On The Books

Technology is constantly evolving, but people don’t change. In this special crossover episode of On the Books and Intuit Connect On, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken sit down with Dave Olsen, founder of Nimbl.Dave shares his journey from working at one of the Big Four accounting firms to becoming a fractional CFO, and eventually founding Nimbl. He dives deep into the philosophy of "wide experimentation and narrow adoption," the nuances of leading a global team, and why the best accountants are often the best listeners.In This Episode, We Discuss:The transition from practitioner to leader: Why Dave decided to stop doing the work himself to focus on building the systems that empower others.Wide experimentation, narrow adoption: A strategic framework for introducing AI and new tech without burning out your team.The human intelligence factor: Why technology makes growth possible, but people are the ones who make that growth meaningful.Managing a global workforce: How Nimble integrates offshore teams in the Philippines and Argentina to create a seamless client experience.Overcoming tech stack fatigue: Strategies for consolidating tools to improve internal efficiency and employee retention.Leadership mindset: The importance of progression over change and how to instill confidence in your team and your clients.For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this episode of On the Books, we talk about one of the hottest topics in the accounting industry: the talent and skills shortage. Joining us are Katie Rosenberg and Lynn Letukas from the Intuit for Education team to talk about Intuit’s bold mission to upskill the next generation, the impact of AI on early-career roles, and how modern accounting is currently one of the most tech-forward professionsIn This Episode, We Discuss:Intuit’s Bold Goals: How Intuit aims to help 50 million students become financially literate by 2030 and upskill 1 million future accounting professionals over the next five years.The Talent Pipeline: Addressing the 8% year-over-year decline in accounting graduates and the upcoming retirement of 70% of the current workforce.AI + HI: Why AI won't replace accountants, but rather empower them to focus on high-value advisory services and critical thinking.Hands-On Learning: Exploring the Food Truck Program and other simulations that give high school and college students real-world experience using tools like QuickBooks and Mailchimp.Changing the Narrative: Moving away from the "Big Four or bust" mentality to show students the diverse, tech-driven opportunities in the Client Advisory Services space.

"I believe we live in a world of confidence... AI will eliminate almost all the drudgery and manual work over time, but it will not change the importance of human interaction." — Sasan GoodarziIn this landmark episode, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken are joined by Sasan Goodarzi, the Chairman and CEO of Intuit. Sasan shares his unique leadership philosophy, the future of the "human-to-AI" connection, and how Intuit is revolutionizing the accounting industry through the newly launched Intuit Accountant Suite.In This Episode, We Discuss:The Pillars of Customer Obsession: Sasan breaks down his hands-on approach to leadership, including spending 30% of his time on the road, responding personally to customer escalations, and meeting directly with frontline engineers and sales teams.The Birth of "Intuit Intelligence": Sasan recounts a pivotal "aha moment" at an Accountant Council meeting. After seeing accountants manually use external AI tools due to safety concerns, he pivoted the company's strategy to build a secure, generative AI "thought partner" directly into the Intuit platform.AI + HI (Human Intelligence): A deep dive into why AI will never replace the accountant. Sasan emphasizes that while AI eliminates manual "drudgery," the "X-factor" remains the human confidence and expertise provided by accounting professionals.The Intuit Accountant Suite: Sasan discusses the vision behind this massive release—the biggest for the community in over a decade—designed to help firms manage their practice, clients, and workforce in one unified ecosystem. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com. And to see the full video of this episode head over to the Intuit Connect ON website.

