Andrew Hunzicker is the Founder of Dope CFO, a comprehensive cannabis accounting and tax training program, which helps firms in over 25 states unlock a new world of clients. In this episode, Andrew shares his professional journey, how he started working in the cannabis industry, and what cannabis accounting looks like. Stuart and Andrew also discuss the complexities that he faces in his work, and how the government treats cannabis businesses.

It’s high time for cannabis accounting: How Andrew Hunzicker is transforming services for this niche market

AndrewHunzicker

Andrew Hunzicker

This episode marks the Accounting Leaders Podcast’s 50th release. To celebrate, we flipped the tables on our show host and Karbon CEO, Stuart McLeod. No question was off limits. In this episode, Karbon’s Content Marketing Specialist, Jess Marcello, and Marketing Development Manager, George Connor, had a lively conversation with Stuart about the hardest part of running a growing firm, how to find meaning and purpose in work, Karbon’s culture, Stuart’s favorite Karbon employee, and everything in between.

50th episode special: Flipping the tables on Stuart McLeod (with Jess Marcello & George Connor)

Jess, George, and Stuart Headshot

Jess, George, and Stuart

Zane Stevens is the Director of Protea Financial—an accounting and bookkeeping firm specializing in wineries. In this episode, Zane talks about his life in South Africa, how he got into accounting, and what made him move to the US to start working in the winery consulting space. Zane and Stuart discuss what’s unique about winery accounting, how they attract clients, and what the future holds for Protea Financial.

Full-bodied wine and accounting

Zane Stevens

Jim Dunham is the President and General Manager of IRIS Software Group. With over 25 years of experience leading enterprise software companies across the public and private sectors, Jim is a seasoned executive in accountancy and tax markets. In this episode, Jim shares the story of his professional journey, his experience working in different industries, and how he ended up in accounting. Stuart and Jim discuss how cloud technology changed everything, how it developed over time, and where the most value is created.

Friendly fire between Karbon and IRIS

JimDunham

Jim Dunham

Michael Ly is the Founder and CEO of Reconciled—a virtual bookkeeping and accounting firm for busy business owners and entrepreneurs across the US. He is also a Co-Founder of PunchPay—a small micro-loan fintech startup that offers post-payment and micro-installment loans for small business expenses. In this episode, Michael shares how his family escaped Cambodia as refugees and relied on entrepreneurship to survive the new world, his introduction to accounting, and the entrepreneurial spirit running throughout his family. 

When entrepreneurship is in your blood

MichaelLy

Michael Ly

Joe Cox is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ecommerce Accountants LLP—the leading accountancy in the UK for e-commerce businesses. In this episode, Joe shares his story of being an e-commerce seller who spotted an opportunity to serve like-minded entrepreneurs in the accounting domain (eventually creating Ecommerce Accountants). Joe and Stuart discuss the trajectory of Ecommerce Accountants, their tech stack, the nuances of working in this niche, the impact of COVID and Brexit on e-commerce, and Joe’s passion for traveling.

E-commerce accounting: the evolving niche

JoeCox

Joe Cox

Graeme Tennick is the Founder and Chief Legacy Maker at Tennick Accountants. Before founding his own company, Graeme worked in a small accounting practice and eventually moved to senior roles in PwC and public sector organizations. In this episode, Graeme shares his professional journey, entrepreneurial passion from a young age, and business-first accounting second approach. Graeme and Stuart also discuss an accountant's purpose and the rewarding impact they can have on their clients’ lives.

An accountant’s mission to change livelihoods

GraemeTennick

Graeme Tennick

Gary Bell is the Co-Founder and Partner at FLB Accountants, an independent firm of Chartered Accountants based in the UK. In this episode, Gary and Stuart chat about Gary’s experience attending the first-ever Karbon customer conference in Lake Tahoe, FLB’s rationale for going hybrid, working with high-profile clients such as Apple TV, Netflix, and Amazon, and some exciting projects he’s working on in the renewable energy space.

Water cooler talks, high-profile clients, and strategic expansion with Gary Bell

Gary Bell

Martin Bown is the founder and managing director of My Management Accountant—an accountancy service that works with small businesses across the UK to help them save time and money. In this episode, Martin shares his professional journey, My Management Accountant's story, and how they operate. Martin and Stuart also discuss his life outside of work, including sports and the joys of living the village life with his family.

In the business of helping businesses: How Martin Bown found his purpose as an accountant

MartinBown

Martin Bown

Twyla Verhelst is the Head of FreshBooks Accountant Channel, leading the Accounting Partner Program, and has been recognized as one of Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting. In this episode, Twyla and Stuart discuss the state of the accounting profession, how COVID forced the industry to evolve and why there is a shortage of young professionals in the industry. They also talk about the importance of diversity, the accounting community, and what running a marathon and running a business have in common.

