The True Cost of Losing Your Best People

Designing a Firm for the Future

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] What does it actually look like to build an accounting firm designed for the future? In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Rachel Farris, CPA, founder of a boutique advisory firm and TaxStack AI, about specialization, talent, pricing, AI adoption, and the evolving narrative around accounting careers. Rachel shares why narrowing a firm’s focus can strengthen client relationships and reduce operational friction, how firms can rethink hiring and onboarding, and why the profession’s talent challenges are about more than compensation alone. The conversation also explores fixed-fee pricing, responsible AI adoption, and the importance of building firms around flexibility, curiosity, and people-first leadership. Rachel offers a candid perspective on what accounting firms may need to rethink over the next decade: From the way they recruit talent to the way they define value for both employees and clients.

Is Your Governance Built for What’s Ahead? (Part 2)

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] In part two of this conversation, Rob Brown continues the discussion with Gary Thomson and David Bundy on one of the biggest challenges facing accounting firms today: governance that no longer fits the complexity of the modern firm. The conversation explores the warning signs of outdated governance structures, why consensus-driven decision making can slow firms down and how leaders can navigate the difficult transition from partner-led management to more scalable leadership models. Gary and David share practical insights on accountability, trust, change management and the importance of aligning governance with the firm’s future strategy. They also discuss why governance isn’t just a compliance exercise, it’s a foundational element that either enables or limits growth, innovation, and succession planning. For managing partners and firm leaders asking whether their current structure is ready for what’s ahead, this episode offers a candid and practical perspective on where to start.

Is Your Governance Built for What’s Ahead? (Part 1)

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] Governance may sound like a back-office topic, but it directly impacts how firms grow, compete and make decisions. In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Rob Brown sits down with Gary Thomson and David Bundy of Thompson Consulting to discuss why governance has become one of the most important conversations in the profession today. The conversation explores how governance affects everything from decision-making speed and succession planning to M&A activity, technology investments and leadership development. Gary and David explain why many firms are realizing that the structures which worked in the past may not support the pace and complexity of today’s accounting environment. They also discuss the importance of having the right people making key decisions, why governance should evolve alongside firm strategy, and how firms can stay competitive while preserving the culture and values that made them successful. For managing partners and firm leaders navigating growth and change, this episode offers practical insight into what governance really means and why it matters more than ever.

From Reactive to Intentional: What’s Emerging Across the Profession

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] Conference season is underway, and Chelsea Summers is sharing the conversations that are surfacing across the accounting profession, not just on stage, but in hallways, dinners, and between sessions. In this solo bonus episode, Chelsea breaks down five themes showing up repeatedly across firms this year: a more mature approach to consolidation and private equity, AI moving beyond experimentation into practical application, the growing pressure to rethink traditional firm metrics, the structural barriers holding advisory growth back, and a talent market that’s finally beginning to stabilize. Rather than reacting to constant change, firms are starting to make more deliberate decisions about how they want to grow, structure their teams, and define success in the years ahead. If you’re a firm leader thinking about culture, technology, advisory, or the future of your business model, this episode offers a grounded look at where the profession stands today, and where it may be headed next.

Benefits That Matter: Rethinking the Employee Experience

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] Compensation matters, but it’s no longer enough. In this episode, Chelsea Summers and Rob Brown break down new insights from the 2025 IPA HR Report to explore what’s really driving recruitment and retention in today’s talent market. From remote work and flexibility to parental leave, mentoring and overlooked benefits like elder care, the conversation highlights where firms are meeting expectations and where they’re falling short. What used to be considered “progressive” is now table stakes. And firms that continue to treat flexibility and work-life balance as perks, not fundamentals, are making unintentional retention decisions. The good news? Some of the most impactful changes don’t require big budgets. Small, intentional moves like summer hours, stay interviews and better communication can significantly improve the employee experience. If your firm is still trying to solve retention with compensation alone, this episode offers a practical reset.