L.K. Benson & Company in Baltimore, and he joined us back in the summer of 2020 to talk about some specific worries around personal finance and savings during the early days of the pandemic. Today, we’re doing a deeper dive into financial planning.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:lkbenson.comRead: A third of Americans say they got better with money during the pandemicRead: COVID has rewritten the rules on fina

Lee Frederiksen is a business strategist, a behavioral psychologist, and the managing partner of a marketing firm called Hinge which caters to the professional services industry.Lee makes the case that more professional service firms have been positively impacted by the pandemic than negatively impacted.This crisis has been difficult for people in many ways: jobs, businesses, and even lives lost. We can talk about money all day, but, in the end, this crisis is about human beings who were here a while ago and aren’t here now. This has been a human tragedy of immense proportions.Lee has some fantastic insights, and ones you’ll want to keep in mind, because this likely won’t be the last crisis we go through in our lives given how fast things are changing.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:hingemarketing.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leefrederiksenFuture-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Bill Pirolli is the new chair of the American Institute of CPAs and a partner with DiSanto Priest & Co., in Warwick, Rhode Island. He gives us his take on the future of the profession, some of the things he has his eye on, and his priorities for the coming year – all of which will impact everyone in the profession.Bill has been thinking about pipeline issues, engaging the next generation of CPAs, keeping interest in the profession strong, and making sure we’re providing tomorrow’s CPAs with the skills they need to thrive. That’s just one of the issues on his agenda for the coming year. He’s also thinking hard about things like diversity and inclusion, navigating the profession through a post-pandemic world, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We talk about all of that and more as we look towards the future.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:William (Bill) Pirolli, CPA/CFF/PFS, CGMA“The Future of Accounting Jobs in a World With Artificia

Anirban Basu is chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in the great city of Baltimore, Maryland. He is one of the most popular speakers on the MACPA educational circuit, chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission, and of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee. He was named one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. When it comes to the economy, he knows what he’s talking about, so we’re going to take a quick look with him – at Maryland, United States, the COVID factor, housing, all of it – and see what he has to say.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:sagepolicy.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anirban-basu-2110335“Global growth to stay strong but virus the top risk”Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

We’ve discussed the .cpa domain before – a new domain that’s available exclusively to CPAs. There are many benefits involved with this domain (for both you and your clients). The domain has been out there since earlier this year, so we thought now would be a good time to take stock of where things are for people. How’s this domain working for everyone? How many people have used it? What about it has worked? What lessons have been learned? What would people do differently if they could change things? There’s been much excitement surrounding .cpa domains, but do they live up to the hype?Chris Cromer is going to help us make sense of everything. He’s a technology expert focused on the applications, networking, infrastructure, compliance, and security for the CPA.com web properties, including CPA.com, AICPAStore.com, RIVIO.com, the CPA.com email service extension, and the .cpa domain.We’ve had the .cpa domain for around six months, now. Chris gives us insights such as the uptake, what the popularity means for the

Lexy Kessler is the partner in charge of Aronson’s Government Contract Services Group and chair of the AICPA’s PCPS Executive Committee. As of July 1st, she is the new chair of the Maryland Association of CPAs Board of Directors. We’re going to look at her priorities this year and the trends impacting CPAs in Maryland and beyond. Of course, diversity and inclusion in the pipeline are always a focus – however, Lexy is also excited to step into what she calls “MACPA 3.0,” stepping into the opportunities for the association that look ahead, past the current leadership and structural changes.To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.Resources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lexykessler“The CPA Pipeline Report: Decoding the Decline”“Time commitment, relevance push people away from CPA Exam”Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

You would be hard-pressed to think of an area that has a greater impact on the working world than where we work. The pandemic has taken the cat out of the bag – so to speak – and there’s no putting it back. Working from home is here to stay. Now it’s up to us to keep it productive.Kassi Rushing is a communication and people strategist who works with organizations to bring their cultural visions to life. She's got experience and expertise in workplace culture, high-performing teams, diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, leadership and pipeline development, employee engagement, and communication strategy – all of which makes her the perfect person to talk about the future of work. Kassi gave a GREAT presentation at one of the MACPA’s recent town hall meetings.She talks about some of the landmines that employers need to watch out for, the opportunities that are there for those of us who figure out how to do this right, what employees can do to help make this transition easier, and a look at the future of wor