How Twyla Verhelst is influencing the next generation of accountants

TwylaVerhelst2

Twyla Verhelst

Kyle Bryant is the Managing Partner of Market Street Partners in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Kyle oversees the firm’s operations and has provided assurance, tax, and business consulting services for more than a decade. In this episode, Kyle and Stuart discuss the rapid growth of Chattanooga, what attracts businesses to invest in the region, and what the projections are for the future. As a manager of the largest transaction in Chattanooga’s history, Kyle is a top-tier professional in his city and gives an insight into how accounting is developing the Tennessee market.

Small town accounting and big city finances

KyleBryant

Kyle Bryant

Chris Williams is the CEO of System Six, a modern accounting firm focused on providing dream accounting careers to their team members and superior services for their clients. In this episode, Chris explains how to achieve just that, including the criteria for selecting System Six for acquisition and what challenges he faced along the way. Besides Chris' journey with System Six, he and Stuart also discuss life outside work, the best golf spots in the Bay Area, and how his wedding preparation is going.

Acquiring a business the right way

Chris Williams

Andrew Jordon is the CEO and Founder of Connect4, a meeting platform that enables structured and efficient client meetings. Apart from a successful business career, Andrew is also the youngest trustee and treasurer at Prison Fellowship, the world's largest Christian non-profit organization for prisoner and justice reform. In this episode, Andrew and Stuart talk about Andrew's early career, the story of finding Connect4 and where it's heading. They also discuss charity, and how Andrew's values in business align with values outside of work.

Enacting change: One tech tool and one inmate at a time

AndrewJordon

Andrew Jordon

Dave is the Founder of Tidemark. He has 20+ years of experience in investing, advising, and building technology companies. In this episode, Dave and Stuart discuss the difference between technology companies in 1999 vs. 2021, how technology in accounting has been developing, and why Dave chooses to work with B2B software companies. Dave also talks about his passion for venture capital, and what the future holds for him and his company.

Why I invested in Karbon

DaveYuan

David Yuan

Martin Chee is the CFO and Co-Founder at Amaka, an accounting integrations system that allows firms to automate their data entry processes. In this episode, Martin and Stuart dive into the story of Amaka, how it delivers value to clients, and the challenges and complexities that Martin faces in this niche. They also discuss Martin’s professional journey, how to work with clients efficiently, and the impact the pandemic had on his business.

From serving tables to building a leading accounting integrations system

MartinChee

Martin Chee

Simon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Stamped Technologies, a tech-enabled audit firm focusing on year-end compliance services that leverage technology, purposely built AI, and seasoned CPAs. In this episode, Simon and Stuart discuss the technological advancements in the accounting industry, Simon’s career journey, and the story of Stamped. They deep-dive into the application of AI in the industry and how Simon sees the development of Stamped in the future.

Can AI battle the Great Resignation in accounting? 

SimonLanglois

Simon Langlois

Jeremy Hyman is the Founder and Principal of Jeremy Hyman Associates, an IT services and consulting company that helps firms make sound IT decisions. With over 25 years of experience in the professional services sector and a degree in law, Jeremy is an IT manager, partner, software developer, and management consultant. In this episode, Jeremy and Stuart discuss multiple technological breakthroughs over the last two years, as well as some things to keep an eye out in the future. They also chat about remote work, the new reality of virtual meetings, and how technology distracts us on a day-to-day basis. 

Post-pandemic work-life, Pomodoro, and the future of technology

Jeremy Hyman

Edward Chan is a Co-Founder of Wize Mentoring and a Non-Executive Chairman at Chan & Naylor. He started Chan & Naylor from his kitchen table and grew it to 10 offices around Australia with 160 staff and 15,000 clients. He then co-founded Wize Mentoring, which is now in 47 countries, connecting over 125,000 accountants. In this episode, Ed shares his tips on how to grow your business without sacrificing your life. He and Stuart dig into the success of Chan & Naylor, what the process of expanding the company looked like and what you need to do to find yourself.

[FREE Downloadable Playbook for Accountants - 3 Strategies to unlock a 20-Hour Workweek!](https://www.wizementoring.com/the-accountants-20hr-workweek-playbook-partnerships "Playbook for Accountants ")

The secrets to growing your business without sacrificing your life

EdChan

Ed Chan

Matthew May is the VP of Sales & Marketing at Acuity, a virtual accounting solution for entrepreneurs. In this episode, Matthew and Stuart discuss how important it is to have a partner and mutual support in both rewarding and challenging times. They also talk about how Acuity has transformed throughout the years and the main challenges of a company's growth. Tune in for this inspirational discussion that dives deep into the challenges of partnership and leadership.

Deep-diving into the challenges of leadership

MatthewMay

Matthew May

Jeff Phillips is the CEO of Padgett, one of the largest tax and accounting firms in North America. He also founded the recruitment platform Accountingfly in 2012 and has been recognized as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People for helping solve the hiring challenges of CPA firms. In this episode, Jeff and Stuart discuss combining work with vacation while being remote, the story of Accountingfly, and what it takes to be a great leader. They also talk about holidays, Jeff's trip to Costa Rica, and how taking mangoes from someone's tree is acceptable.

