Episode: The Future of Accounting is Human
Pub date: 2026-06-11
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Karl Paadam made partner at PwC Estonia at 26, spent a decade in tech, and came back to build United Accountants on a contrarian thesis: the future of accounting is human. He joins Blake to explain how a firm can hand bookkeeping, categorization, and reconciliation to an AI operating system that layers on top of whatever software a firm already runs, freeing CPAs to keep their local brand and focus on judgment and advisory work. They also get into outcomes-based pricing, what it means to build "the first big small firm," and why the accountant who ignores AI is the one who gets replaced.
Chapters
- (00:00) - Welcome Karl Paadam to the Earmark Podcast
(01:51) - Building a Practice
(02:40) - Leaving PwC for Tech
(03:29) - Accounting Is Human
(05:17) - Advisory Skills Shift
(06:35) - AI Productivity in Practice
(09:25) - United OS Walkthrough
(10:34) - Partner Model Keep Brand
(14:50) - Integrations No Rip Replace
(18:44) - First Big Small Firm
(21:48) - Outcomes Based Pricing
(25:00) - AI Like Excel Era
(28:05) - What AI Does Next
(29:21) - Fear Traps and Controls
(32:39) - Who United Fits Best
(33:25) - Wrap Up and Contact
Learn more about United Accountants
https://www.unitedaccountants.com/
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Connect with Our Guest, Karl Paadam
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/karl-paadam-39730214
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/
The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Blake Oliver, CPA, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.