In this episode of On the Books, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken head north to explore the global accounting landscape, starting with the Canadian market. They are joined by Mike Libbey, Partner and COO at YBL (formerly Your Bottom Line) and co-founder of Edgeflow.Mike shares his journey of scaling a 26-year-old family-run firm in Oshawa to a team of 33, while navigating the rapid technological shifts currently transforming the industry. From the nuances of Canadian capital gains tax to the "vibe coding" revolution, Mike provides a high-energy look at how firms can stay human in an increasingly automated world.In This Episode, We Discuss:The Canadian vs. US Market: Mike breaks down the similarities and key differences between the two markets, specifically regarding app availability and tax complexities.Scaling a Family Business: Insights into working alongside parents and siblings, and the professional maturity required to grow a family firm without losing the personal touch.Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty: How YBL is managing tariff uncertainty and impending changes to Canadian capital gains inclusion rates.The Power of "I Don't Know": Why radical candor and fact-checking are more important than ever in the age of AI.Vibe Coding and Custom Apps: Mike explains how he is building custom tools like Stash (in beta) to solve internal inefficiencies and why "vibe coding" is the most transformative thing to happen to his firm.The Human Differentiator: Why the future of accounting isn't just about compliance, but about being an integrated business partner that provides the human interaction AI can't replicate. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this episode, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken reflect on the transformative year of 2025 and look ahead to the future of the accounting profession. The episode features panel discussion from Intuit Connect, featuring industry leaders Dixie McCurley, Kim Blascoe, Greg Landers, and Liz Mason. The conversation moves beyond the buzzword of "advisory" to define the "augmented advisor"—a professional who leverages the power of technology to drive real economic impact. The discussion dives deep into the practicalities of integrating AI and human intelligence within accounting firms. The experts address the current trust gap regarding AI accuracy and emphasize the necessity of clean data architecture and strong data governance as the foundation for new technology. Looking toward the next generation of talent, the panel outlines how the accountant profile is evolving to require a blend of technical numeracy, data analytics, and the soft skills of storytelling and empathy. By embracing vulnerability and a willingness to learn in public, the panelist detailed how firms can close the gap between traditional compliance and high-value advisory, ultimately creating a more healthy and sustainable future for the industry. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this final episode of 2025, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken are joined by two exceptional guests to reflect on the year in accounting and look ahead to 2026: Becky Munson, a Partner in the Advisory Group at EisnerAmper, and Michael Hitchcock, Vice President of Product for Accounting and Accountants at Intuit. The four talk about the notable AI perception shift within the accounting community, the accelerating pace of change and the necessity for accounting firms to lean into innovation, a growing sense of app fatigue, the need for strong change management, and how accountants have become solution “builders” this year. The discussion also covers accelerated career trajectories for younger staff who can leverage technology to quickly ingest information, bypassing the need for decades of manual experience. And the group talks about why consolidation became the thing all accountants had to consider in 2025. Becky drops a brilliant perspective for the new year: the tech we have today is the worst it will ever be, meaning things are only going to get better and faster from here!Becky and Micahel also share what they are most excited about in 2026 and the group shares their thoughts on Metallica, My Morning Jacket, Eminem, and Peanut M&Ms. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

The Working Families Tax Cut, signed into law earlier this year, introduces several compliance changes that will impact payroll and tax filing for the 2025 tax year. This episode features Tanner Arnold, Staff Program Manager on the Intuit Payroll team, who dives into the specifics. Learn about the provisions for "no tax on tips" and "no tax on overtime," understanding the critical distinction between qualified and non-qualified tips and overtime. Tanner explains what accountants need to know about these changes and discusses what resources Intuit is providing to accountants and their clients. The episode also touches on future changes for 2026, including the introduction of new retirement accounts, and what you can do today to prepare for these new compliance requirements. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

This episode of the "On the Books" podcast celebrates its one-year anniversary and dives into the exciting launch of the Intuit Accountant Suite. Directors Karla Uribe and Jaclyn Anku join us to discuss the new firm-level product, which aims to be a single destination for all of your firm's work. Karla details how the suite was co-built with accountant feedback and introduces powerful features like Client Insights and enhanced user permissions. Additionally, Jaclyn deep-dives into the transformed ProAdvisor Program, which is now integrated directly into the Accountant Suite, offering new firm-based tiers, the CAS Foundations learning pathway, and a Training Manager experience to help leaders upskill their teams. The hosts also address the eventual sunset of QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) and encourage firms to opt-in to the new suite today to take advantage of its free core features and future premium innovations.And stick around to the end of the episode for a special Happy Thanksgiving wish for you all. For full show notes, visist firmofthefuture.com

At Intiut Connect, Jaclyn Anku, Principal Program Manager of ProAdvisor, was able to catch up with Professor David Waite of Utah Valley University who brought a group of accounting students to this year’s event. In Episode 14, we profiled Professor Waite and accountants Brittany Brown and Dan Luthi and their first-of-its-kind Client Advisor Services course at the university. Check out episode 14 for their initial story, then listen to the current episode for an update on the students' progress, the significance of attending Intuit Connect, and the program's second-semester developments.Plus Jaclyn details a new ProAdvisor student mentorship program and an exciting virtual opportunity for students in January 2026. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

Tune in to this episode of On The Books as host Jessica McCracken gives a sneak peek at the upcoming Intuit Connect conference in Las Vegas. Learn about what to expect at the tentpole event, including the main stage lineup featuring Intuit leaders, Queen Latifah, Brene Brown, John Foley, Vanessa Van Edwards, and Carla Hall.Jessica also details new event features like the Intuit Theater and Intuit-led breakout programming, as well as the unveiling of Intuit Accountant Suite. Hear from past On the Books guests and Connect speakers like Michael Hitchcock, Joe Preston, Chris Williams, Kane Polakoff, Erin Hutton, and Jacob Schroeder as they share details about their sessions and why you should connect with them at the event. Plus, Intuit Connect veteran and Founder and CEO of 1st Step Accounting, Nayo Carter-Gray joins the show to discuss why she keeps returning, her excitement for the main stage guests, and the Black Accountant Meetup she's hosting. Download the Intuit Connect app to start building your agenda now! For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com