Go remote or go home: Why remote work is the key to success for any modern accounting firm

JeffPhillips

Jeff Phillips

Kenji Kuramoto is the Founder & CEO of Acuity, one of the largest CAS accounting firms in the US. Kenji has provided thousands of companies with a full range of financial solutions, from high-level strategic financial counsel to virtualized bookkeeping and tax services. In this episode, Kenji and Stuart discuss the challenges of growing a company, building a strong culture, and the importance of being flexible for employees. They also talk about discussing sensitive topics in the workplace, and what’s coming next for Acuity.

The pros and cons of company growth

KenjiKuramoto

Kenji Kuramoto

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at AICPA, Crystal Cooke focuses on increasing the representation of minority groups in the accounting profession. In this episode, Crystal explains the current state of diversity and inclusion in the accounting industry, including ways to promote it and what AICPA is doing about it. Join Crystal and Stuart as they dissect the typical profile of the US accountant, and delve into the statistics around minority professionals.

The importance of diversity and inclusion

CrystalCooke,jpg

Crystal Cooke

Joe David is the Founder and Managing Director of two UK-based firms: Nephos and a leading crypto accounting firm, Myna. In this episode, Stuart and Joe discuss crypto accounting and regulations, what the future of this space might look like, and how it can change our lives. Tune in for a great chat to learn about crypto and the future of podcasts in the metaverse.

Crypto accounting, blockchain, and the metaverse

JoeDavid

Joe David

Katie Bryan is the CEO and Founder of Propeller Advisory—a successful multi-figure accounting and business advisory firm based in Melbourne, Australia. She’s a business owner, mum to a newborn, wife, sister, and also helps her clients build businesses and lives they deserve. In this episode, Stuart and Katie discuss the accounting industry, the story of Propeller Advisory, and what made Katie open a venture to inspire women business owners.

Empowering women through accounting

KatieBryan

Katie Bryan

Scott Scarano is the President of Padgett Business Services in North Carolina. He leads a team of unique advisors who share his passion for helping small businesses thrive. In this episode, Stuart and Scott discuss the impact of social media on productivity, Scott’s journey with Padgett, the parallels between cartels and accounting, and interacting with people in a post-COVID world. Scott also shares his unique story of learning how to run a business and what led him to be a podcast host.

What cartels and accountants have in common

Scott Scarano - headshot

Scott Scarano

Enrico Palmerino is the CEO and Founder of Botkeeper, a platform that provides accountants with an automated bookkeeping practice using human-assisted machine learning and Artificial Intelligence. In this episode, Enrico and Stuart share their thoughts on the development of the accounting industry and how tech firms enable it to evolve. Learn what it takes to build a successful tech firm, the importance of choosing the right investment partner, and how watching sports can help you close a deal. 

Building a tech accounting firm the right way 

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Enrico Palmerino

Kellie Parks is a cloud accounting specialist and coach at Calmwaters Cloud Accounting. In this episode, Kellie and Stuart talk about the early days of cloud accounting, the further development of technology and how it changed the life of Kellie and her clients. As an early adopter of remote work, Kellie shares the stories of the adventures that cloud accounting allowed her to do.

Bringing value by doing what you love

KellieParks

Kellie Parks

Chad Davis is a co-founder and partner at LiveCA LLP, who decided to pursue a career in accounting at a very young age. Join Chad and Stuart as they discuss the origins of LiveCA, the philosophy behind it, and how helping competitors might be beneficial for your company. Accounting aside, they also talk about living and working from an RV, non-traditional schooling for kids, and growing a beard while traveling.

Running an accounting firm from an RV

Chad Davis

Alastair Barlow is CEO and co-founder at Flinder. He has experience working with fast-growth businesses, transforming finance functions, writing for AccountingWeb, and being a part of global accounting and technology panels. In this episode, Alastair and Stuart discuss data analytics, the current position of Flinder and what’s in store for the future. They also share some interesting thoughts about rugby, ski trips, and the importance of relationships with your clients and colleagues.

What it takes to grow your company, expanding verticals, and application of data analytics

Alastair Barlow

Leeroy Beeby is a co-founder of the innovative, technology-focused practice, Check The Level. He grew up in a family of small business owners and watched his parents struggle with time and money, which inspired him to establish a career in business. In this episode, Leeroy and Stuart talk about his experience living in different countries, and how his MBA helped him in his entrepreneurial journey, which later led him to start an accounting and bookkeeping firm for contractors. They also discuss technology, operations, and life-changing impact on his clients’ lives.

Living around the world, working with contractors, and construction accounting

Leeroy Beeby

Joyce is a founder, entrepreneur, content creator, disruptor, rebel against boring, a savior from sucky training, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and human. In this episode, Joyce and Stuart talk about academic experience, the beginning of their careers, and their journey to becoming business owners. Learn how Tax Nuggets Academy was founded (and what’s coming up next), and how owning a business affects your personal life.

