In this episode of On the Books, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken head north to explore the global accounting landscape, starting with the Canadian market. They are joined by Mike Libbey, Partner and COO at YBL (formerly Your Bottom Line) and co-founder of Edgeflow. Mike shares his journey of scaling a 26-year-old family-run firm in Oshawa to a team of 33, while navigating the rapid technological shifts currently transforming the industry. From the nuances of Canadian capital gains tax to the "vibe coding" revolution, Mike provides a high-energy look at how firms can stay human in an increasingly automated world. In This Episode, We Discuss: The Canadian vs. US Market: Mike breaks down the similarities and key differences between the two markets, specifically regarding app availability and tax complexities. Scaling a Family Business: Insights into working alongside parents and siblings, and the professional maturity required to grow a family firm without losing the personal touch. Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty: How YBL is managing tariff uncertainty and impending changes to Canadian capital gains inclusion rates. The Power of "I Don't Know": Why radical candor and fact-checking are more important than ever in the age of AI. Vibe Coding and Custom Apps: Mike explains how he is building custom tools like Stash (in beta) to solve internal inefficiencies and why "vibe coding" is the most transformative thing to happen to his firm. The Human Differentiator: Why the future of accounting isn't just about compliance, but about being an integrated business partner that provides the human interaction AI can't replicate. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this episode, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken reflect on the transformative year of 2025 and look ahead to the future of the accounting profession. The episode features panel discussion from Intuit Connect, featuring industry leaders Dixie McCurley, Kim Blascoe, Greg Landers, and Liz Mason. The conversation moves beyond the buzzword of "advisory" to define the "augmented advisor"—a professional who leverages the power of technology to drive real economic impact. The discussion dives deep into the practicalities of integrating AI and human intelligence within accounting firms. The experts address the current trust gap regarding AI accuracy and emphasize the necessity of clean data architecture and strong data governance as the foundation for new technology. Looking toward the next generation of talent, the panel outlines how the accountant profile is evolving to require a blend of technical numeracy, data analytics, and the soft skills of storytelling and empathy. By embracing vulnerability and a willingness to learn in public, the panelist detailed how firms can close the gap between traditional compliance and high-value advisory, ultimately creating a more healthy and sustainable future for the industry. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

In this final episode of 2025, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken are joined by two exceptional guests to reflect on the year in accounting and look ahead to 2026: Becky Munson, a Partner in the Advisory Group at EisnerAmper, and Michael Hitchcock, Vice President of Product for Accounting and Accountants at Intuit. The four talk about the notable AI perception shift within the accounting community, the accelerating pace of change and the necessity for accounting firms to lean into innovation, a growing sense of app fatigue, the need for strong change management, and how accountants have become solution “builders” this year. The discussion also covers accelerated career trajectories for younger staff who can leverage technology to quickly ingest information, bypassing the need for decades of manual experience. And the group talks about why consolidation became the thing all accountants had to consider in 2025. Becky drops a brilliant perspective for the new year: the tech we have today is the worst it will ever be, meaning things are only going to get better and faster from here! Becky and Micahel also share what they are most excited about in 2026 and the group shares their thoughts on Metallica, My Morning Jacket, Eminem, and Peanut M&Ms. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com