Will AI replace accountants—or finally ease the profession’s talent shortage? Blake and David unpack why AI-exposed accounting roles are seeing pay rise, not fall; how EY cut audit deficiencies from 28% to under 5%; and why firms must give AI agents limited access and auditable logins. They also explore the coming firm structure: fewer staff, more AI agents, and partners focused on judgment, review, and client relationships.
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Chapters
- (00:00) - Staff Are Gone
(01:52) - Doctor Note AI Warning
(03:33) - AI Access Controls Lesson
(06:05) - Annual Reports Design
(07:59) - Taxing AI Debate
(13:08) - Audit Judgment Future
(19:11) - EY Audit Quality Surge
(23:05) - Meta Muse Microwave Moment
(29:52) - Apps Handing Off To Claude
(31:58) - AI As The Interface
(32:58) - LLMs Become The New OS
(34:15) - Where AI Captures Value
(35:29) - Platform Cloning Threats
(36:26) - Regulation Protects Fintech
(37:02) - Orchestrating Accounting Agents
(39:10) - One Universal Business Brain
(41:53) - Big Four Future In AI
(46:32) - KPMG Incubator Career Play
(49:52) - America Solopreneur Boom
(52:53) - Are Business Filings Real
(53:53) - Spotify Lessons For Firms
(58:18) - Accountant Turned Top DJ
(01:01:13) - Shakira Tax Residency Fight
(01:02:35) - Wrap Up And CPE Plug
Show Notes
The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical.
https://www.gatesnotes.com/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-make
US jobs paradox: AI-exposed roles see 46% pay surge even as AI-linked layoffs rise
https://businesstoday.in/technology/story/us-jobs-paradox-ai-exposed-roles-see-46-pay-surge-even-as-ai-linked-layoffs-rise-556730-2026-09-21
PCAOB's Logothetis: AI can only do part of an auditor's job
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaobs-logothetis-ai-can-only-do-part-of-an-auditors-job
EY reports improved audit quality
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ey-reports-improved-audit-quality
Introducing Muse: The World's First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyone
https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/
Expensify Becomes One of the First Expense Management Tools Available in Claude for Small Business
https://finviz.com/news/392305/expensify-becomes-one-of-the-first-expense-management-tools-available-in-claude-for-small-business
Xero Wherever You Work: Real-Time Financial Intelligence in Claude for Small Business and ChatGPT
https://blog.xero.com/product-updates/claude-for-small-business-chatgpt-ai-integrations-launch/
Avalara launches Aviator AI hub for tax compliance
https://itbrief.co.uk/story/avalara-launches-aviator-ai-hub-for-tax-compliance
Clients now expect some projects to happen twice as fast, PwC partner says
https://www.indiaipo.in/news/detail/clients-now-expect-some-projects-to-happen-twice-as-fast-pwc-partner
KPMG Announces Client Technology & Innovation Group to Build AI-Native Businesses
https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-announces-client-technology-innovation-group.html
America has become an entrepreneur's paradise
https://thenightly.com.au/business/the-economist-america-has-become-an-entrepreneurs-paradise-c-22636515
What accounting firms can learn from the music industry
https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/what-accounting-firms-can-learn-from-the-music-industry
John Summit Saved $20,000 and Quit His Accounting Job to Become a DJ. Now He's Building an Entertainment Empire
https://www.entrepreneur.com/building-a-business/john-summit-saved-20000-and-quit-his-accounting-job-to-become-a-dj-now-hes-building-an-entertainment-empire
Shakira takes Spain stage as court reviews $63M tax claim
https://www.accountingtoday.com/articles/shakira-takes-spain-stage-as-court-reviews-63m-tax-claim
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Get in Touch
Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.
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