Accounting Firm Revenues, Profits, Compensation Rise

Are accounting firms quietly having their best year ever? Blake and David break down why revenues and partner comp are rising—despite AI anxiety—and what it means for pricing and staffing. They unpack Gusto Money’s Melio-powered bill pay, Relay’s $1B milestone, Drake’s new workflow, and AI tools that actually help (note-takers, agents, research). Plus: Trump’s biannual reporting idea, peer review for PE-backed firms, BOI reversal, and the messy ‘no tax on tips’ proposal.

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Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Revenue Insights
• (00:43) - Welcome to the Accounting Podcast
• (01:00) - Gusto Showcase Event Highlights
• (04:18) - The Importance of Long-Term Relationships in FinTech
• (08:58) - Advisory Amplified Tour Announcement
• (11:06) - AI in Accounting: Honest Reflections from a Tech Founder
• (16:48) - AI Meeting Assistants for Accounting Firms
• (21:03) - Comparing AI Tools: Blue Jay vs. ChatGPT
• (29:43) - Accounting Firms' Revenue and Compensation Growth
• (31:12) - Rising Costs and Accounting Firm Strategies
• (32:25) - NASBA's New Mobile App for CPA Exam Candidates
• (33:50) - Drake Software's Workflow Automation Launch
• (37:13) - AI in the Workplace: Surveys and Trends
• (41:16) - Fiverr's Shift to AI and Layoffs
• (44:09) - Trump's Proposal on Financial Reporting
• (50:01) - Private Equity and Peer Review Oversight
• (52:28) - Tax-Free Tips and Proposed Regulations
• (54:13) - AICPA and NASBA's Earn and Learn Program Shutdown
• (55:20) - Conclusion and Listener Engagement

 

Show Notes

CPA Firms Report Steady Growth in Revenue and Profit, AICPA Research Finds
https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/cpa-firms-report-steady-growth-in-revenue-and-profit-aicpa-research-finds

Vinyl Raises $2M to Build the Future of AI Meeting Assistants for Accountants
https://www.usevinyl.com/insights/blog/vinyl-seed-funding-announcement

Drake Software Unveils Powerful New Tax Workflow Automation Tools
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drake-software-unveils-powerful-new-tax-workflow-automation-tools-302558230.html

NASBA Releases CPA Mobile App for Future CPAs
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/nasba-releases-cpa-mobile-app

AICPA Seeks Comment on Peer Review Proposal for Firms with Private Equity Backing
https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/09/16/aicpa-seeks-comment-on-peer-review-proposal-for-firms-with-private-equity-backing/169014/

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Transcripts

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page