PE, M&A, and AI: What Accounting Firms Need to Know Now for 2026

Why Culture Beats Capital in Building Independent CPA Firms | Carla McCall

“You're not going to take an old process and fit it into a new tech box.” Carla McCall [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamccallaaf/⁠] believes the firms struggling most with AI are often the ones trying hardest to preserve the way they’ve always operated. As Managing Partner of AAFCPAs and former Chair of the AICPA, Carla shares why firms need to rethink management habits, communication structures, and even how young professionals are trained in an AI-enabled world. Tune in to hear how AAFCPAs scaled from $16M to nearly $80M by building a people-first culture. Connect with us here: 1. Carla McCall- https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamccallaaf/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamccallaaf/] 2. Kacee Johnson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/] 3. Digits- https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/] (00:00) Trailer (01:11) Introduction (03:22) The path to becoming managing partner (05:17) Lessons from chairing the AICPA (07:39) Launching work from anywhere (09:22) What changed to make remote work successful (12:33) Happy team members equal happy clients (14:57) Organic growth without PE (18:30) What to say to leaders pushing return to office (22:42) What young talent actually wants from firms (25:16) How AI is reshaping early career work (27:23) Rolling out an enterprise-wide LLM (32:51) Starting with agentic pilots in audit (35:31) The highest value role for accountants going forward (39:43) Lightning round (41:23) Wrap-up

A Top 20 Accounting Firm's AI Playbook, Without the Hype | Tom DeMayo, PKF

Most accounting firms are jumping into AI headfirst, buying tools, chasing models, and wondering why nothing is sticking. Thomas DeMayo, AI lead at PKF O'Connor Davies, one of the top 20 accounting firms in the country, has a different approach entirely. He breaks down why your knowledge layer has to come before any tool decision, what AI can and cannot do in audit, and why the billable hour is already on its way out. If you're a firm leader trying to build an AI strategy that holds up over time, this one is worth your time. Connect with us here: * Thomas DeMayo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-demayo-002bbb71/] * Kacee Johnson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/] * AI Native Accounting [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ai-native-accounting-foundation/] * Digits [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/] * PFK O’Connor Davies [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pkf-oconnor-davies/] (00:00) Trailer (01:08) Introduction (03:16) From help desk to cyber security to AI leadership (05:15) What architecture first means in practice (08:35) Owning the data layer versus third-party tools (10:36) The governance council and risk management (13:23) Mistakes firms make chasing the hype (15:52) Balancing innovation with technical controls (17:15) Overcoming fear and resistance to AI adoption (19:04) Use cases delivering real value (22:42) AI in audit and regulatory sensitivity (24:28) Training programs and AI champions (26:02) How AI might change roles in firms (28:05) The road map to agentic workflows (28:54) Fee pressure and value-based billing (30:17) Advice for smaller firms (31:44) Lightning round (34:23) Wrap-up

Accounting’s Biggest Shift in 100 Years | Allan Koltin

If AI can deliver the outputs, why would clients still pay for the accountant? Allan Koltin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-koltin-24a8181/], CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, joins Kacee Johnson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/] to explore how accounting firms must evolve from service providers to value creators in a rapidly changing landscape. They also explore: * Why firms heavily dependent on compliance may see revenue decline * Private equity is moving from large firms to mid-sized and even smaller firms * Why the “talent shortage” may solve itself as the nature of work shifts * Many firms are held back by partnership models that can’t make fast or tough decisions Connect with us here: 1. Allan Koltin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-koltin-24a8181/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-koltin-24a8181/] 2. Kacee Johnson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/] 3. AI Native Accounting Foundation - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ai-native-accounting-foundation/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ai-native-accounting-foundation/] 4. Digits - https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/] (00:00) Trailer (01:02) Introduction (02:07) Structural forces reshaping the profession (06:22) By 2030, accountants won't prepare returns (10:45) AI and the repricing of compliance work (17:13) How AI impacts firm valuations and deals (22:24) Where the PE narrative has outpaced reality (29:10) Organic growth without M&A (34:36) The cross-selling mindset problem (37:13) Culture and leadership as the differentiator (41:50) Lightning round (47:07) Wrap-up

The AI Advantage Accounting Firms Aren't Seeing Yet

We may be overestimating AI adoption today, and underestimating its long-term impact. Kimberly Ellison-Taylor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-n-ellison-taylor-b1a13a2/⁠], Founder and CEO of KET Solutions LLC and past Chair of the AICPA, joins Kacee Johnson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/⁠] to explore how leaders are preparing for a more AI enabled profession. She challenges traditional views on ROI by shifting the focus from cost savings to productivity and impact, and explains why AI fluency requires dedicated time to learn rather than just pressure to adopt. 1. Kimberly Ellison-Taylor- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-n-ellison-taylor-b1a13a2/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-n-ellison-taylor-b1a13a2/] 2. Kacee Johnson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/] 3. Digits- https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/] (00:00) Trailer (01:02) Introduction (02:09) Where is accounting with AI right now? (03:47) AI governance as a board-level issue (04:57) What boards expect from operators on AI (06:53) Signals that management is being thoughtful (09:17) Explainability and accountability in AI (11:30) ROI on AI initiatives (14:41) Innovation isn't a checkbox (17:02) Will AI reduce headcount in the profession? (21:31) Industry investment in upskilling (24:17) AI fluent versus AI fearful workforce (28:51) Lack of imagination as a risk factor (31:07) AI's role in education and learning (34:17) What we're overestimating and underestimating (39:20) Embedded finance and shifting client expectations (40:15) Kimberly's career aha moment (43:00) AI tools she uses personally (43:58) Book recommendations (45:00) Wrap-up and where to learn more

PE, M&A, and AI: What Accounting Firms Need to Know Now for 2026

In accounting, complexity has never been higher, and neither has opportunity. With Top 100 firms growing 8.58% in 2025, Daniel Hood, Editor-in-Chief of Accounting Today, joins Kacee Johnson to unpack why firms between below $1B are outperforming the broader market. They also get into: • How cross-selling improves client retention and increases revenue per client • Why growth is funding technology investments rather than technology driving growth To further discover why 2026 is shaping up to be “the year of the client,” dive in here: https://www.accountingtoday.com/2026-the-top-100-firms-and-regional-leaders [https://www.accountingtoday.com/2026-the-top-100-firms-and-regional-leaders] Connect with us here:  1. Daniel Hood- https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-hood-3494ab49/  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-hood-3494ab49/ ] 2. Kacee Johnson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/ ] 3. Digits- https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/ ]