Entrepreneurship, content and professional journeys

Joyce Ong

Katye Maxson Landis is the owner of Moxy Accounting LLC in Portland, Oregon and is one of few women in the United States actively filing taxes for small cannabis businesses. In this episode, Katye sheds light on the accounting challenges that cannabis businesses face, the advantages that they can bring, and shares stories of her very interesting clients. She also talks about the future of the cannabis industry and her very own educational program for cannabis accountants.

Cannabis accounting, government roadblocks and client stories

Katye Maxson Landis

Timothy Munro is the CEO & Founder of Change Accountants & Advisors, and Founder & Director of Change GPS. Timothy co-founded his first accounting firm at the age of 19, had a life-changing impact on his clients, and licensed his tools and processes to other firms through Change GPS. In this episode, Timothy and Stuart discuss the importance of establishing a positive relationship and shared values to achieve mutual success for you and your clients. They also talk about the future of how to choose the right clients to work with, emissions reduction, and favorite personal vehicles.

The importance of connection, shared values, and winning decisions

Tim Munro

Timothy Munro

This week, Stuart is talking all things cryptocurrency with Arthur Teller and Zac McClure from TokenTax, the leading crypto tax platform and cryptocurrency tax accounting company. Together they discuss a broad range of crypto topics including how this movement is giving the younger generation a way to gain wealth, the global implications, and the trends in cryptocurrency that everyone in the accounting profession should know about. They even provide an answer to Stuart’s question; “what is going to 20x in value in the next two years”!

Navigating the crypto and tax world, and the trends you need to know, with Zac McClure and Arthur Teller

Arthur Teller

Arthur Teller & Zac McClure

Ryan Lazanis joins Stuart for an inspiring chat about the future of the accounting profession, the model for a scalable, systematic accounting firm, and how to build a firm that can give you the life you want. Ryan founded Xen Accounting, a 100% cloud-based accounting firm, in 2013. Following its acquisition in 2018, he started Future Firm to provide content and coaching to help other accountants fast-track their own firm. He educates over 5,000 firm leaders globally via his [free weekly newsletter](https://futurefirm.co/newsletter/) and coaches hundreds of successful accounting firms through his [Future Firm Accelerate](http://futurefirmaccelerate.com/) online coaching membership.

Building a scalable, systematic firm that doesn’t drive you into the ground

Ryan Lazanis

Few encapsulate the title of accounting leader more than Jason Blumer. In this episode, Jason and Stuart discuss the background and success of Thriveal, the network Jason founded to help other entrepreneurial CPA firm owners connect, learn and grow. They also discuss the trend of larger firms acquiring smaller firms, the challenges of growth, why you need to know your strengths and weaknesses, and how you can use that knowledge to define your purpose, lean into it, and help your own firm thrive.

Knowing your purpose, educating, and building communities

Jason Blumer

Jason Blumer, CPA

Kylene O'Connor Carse from BWCO CPAs joins the Accounting Leaders Podcast this week to share her story with Stuart. In an honest chat, they discuss the challenges of constantly being busy and how to balance that when you also have a family. Kylene also talks about capacity planning, burnout, running a female-only firm, and even Peloton. Any accountant who has ever felt the pressure of deadlines and an always-growing workload will relate to this episode. 

Balancing work with family, avoiding burnout, and running a female-only firm

KyleneOConnorCarse

Kylene O’Connor Carse

In the second episode of the Accounting Leaders Podcast, Stuart sits down with James Ashford from GoProposal. James shares his untraditional journey from starting out as a magician to setting up his own agency where he mastered the art of selling services to clients. They discuss the importance of client relationships, his mission for GoProposal, recent changes in the accounting industry, and much more. 

Making a difference through closing deals, selling services and client relationships

James Ashford headshot

James Ashford

This week, Stuart is joined by Marilyn Davies, Director of Tandem Group, an accounting firm founded more than 100 years ago in the Taranaki region of rural New Zealand. Marilyn discusses the impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand businesses, the challenges of finding great staff, advice for the younger generation of accountants, and much more.

Accounting in rural New Zealand, the talent shortage, and what young accountants need to know

Marilyn Davies

We're interrupting your podcast feed for a bonus, shorter episode to discuss some breaking industry news. Last week, pricing and onboarding app GoProposal announced they had been acquired by Sage. To give you the inside story, we brought back one of our earlier guests, the co-founder of GoProposal James Ashford. In this episode, James shares why he made this decision, what it means for GoProposal's customers and the wider profession, what accountants can learn from his M&A experience, and most importantly, what comes next.

The inside story of GoProposal’s acquisition by Sage

This week, Stuart is joined by Heather Townsend, founder of The Accountants Millionaires' Club, author of 6 books, and highly-regarded influencer, speaker and coach to accounting firm owners. They explore the intricacies of her career, her capacity to be well-prepared, and the growth that she's helped many partners and firms achieve over the years.

