On The Books

On this episode of On the Books, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken welcome Dan Hood, Editor-in-Chief at Accounting Today, to discuss the biggest trends and disruptions facing the accounting profession, particularly as firms look ahead to 2026. Dan shares his take on the multiple crossroads the industry faces, focusing on the significant impact of technology (especially AI), ongoing staffing and capacity issues, and the influence of private equity. He emphasizes that for firms to thrive, they must view change as permanent and develop the core competency of continuous adaptation. The conversation also looks at how companies are hiring and making changes. It highlights the change to human intelligence and advisory services like Client Accounting Services (CAS).For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In episode 21, Chris Willams, CEO of System Six summarized the key focus areas of any merger or acquisition as “get the keys to the technology and focus on the people.” Practically, what is entailed in‌ getting the keys to the technology?Erin Hutton and Janelle Fox have lived this experience. Both were accounting firm leaders at a large top 40-firm and now work at Intuit helping firms navigate technology changes necessitated by a merger or acquisition. Erin and Janelle discuss who owns which software and data, how to ensure contracts are transferred to the new firm and the best lens to use when prioritizing technology decisions. The group also talks about the role of AI, data cleanup, and truly how to simplify a firm’s tech stack. For more full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

Private equity and accounting. Let’s talk about it. Hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken talk with Jacob Schoeder, founder and CEO of Asecend Consulting about what private equity investment means for accounting, if this is a phase or a durable reality in the industry, and other growth strategies available for firms. The trio talks about what role innovation plays in determining growth strategies and what firm leaders must consider when thinking about private equity investments. Don’t miss Jacob’s session at Intuit Connect, where he will deep dive growth strategies outside of private equity with a panel of firm leaders who have chosen other paths. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this episode of On the Books, Ted and Jessica sit down with Chris Williams, the founder of System Six, a fully remote outsourced accounting business with 50 team members across three countries, to talk about the human side of mergers and acquisitions. The group talks about best practices in identifying firm goals before stepping into an M&A conversation, the right mindset for those conversations, and how to truly put staff and clients first in the middle of a change. And Chris was kind enough to humor Ted and Jessica’s lightning round questions. Don't miss Chris’s session at Intuit Connect, where he will discuss post-acquisition integration alongside leaders from Acuity and EisnerAmper. Chris highlights that the panel will provide a tactical look at how different-sized firms approach integrating clients, technology, and people. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

Here is a much-needed dose of accountant wisdom.Get ready for a deep dive into the evolving world of Client Advisory Services (CAS). In this episode, Ted and Jessica are joined by special guest Kane Polakoff, Partner and Practice Leader at CohnReznick and a pioneer in the CAS space. The trio talk about the increasing demand for CAS and its rapid growth, with CohnReznick experiencing over 60% practice growth last year. The group also discusses how the talent profile for CAS is changing, with a need for analytical, dynamic, and communicative individuals who are open to change and skilled in problem-solving. The conversation also covers the critical role of technology in CAS, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on client expectations and technology adoption, and the importance of change management for both clients and firms. With his characteristic humor, Kane shares his passion for making CAS a more appealing career path for recent college graduates and discusses the challenges and opportunities in building awareness for the profession. Be sure to catch the rapid-fire section at the end where Kane tries to sell Ted on the superiority of Detrot’s sports teams and mic-drop pitch for anyone interested in working with his team at CohnReznick. Tune in and be encouraged by the direction of CAS accounting. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com.

In our latest On the Books episode, we explore the insights gathered from the 2025 Intuit QuickBooks Accountant Technology Survey. The survey sheds light on accountants' perspectives on the current technology landscape, including the benefits and challenges you face, as well as the evolving nature of your work. Key findings include insights into technology standardization, the integration of AI in accounting practices, and the state of technology training within firms.We also take a look at what you told us about your clients’ sentiments and expectations around technology adoption. For full show notes, head over to firmofthefuture.com

“Our mantras have been, ‘we will turn it on for every firm once we’ve earned the right’ and ‘every click matters.’”If you have been curious about the new QuickBooks Accounting Agent, we can help. In this episode of On the Books, Michael Hitchcock, VP of Product for Core FMS at Intuit, joins Ted and Jessica to delve into the AI Accounting Agent, an important piece of the groundbreaking new agentic technology in QuickBooks.Michael walks through the key features of the Accounting Agent such as AI-powered bank feeds that improve categorization accuracy and the 'ready to post' functionality that simplifies transaction management. The team also discusses the importance of review and approval capabilities for all agentic work and how his team worked to maintain control for accountants. The discussion emphasizes the benefits of increased efficiency, better data accuracy, and the ability for firms to focus on strategic client advice. For full show notes, log on to firmofthefuture.com

Meet your AI-sherpa, your guide, in this new accounting frontier. Chad Davis, Co-Founder and Partner of LiveCA, joins Ted and Jessica to talk about his journey with AI in accounting. Chad's interest in AI grew as he saw its potential to revolutionize the accounting industry. He has since become a leading expert and speaker on the subject, implementing robust AI solutions in his firm and fostering a community of learning and support through Automation Town, a group of accountants interested in how AI can be integrated into their work. This episode explores the importance of education, trust, and adaptability in embracing AI, and how Chad's experiences can inspire other accountants to lean into the future of their profession.And in true summer road trip vibes, we also talk with Chad about what it is like to live with is family and run a firm from his RV while traveling around Canada and the U.S. For full show notes, check out firmofthefuture.com

You may have heard. QuickBooks is getting a glow-up.In this episode of the podcast, Ted and Jessica sit down with Joe Preston, Vice President of Product and Design at Intuit, to explore the exciting new QuickBooks experience. Joe talks through why these changes and why now. He also details the multi-month journey to develop the new changes team's focus on providing new tools to improve productivity and efficiency. The group talks through:New agentic technologyA new business feed and new customer hubThe rigorous testing and responsible AI practices that help ensure the changes are both innovative and secureAnd the group discusses what’s NOT changing in QuickBooks For full show notes, check out firmofthefuture.com

How do you talk about your firm? How do you find new clients, or honestly, how do new clients find YOU? How do you (gasp!) market your services? Referrals remain strong, but there's a whole world of communication methods and ideas that have entered the industry.
 
Business development doesn't look the same as it did just a few short years ago. Social media, always-on content, video, audio … there are a million new ways to reach potential clients, while the trust and relationship part remains the same.
 
Keila Hill-Trawick, founder and CEO of Little Fish Accounting, does this better than almost anyone in the industry. On the episode, we talk with Keila about:
 
The differences in communicating with potential clients from what worked just a few short years ago.
The unchanging nature of referrals and relationships.  
Honing in on the ideal client for your firm.
Why it's important to keep talking about your services, even if hiring and retention are hard.
The approach to social media that has worked for her.
 
If you are responsible for marketing or any communication to potential clients at any size firm, there's wisdom in this episode for you. 
 
For more information:
Keila Hill Trawick
Little Fish Accounting’s LinkedIn