Why Great Companies Put People First - Monica Siciliano

Why Great Companies Put People First - Monica Siciliano

Most business owners think payroll is their biggest expense. Monica Siciliano sees it differently. She believes people are a company's greatest opportunity. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Monica Siciliano, Partner at De Novo HR Consulting and Zinman & Company, to discuss leadership, business advisory, human resources, and what really drives long-term business success. Monica shares how she transitioned from business operations into HR consulting, why accounting and human capital naturally overlap, and what entrepreneurs often underestimate when building a company. They also discuss career changes, generational leadership, company culture, and why fulfillment matters just as much as financial success. If you're building an accounting firm—or any business—this conversation offers practical lessons that go far beyond accounting. 🎯 What you'll learn • Why payroll is more than just an expense • The overlap between HR and accounting • What entrepreneurs underestimate about hiring • Why career changes aren't failures • Managing different generations in the workplace • Balancing fulfillment, enjoyment and financial success • Advice for firm owners and business leaders 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ [https://southoffices.com/] 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ [https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/] 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices [https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices] TOPICS COVERED • Monica's path into HR consulting • Becoming partner at Zinman & Company • Why people drive business performance • Working with entrepreneurs • Young professionals and credibility • Generational leadership • Challenges every growing business faces • Advice for founders • Career fulfillment vs financial success

How to Grow an Accounting Firm Through Referrals and Relationship - Seth Kamens

Most accounting firm owners focus on technical expertise. Seth Kamens believes that's the wrong place to start. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Seth Kamens, founder of Kamens & Associates, to discuss how he grew a firm from a handful of clients into a practice serving more than 2,000 clients across the world. Seth shares why he left corporate accounting, what he learned from Big Four culture, and how listening became one of the most valuable skills in his career. They discuss building trust with clients, growing through networking, scaling a firm organically, and why the best accountants aren't necessarily the smartest people in the room. Along the way, Seth shares stories about his first major client, receiving a call from a client who received a billion-dollar acquisition offer, and how accounting relationships often become much more than vendor relationships. If you're building an accounting firm—or simply want to become a better advisor—this episode is packed with practical lessons. 🎯 What You'll Learn • Why Seth left corporate accounting • Building a firm from 15 clients to 2,500+ • The networking strategy that grew his practice • Why listening is more important than selling • How to build long-term client trust • Lessons from scaling a boutique firm • Why relationships matter more than expertise • Advice for accountants starting a firm today 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ [https://southoffices.com/] 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ [https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/] 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices [https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices] TOPICS COVERED • Leaving Deloitte and corporate accounting • Starting a firm from scratch • Growing through networking and referrals • The difference between Big Four and boutique firms • Why clients hire accountants they trust • From 15 clients to thousands • The billion-dollar client story • Sales without selling • Advice for future firm owners

Building a Virtual Accounting Firm Before Remote Work Was Cool - Josh Zweig

Remote work wasn't trendy in 2012. For most accounting firms, it wasn't even an option. But that's exactly when Josh Zweig decided to build a virtual accounting firm. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Josh Zweig, Co-Founder and CEO of LiveCA, to discuss how a simple desire for location freedom led to one of Canada's first fully virtual accounting firms. Josh shares his journey from PwC to entrepreneurship, how he built a remote practice using Skype and QuickBooks Desktop, and what it was like convincing clients—and the accounting profession—that work didn't need to happen inside an office. They also discuss living in Argentina, building a distributed team, delegation mistakes, the evolution of accounting technology, and how AI is changing the profession today. If you're building a modern accounting firm, this episode offers a unique perspective from someone who was doing remote accounting long before it became mainstream. 🎯 What You'll Learn • How Josh built a virtual accounting firm in 2012 • Why remote work was controversial in accounting • The early days of cloud accounting • Lessons from scaling a distributed team • Delegation mistakes firm owners make • How AI is changing accounting roles • Why human accountability still matters • What future accounting firms may look like 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ [https://southoffices.com/] 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ [https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/] 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices [https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices] TOPICS COVERED • Josh's journey from PwC to entrepreneurship • Becoming one of Canada's first virtual accountants • Building LiveCA remotely in 2012 • The evolution of cloud accounting • Remote work before it became mainstream • Living and working from Argentina • AI's impact on accounting firms • Human accountability vs automation • Delegation and scaling lessons • Advice for future firm owners

Entrepreneurship, Culture & Building with Purpose — Josh Schneider

In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Josh Schneider, CEO of Multiply Advisors, to talk about entrepreneurship, culture, personal growth, and what it really means to build a business with purpose. Josh shares his journey from leaving the CPA firm world behind to becoming an entrepreneur, the struggles of building from scratch, and how a painful experience with his own accountant ultimately led him to launch Multiply Advisors. The conversation dives deep into topics that go far beyond accounting — including fear of success, leadership, employee growth, entrepreneurship mindset, and why work should give something back to people instead of simply draining them. We also discuss company culture, helping employees grow as humans (not just workers), finding rhythm instead of balance, and how entrepreneurs can stay focused through uncertainty. Plus — Josh shares his love for pizza 🍕 and Mediterranean food 🥙. Because behind every balance sheet, there’s a story worth telling. 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ [https://southoffices.com/] 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ [https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/] 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices [https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices] TOPICS COVERED • Leaving the CPA firm world to become an entrepreneur  • Why Josh founded Multiply Advisors  • The fear of success vs. fear of failure  • Entrepreneurship and personal growth  • Building culture with high expectations and high grace  • Why work should help humans grow  • Finding rhythm instead of balance  • Leadership, employee engagement & curiosity  • Advice for entrepreneurs starting a firm  • Favorite foods: pizza 🍕 & Mediterranean food 🥙

Processes Build Better Businesses — Nicole Rose Yen

Most entrepreneurs think growth comes from working harder. Nicole Rose Yen believes it comes from better processes. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Alex Roman sits down with Nicole Rose Yen, Founder of Aerial Core, to talk about building systems that actually support growth. Nicole shares how her background in software and medical businesses led her into accounting, why she pivoted from healthcare into construction and manufacturing, and how helping small businesses became her mission. They also discuss why processes should exist from day one, how strong systems improve culture, and why businesses struggle when everything depends on one person. Plus: sushi vs asado, hobbies outside work, and why every founder should protect time away from the business. If you’re building a business—or thinking about starting one—this episode is packed with practical advice. 🎯 What you’ll learn: • Why processes matter from day one • How to scale without chaos • Why niching down sometimes happens accidentally • Building cross-trained teams • Why hobbies actually improve your business • Construction & manufacturing accounting insights • The mindset needed to grow a business 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ [https://southoffices.com/] 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/ [https://southoffices.com/nearshore-accounting-company/] 📞 Talk to a CPA-led nearshore team specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices [https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices] 📌 Topics Covered • Nicole’s background in software & healthcare • Starting in bookkeeping during COVID • Why small businesses matter • Expanding into HR & back-office services • Pivoting into construction & manufacturing • Why hobbies improve business performance • Building process-driven companies • Cross-trained teams & operational resilience • Advice for entrepreneurs starting businesses • Why businesses break without systems