What success really means, the state of UK accounting, and the strength of community

Heather Townsend

This week Stuart is joined by Ohran Gobrin from Fuller Landau in Canada. They speak about Ohran's move from engineering to accounting, implementing a hybrid model in your firm, and adopting new technologies within the accounting industry. They also look ahead to what's next at Fuller Landau and what might be on the horizon for the accounting indsutry.

Being responsively responsive, adopting technology, and providing expert evidence in court

OhranGobrin

Ohran Gobrin

This week, Stuart is joined by Vice President of Product Management and Design for Intuit, Jorge Olavarrieta. In a wide-ranging chat, Jorge shares the path that brought him to Intuit, how the business is solving its customer’s biggest problems, and what’s coming next. 

Improving life for your customers, powering prosperity, and not doing it on your own

Jorge Olavarrieta

This week Stuart is joined by the father-son accounting duo from BNA, Bernie and Jason Ackerman. They reveal the pros and cons of working with family, the quest to offer the ultimate client experience, the evolution of technolgy in the accounting industry and why we still have a long way to go, the impacts of COVID-19 and more.


Working with your dad, creating the ultimate client experience and technologies that the industry needs

BernieandJasonAckerman

Bernie & Jason Ackerman

In this week's episode of the Accounting Leaders Podcast, Stuart is joined by Connecticut-based CPA and author Dawn Brolin. They cover topics ranging from how experiences in coaching softball can be applied to your accounting firm to the importance of finding the motivation behind the work you do. They also discuss innovation and technology stacks in accounting, industry trends, and the freedoms of operating a virtual-first company.

The effect of having a designated motivator, defining the why, and creating an all-star tech stack

Dawn Brolin headshot

Dawn Brolin

Today, Gary Wood from CRC joins Stuart to discuss topics including the importance of networking with other accountants, dealing with the tumult and changes brought about by COVID-19, and coping with burnout. They also cover the importance of developing meaningful relationships with clients, maintaining work-life balance, and the path to and benefits of running a small firm. 


Networking, the benefits of running a small firm and saying ‘no’

Gary Wood Headshot

Gary Wood

Longtime friend of Stuart, Steph Hinds from Growthwise, joins the latest episode. Steph and Stuart explore how the accounting industry has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative and positive impacts on small businesses, and how different countries and regions have reacted in their own unique ways. Steph also shares why it's so important to tell your own story, her thoughts on the automation of accounting, and discusses the state of the Australian economy. 

Helping clients tell their story, building long-lasting partnerships and automating the accounting industry

Steph Hinds headshot

Steph Hinds

In this episode, Stuart is joined by Canadian guest David DiNardo. They discuss avoiding burnout, the importance of marketing your firm, and how cloud-based accounting significantly improves workflows. David also shares his path to owning a bookkeeping company, how to build a performance-based team, and shares his tips to scale your own firm. 

Hiring effective workers, scaling your company and utilizing marketing for firm growth

DavidDiNardo

David DiNardo

Jeremy Allen, founder of System Six, joins Stuart in the inaugural episode of the Accounting Leaders Podcast. Together, they discuss what it’s like to lead a firm when you are not an accountant, the past, present and future of cloud accounting, the importance of company culture (especially for remote companies) and acquiring vs. being acquired.

What got us here might not get us there

Jeremy Allen

This week Stuart sits down with seasoned CPA and cloud technology advocate, Bruce Phillips from Aprio Cloud. They discuss the need for automation, moving from traditional file cabinets to cloud accounting, firm sizes, and shifts in the current talent market. They also cover the importance of mentorship and offer advice for those beginning a career in accounting.

Calculated risks and lifetime learning are the keys to success

Bruce Phillips Headshot

Bruce Phillips

<div>This episode marks the Accounting Leaders Podcast’s 50th release. To celebrate, we flipped the tables on our show host and Karbon CEO, Stuart McLeod. No question was off limits. In this episode, Karbon’s Content Marketing Specialist, Jess Marcello, and Marketing Development Manager, George Connor, had a lively conversation with Stuart about the hardest part of running a growing firm, how to find meaning and purpose in work, Karbon’s culture, Stuart’s favorite Karbon employee, and everything in between.<br><br>In this episode, you'll find:</div><ul><li>A special note from the Karbon team (00:01)</li><li>Welcome Jess and George (01:05)</li><li>Karbon offices (03:00)</li><li>Stuart’s childhood in Australia (4:30)</li><li>Stuart’s pets and Karbon’s (secret) pet page (07:00)</li><li>The hardest part about running Karbon (09:10)</li><li>Challenges of keeping a growing team aligned (11:00)</li><li>How to keep everyone in the company happy (13:00)</li><li>How to find meaning and purpose in work (14:30)</li><li>What is Karbon’s culture? (19:00)</li><li>Karbon’s three objectives (21:00)</li><li>Stuart’s dreams when he was growing up (24:30)</li><li>Why Stuart was a terrible employee (28:00)</li><li>The dream size of Karbon (29:30)</li><li>Stuart’s fears (31:20)</li><li>Freewill or destiny? (32:40)</li><li>Hydrofoil surfing (35:00)</li><li>Getting bored (36:00)</li><li>Who is Stuart’s favorite employee? (37:10)</li><li>Magic sword vs. magic shield (39:00</li></ul><div>As promised at the beginning of this episode, you can read <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stuartwmcleod_changes-to-the-karbon-team-activity-6975257833852342272-Hlbd?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop">Stuart's letter to all employees</a> regarding Karbon's recent company restructure, and find the list of talented ex-Karbon employees who are now available for work <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stuartwmcleod_karbon-available-talent-activity-6975982897316909056-KLdi?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop">here</a>.</div><div><br><br></div>

