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

The Working Families Tax Cut, signed into law earlier this year, introduces several compliance changes that will impact payroll and tax filing for the 2025 tax year. This episode features Tanner Arnold, Staff Program Manager on the Intuit Payroll team, who dives into the specifics. Learn about the provisions for "no tax on tips" and "no tax on overtime," understanding the critical distinction between qualified and non-qualified tips and overtime. Tanner explains what accountants need to know about these changes and discusses what resources Intuit is providing to accountants and their clients. The episode also touches on future changes for 2026, including the introduction of new retirement accounts, and what you can do today to prepare for these new compliance requirements. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

This episode of the "On the Books" podcast celebrates its one-year anniversary and dives into the exciting launch of the Intuit Accountant Suite. Directors Karla Uribe and Jaclyn Anku join us to discuss the new firm-level product, which aims to be a single destination for all of your firm's work. Karla details how the suite was co-built with accountant feedback and introduces powerful features like Client Insights and enhanced user permissions. Additionally, Jaclyn deep-dives into the transformed ProAdvisor Program, which is now integrated directly into the Accountant Suite, offering new firm-based tiers, the CAS Foundations learning pathway, and a Training Manager experience to help leaders upskill their teams. The hosts also address the eventual sunset of QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) and encourage firms to opt-in to the new suite today to take advantage of its free core features and future premium innovations. And stick around to the end of the episode for a special Happy Thanksgiving wish for you all. For full show notes, visist firmofthefuture.com

At Intiut Connect, Jaclyn Anku, Principal Program Manager of ProAdvisor, was able to catch up with Professor David Waite of Utah Valley University who brought a group of accounting students to this year’s event. In Episode 14, we profiled Professor Waite and accountants Brittany Brown and Dan Luthi and their first-of-its-kind Client Advisor Services course at the university. Check out episode 14 for their initial story, then listen to the current episode for an update on the students' progress, the significance of attending Intuit Connect, and the program's second-semester developments. Plus Jaclyn details a new ProAdvisor student mentorship program and an exciting virtual opportunity for students in January 2026. For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

Tune in to this episode of On The Books as host Jessica McCracken gives a sneak peek at the upcoming Intuit Connect conference in Las Vegas. Learn about what to expect at the tentpole event, including the main stage lineup featuring Intuit leaders, Queen Latifah, Brene Brown, John Foley, Vanessa Van Edwards, and Carla Hall. Jessica also details new event features like the Intuit Theater and Intuit-led breakout programming, as well as the unveiling of Intuit Accountant Suite. Hear from past On the Books guests and Connect speakers like Michael Hitchcock, Joe Preston, Chris Williams, Kane Polakoff, Erin Hutton, and Jacob Schroeder as they share details about their sessions and why you should connect with them at the event. Plus, Intuit Connect veteran and Founder and CEO of 1st Step Accounting, Nayo Carter-Gray joins the show to discuss why she keeps returning, her excitement for the main stage guests, and the Black Accountant Meetup she's hosting. Download the Intuit Connect app to start building your agenda now! For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com

On this episode of On the Books, hosts Ted Callahan and Jessica McCracken welcome Dan Hood, Editor-in-Chief at Accounting Today, to discuss the biggest trends and disruptions facing the accounting profession, particularly as firms look ahead to 2026. Dan shares his take on the multiple crossroads the industry faces, focusing on the significant impact of technology (especially AI), ongoing staffing and capacity issues, and the influence of private equity. He emphasizes that for firms to thrive, they must view change as permanent and develop the core competency of continuous adaptation. The conversation also looks at how companies are hiring and making changes. It highlights the change to human intelligence and advisory services like Client Accounting Services (CAS). For full show notes, visit firmofthefuture.com