<div>Zane Stevens is the Director of Protea Financial—an accounting and bookkeeping firm specializing in wineries. In this episode, Zane talks about his life in South Africa, how he got into accounting, and what made him move to the US to start working in the winery consulting space. Zane and Stuart discuss what’s unique about winery accounting, how they attract clients, and what the future holds for Protea Financial.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Growing up and going to college in South Africa (00:30)</li><li>The start of Zane’s accounting career (02:00)</li><li>Zane’s experience at KPMG (04:00)</li><li>Pivoting to consulting work (06:40)</li><li>Moving to Cape Town and working in IT consulting (08:00)</li><li>Leaving KPMG and moving to the US (09:00)</li><li>Entering the winery consulting space (12:30)</li><li>Characteristics of winery accounting (15:30)</li><li>The process of building the structure (18:30)</li><li>Balancing work and family (19:30)</li><li>Ways to attract new clients (21:40)</li><li>What’s next for Protea Financial (25:30)</li><li>Client stories (29:20)</li></ul>

Full-bodied wine and accounting with Zane Stevens

<div>Jim Dunham is the President and General Manager of IRIS Software Group. With over 25 years of experience leading enterprise software companies across the public and private sectors, Jim is a seasoned executive in accountancy and tax markets. In this episode, Jim shares the story of his professional journey, his experience working in different industries, and how he ended up in accounting. Stuart and Jim discuss how cloud technology changed everything, how it developed over time, and where the most value is created.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Jim’s role at IRIS (0:40)</li><li>How Jim started with accounting software (2:00)</li><li>Accounting payroll systems (6:00)</li><li>Jim’s experience working in the military (9:00)</li><li>Early years of operating systems (12:00)</li><li>Jim’s underwater videography hobby (14:00)</li><li>COVID’s influence on the US accounting market (18:00)</li><li>Comparison between the UK and US markets (24:00)</li><li>Acquisitions by IRIS (27:30)</li><li>Creating value (33:00)</li><li>Application of technology in the advisory services (35:00)</li></ul>

Friendly fire between Karbon and IRIS. A conversation with Jim Dunham

<div>Michael Ly is the Founder and CEO of Reconciled—a virtual bookkeeping and accounting firm for busy business owners and entrepreneurs across the US. He is also a Co-Founder of PunchPay—a small micro-loan fintech startup that offers post-payment and micro-installment loans for small business expenses. In this episode, Michael shares with Stuart how his family escaped Cambodia as refugees and relied on entrepreneurship to survive the new world, his introduction to accounting, and the entrepreneurial spirit running throughout his family.&nbsp;<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Michael’s journey in accounting and entrepreneurship (1:20)</li><li>The story of Michael’s parents (3:30)</li><li>The experience of growing up in the US (5:00)</li><li>Michael’s family’s entrepreneurial spirit (08:00)</li><li>Skiing in Burlington, Vermont (10:00)</li><li>The story of founding Reconciled (12:00)</li><li>Growth management and the tech stack at Reconciled (14:30)</li><li>The story of founding PunchPay (16:30)</li><li>The niche of micro-businesses (19:00)</li><li>The future of Reconciled and PunchPay (21:00)</li><li>Growth strategy at Reconciled (22:00)</li></ul><div><br><br></div>

Michael Ly is the Founder and CEO of Reconciled—a virtual bookkeeping and accounting firm for busy business owners and entrepreneurs across the US. He is also a Co-Founder of PunchPay—a small micro-loan fintech startup that offers post-payment and micro-installment loans for small business expenses. In this episode, Michael shares how his family escaped Cambodia as refugees and relied on entrepreneurship to survive the new world, his introduction to accounting, and the entrepreneurial spirit running throughout his family.

When entrepreneurship is in your blood. A conversation with Michael Ly

<div>Joe Cox is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ecommerce Accountants LLP—the leading accountancy in the UK for e-commerce businesses. In this episode, Joe shares his story of being an e-commerce seller who spotted an opportunity to serve like-minded entrepreneurs in the accounting domain (eventually creating Ecommerce Accountants). Joe and Stuart discuss the trajectory of Ecommerce Accountants, their tech stack, the nuances of working in this niche, the impact of COVID and Brexit on e-commerce, and Joe’s passion for traveling.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Joe’s trip to Karbon X (1:20)</li><li>Growth and marketing at Ecommerce Accountants (2:30)</li><li>Joe’s professional journey and the story of Ecommerce Accountants (5:20)</li><li>The fun of being an e-commerce accountant vs. an e-commerce seller (8:00)</li><li>Watching clients grow along the way (9:10)</li><li>Impact of COVID and Brexit on e-commerce (10:30)</li><li>What it’s like working at Ecommerce Accountants (13:30)</li><li>Workforce and types of clients at Ecommerce Accountants (14:50)</li><li>Plans on a geographical expansion (17:00)</li><li>How Karbon can help with segmenting businesses geographically (18:10)</li><li>The tech stack at Eccomerce Accountants (19:10)</li><li>Reporting to clients (22:40)</li><li>The idea of creating benchmarks for clients (25:00)</li><li>The main supplier of e-commerce products (28:20)</li><li>What’s going on in Joe’s life (29:30)</li></ul>

E-commerce accounting: the evolving niche with Joe Cox

<div>Andrew Hunzicker is the Founder of Dope CFO, a comprehensive cannabis accounting and tax training program, which helps firms in over 25 states unlock a new world of clients. In this episode, Andrew shares his professional journey, how he started working in the cannabis industry, and what cannabis accounting looks like. Stuart and Andrew also discuss the complexities that he faces in his work, and how the government treats cannabis businesses.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Andrew’s journey in the cannabis industry (01:00)</li><li>Living in Bend, Oregon (4:10)</li><li>Early mountain climbing ventures (6:20)</li><li>The employee shortage (7:40)</li><li>Unappealing traditional accounting career journey (09:00)</li><li>Cannabis accounting and social justice (10:20)</li><li>Locations that are progressive with cannabis legalization (12:30)</li><li>Accounting complexities in the cannabis industry (16:00)</li><li>Point of sale technology in the industry (18:20)</li><li>Complications of accounting systems (21:00)</li><li>Mountain climbing (22:40)</li><li>Old Nokia phones (25:00)</li><li>Andrew’s climbing stories (27:30)</li><li>Andrew’s family (30:00)</li><li>Andrew’s upcoming family vacation (33:00)</li><li>The current state of Dope CFO (36:20)</li></ul>

<div>Graeme Tennick is the Founder and Chief Legacy Maker at Tennick Accountants. Before founding his own company, Graeme worked in a small accounting practice and eventually moved to senior roles in PwC and public sector organizations. In this episode, Graeme shares his professional journey, entrepreneurial passion from a young age, and business-first accounting second approach. Graeme and Stuart also discuss an accountant's purpose and the rewarding impact they can have on their clients’ lives.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Graeme’s passion for business at a young age (0:30)</li><li>Graeme’s path to accounting (2:30)</li><li>Thoughts on the UK government (3:30)</li><li>The beginning of Graeme’s business journey (5:30)</li><li>Adopting technology (8:00)</li><li>How Graeme started building structure in his business (9:30)</li><li>Optimizing Karbon at Tennick Accountants (10:30)</li><li>Building a feedback loop with software partners (12:00)</li><li>The rewarding impact on clients’ lives (13:30)</li><li>The story of the client embracing the journey with Tennick Accountants (15:00)</li><li>What makes clients believe in their ability to scale (16:40)</li><li>How the role of accountants has changed (17:50)</li><li>Reframing the negative experience of COVID (19:50)</li><li>How to instill important messages in your team (23:00)</li><li>What’s next for Tennick Accountants (24:00)</li><li>Being honest with clients (28:00)</li><li>Graeme’s favorite cars (30:00)</li></ul>

An accountant’s mission to change livelihoods. A conversation with Graeme Tennick

<div>Gary Bell is the Co-Founder and Partner at FLB Accountants, an independent firm of Chartered Accountants based in the UK. In this episode, Gary and Stuart chat about Gary’s experience attending the first-ever Karbon customer conference in Lake Tahoe, FLB’s rationale for going hybrid, working with high-profile clients such as Apple TV, Netflix, and Amazon, and some exciting projects he’s working on in the renewable energy space.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Gary’s experience at Karbon X (00:30)</li><li>The accounting industry’s growing appetite for change and innovation (2:30)</li><li>Limitations of legacy accounting systems (05:00)</li><li>Accountants as trusted advisors (09:00)</li><li>How FLB provides reporting for clients (11:00)</li><li>Pros and cons of hybrid work (12:00)</li><li>Remote work and company culture (17:00)</li><li>EMEA economy outlook (20:00)</li><li>FLB business divisions (22:45)</li><li>TV, film, and entertainment studio clients (24:30)</li><li>Attract and retain employees with interesting clients (28:00)</li><li>Serving renewable energy clients (29:00)</li><li>The most interesting carbon-neutral project at FLB (31:00)</li><li>Greentech startups (34:10)</li><li>Biotech startups (36:10)</li><li>What Gary and Stuart would do if they weren’t running firms (36:30)</li><li>VC investment and the future of technology (41:00)</li><li>Gary’s plan for the rest of the year (46:00)</li></ul>

<div>Martin Bown is the founder and managing director of My Management Accountant—an accountancy service that works with small businesses across the UK to help them save time and money. In this episode, Martin shares his professional journey, and the story of My Management Accountant and how they operate. Martin and Stuart also discuss his life outside of work, sports, and what it’s like to live in the village.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>Martin’s entrepreneurial story (01:40)</li><li>Martin’s family story (03:40)</li><li>Trip to India with the team (05:00)</li><li>When Martin started his own company (07:00)</li><li>Naming his business (09:30)</li><li>The story of Martin’s surname (13:00)</li><li>My Management Accountant today (14:00)</li><li>Work setting at My Management Accountant (15:10)</li><li>Services at My Management Accountant (16:20)</li><li>Tech stack at My Management Accountant (19:20)</li><li>Reporting software (23:20)</li><li>What clients need (26:00)</li><li>What companies My Management Accountant work with (27:10)</li><li>Martin’s life outside of work (30:00)</li><li>Playing cricket (32:00)</li><li>Raising a family in a close-knit village (36:50)</li><li>Playing football and running marathons (38:10)</li><li>What’s next for My Management Accountant (41:40)</li><li>Challenges of raising children with additional needs (44:20)</li><li>Balancing work with family (46:20)</li></ul>

<div>Twyla Verhelst is the Head of FreshBooks Accountant Channel, leading the Accounting Partner Program, and has been recognized as one of Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting. In this episode, Twyla and Stuart discuss the state of the accounting profession, how COVID forced the industry to evolve and why there is a shortage of young professionals in the industry. They also talk about the importance of diversity, the accounting community, and what running a marathon and running a business have in common.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>How Twyla started with accounting (1:00)</li><li>The beginning of Twyla’s entrepreneurial journey (3:00)</li><li>The start of working with FreshBooks (4:30)</li><li>Working with a local company (6:50)&nbsp;</li><li>Where Canada is on the advisory journey (8:00)</li><li>Accounting cloud technology taking over (10:00)</li><li>How COVID-19 accelerated technology (12:00)</li><li>Reactive vs. proactive approach to technology (13:00)</li><li>Shortage of young professionals in the industry (16:00)</li><li>The evolution of the accounting profession (18:30)</li><li>The role of influence by loved ones in pursuing a career in accounting (22:00)</li><li>Twyla’s diversity efforts at FreshBooks (24:20)</li><li>Running marathons (28:40)</li><li>Similarities between running a business and a marathon (31:00)</li><li>Twyla’s passion projects this year (35:00)</li><li>Listening and inspiring people in the industry (37:30)</li></ul>

<div>Kyle Bryant is the Managing Partner of Market Street Partners in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Kyle oversees the firm’s operations and has provided assurance, tax, and business consulting services for over a decade. In this episode, Kyle and Stuart discuss the rapid growth of Chattanooga, what attracts businesses to invest in the region, and what the projections are for the future. As a manager of the largest transaction in Chattanooga’s history, Kyle is a top-tier professional in his city and gives an insight into how accounting is developing the Tennessee market.<br><br>Together they discuss:</div><ul><li>The story behind Market Street Partners (01:00)</li><li>Kyle’s journey as a private CPA (2:30)</li><li>Kyles work at the Lamp Post Group (3:30)</li><li>Serving a new group of clients in Chattanooga (4:30)</li><li>The size and profile of Market Street Partners (5:30)</li><li>Local and remote employees at Market Street Partners (07:30)</li><li>The competitive landscape in Chattanooga (08:30)</li><li>Market Street Partners’ mission (9:50)</li><li>What retirement looks like for Kyle (11:00)</li><li>Market Street Partners’ media strategy (12:45)</li><li>Why accountants are reluctant to delve into business development and sales (14:20)</li><li>Chattanooga’s local economy and development (16:15)</li><li>What types of businesses come to the South East (18:30)</li><li>The shortage of young accounting professionals (19:30)</li><li>What Kyle does outside of work (21:10)</li><li>Market Street Partners’ tech stack (21:40)</li><li>The game plan for the near future (23:30)</li></ul>

Kyle Bryant is the Managing Partner of Market Street Partners in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Kyle oversees the firm’s operations and has provided assurance, tax, and business consulting services for over a decade. In this episode, Kyle and Stuart discuss the rapid growth of Chattanooga, what attracts businesses to invest in the region, and what the projections are for the future. As a manager of the largest transaction in Chattanooga’s history, Kyle is a top-tier professional in his city and gives an insight into how accounting is developing the Tennessee market.

Andrew Hunzicker from Dope CFO

It’s high time for cannabis accounting: How Andrew Hunzicker is transforming services for this niche market

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About the Guest

Meet the Accounting Leaders

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Michael Ly

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