Journal of Accountancy Podcast

What advocacy issues should CPAs be watching with 2026 at its midpoint? The latest Journal of Accountancy podcast episode covers numerous topics with Mark Peterson, executive vice president–Advocacy for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA and CIMA. Peterson details efforts to include accounting in STEM education initiatives, what the future might hold for beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, and the profession's role in seeking guidance related to federal tax guidance. Peterson, speaking from AICPA ENGAGE earlier this month, also explains the vital role of state societies' advocacy efforts. He touches on CPA licensure, the Fiscal State of the Nation Act, tariffs, and other policy developments that affect practitioners and their clients. Also, read Peterson's midyear summary in column form. What you'll learn from this episode: Why the AICPA continues to push for accounting to be included in STEM education initiatives, and what progress advocates are making on Capitol Hill. What the future may hold for beneficial ownership information requirements after the pause in BOI reporting enforcement. The critical role that state CPA societies play in licensure modernization and advocacy efforts. Peterson's perspective on how the AICPA is helping to get more clarity around implementation of major federal tax legislation. Why he says that implementation of the massive tax bill has been "lumpy." Peterson's reflection on the rise of Town Hall as a way to quickly get information and perspective to members. Ongoing and emerging policy issues — including tariffs, global mobility, and anti-money laundering efforts — that could affect the profession in the months ahead.

Retaliation — actual or perceived — can make fraud investigations more complex and less effective. In this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Fred Kohm, CPA/CFF, a partner at Grant Thornton, summarizes insights from the latest FVS Eye on Fraud report and explains how nuanced workplace dynamics can affect whistleblower cases. Kohm shares examples of subtle retaliation and explains how forensic accountants, auditors, and other professionals can recognize retaliation risks and strengthen investigative practices. "Whether you are a forensic accountant, an auditor, or perhaps a CPA in another role …, be aware that retaliation is real," Kohm said. Editor's note: The spring 2026 FVS Eye on Fraud report is available for download at the link above. It becomes exclusive to FVS Section members after July 10. What you'll learn from this episode: Defining "retaliation" in the context of a whistleblower complaint and investigation. Why fear of retaliation can limit the information whistleblowers share. How retaliation can show up in subtle ways, from exclusion to heightened scrutiny. What makes retaliation a complex challenge for forensic accountants gathering evidence. The strategies that Kohm recommends to help organizations reduce retaliation risk. Why awareness and objectivity are critical when evaluating fraud allegations.

Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, vice president–Firm Services at the AICPA, discusses the evolution of AICPA Town Hall, key takeaways from Town Hall's six years of programming, and how practitioners can navigate rapid change driven by AI. She shares insights on managing "a sense of overwhelm" related to AI and highlights resources that can help firms adapt, including the AICPA and CIMA AI resource hub. The episode also includes a segment on the latest Economic Outlook Survey results and what they signal about business sentiment, inflation, and hiring. Other resources related to the topics: The CPA.com AI resource page, which includes a vendor evaluation framework. The Town Hall landing page, which includes a registration button. The full Economic Outlook Survey results for the second quarter. What you'll learn from this episode: Lisa Simpson's recap of topics at the recent PCPS Executive Committee meeting. How AICPA Town Hall has evolved to deliver news, analysis, and practice management insights. The common comment that Simpson jokingly says she gets about Town Hall. Why many CPAs feel a sense of overwhelm about AI and how to begin addressing it. Resources, including the AICPA AI hub and CPA.com tools, that can support firm decision-making. What recent Economic Outlook Survey results reveal about inflation concerns and hiring plans.

James Cox, an AICPA vice president, explains why efforts to weaken professional licensure are gaining traction in state legislatures. He discusses the role of the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) and the risks that deregulation could pose to CPAs and the public. The episode also highlights how organizations and professionals can stay informed and engaged as debates about professional licensing evolve. What you'll learn from this episode: Why Cox says that "attacks" on CPA licensure have expanded to new fronts in recent years. How state budget pressures and political trends are fueling deregulation efforts. How weakening licensing standards could reduce trust in financial reporting and other services. What polling shows about public and business support for professional licensure. Cox's recommendations to CPAs to stay vigilant and work with state societies.

A conversation with leadership and workplace mental health expert Morra Aarons-Mele explores why focusing on the present can improve performance, reduce stress, and strengthen decision-making. Aarons-Mele is the keynote speaker June 15 at the AICPA Not-for-Profit Industry Conference in National Harbor, Md. Aarons-Mele, also an author and podcaster, explains how leaders in high-pressure roles can balance necessary forward planning with short, purposeful pauses, which can improve clarity and team dynamics. The discussion examines how organizations can apply mindfulness practices to build resilience and maintain focus in fast-moving environments. What you'll learn from this episode: Why Aarons-Mele emphasizes a focus on the present. The practice that she says has been "the single most healing, restorative, renewing thing I've done." Why the strategy of "take a minute and pause" can be effective during periods of disruption. What research says about the benefits of such pauses. Why Aarons-Mele warned against letting anxiety about the future drive decision-making. The effect that having "too many tabs open" can have on focus and performance at work.

System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports are examinations performed by CPAs in accordance with the AICPA's Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements to evaluate the controls over customer data that service organizations such as cloud providers or payroll processors have in place. SOC reports provide independent assurance to the service organization's customers, aka user entities, that those controls are suitably designed and operating effectively. The entrance of technology vendors into the realm of SOC reporting has created some efficiencies, but it also has led to promises of "fast and easy" SOC reports that have raised credibility concerns in the marketplace. In this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Amy Pawlicki, the AICPA's vice president–Assurance & Advisory Innovation, discusses recent developments affecting SOC engagements. The conversation also highlights what CPAs, service organizations, and report users should watch for to protect trust in SOC reporting. Other resources mentioned in the episode include: A JofA article on ethics risks related to SOC tool providers. The AICPA's SOC landing page. Ethics Staff Insights: Business Arrangements With SOC Tool Providers. What you'll learn from this episode: What SOC reporting is — and why a SOC 2 report is not a certification. How a technology trend is threatening SOC credibility. The ethical risks related to SOC reporting tool vendors. The peer review and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct requirements for CPAs performing SOC work. Where to find AICPA resources for firms, service organizations, and users.

Younger generations are rethinking retirement — considering more flexibility and well-timed breaks over a traditional model of holding a job until a certain age and then stopping work. Kelley Long, CPA/PFS, joined the Journal of Accountancy podcast to discuss how modern financial planning is changing. She also explains how health savings accounts can support career flexibility and reduce reliance on employer‑sponsored health insurance later in life. Long will explore these topics further in June at AICPA ENGAGE, the profession's biggest conference. She is presenting sessions focused on retirement and on health care financial literacy on June 10 in Las Vegas. What you'll learn from this episode: A preview of Kelley Long's ENGAGE sessions and a related JofA article. The factors that are leading younger generations to approach retirement differently. How "mini‑retirements" can fit into long‑term career and financial planning. How Long's trip to South America crystallized her views on timing and retirement. The role of social connections in cognitive health. Some ways that health savings accounts can support career changes or time off. How potentially being overinsured can affect financial planning.

Sarah Ference, CPA, a risk control director at CNA, joins the Journal of Accountancy podcast to discuss recent topics of the JofA's Professional Liability Spotlight column. The conversation covers lessons learned from claims involving bankrupt clients, the importance of strong and consistent documentation, and the particular risks associated with serving high-net-worth or high-profile clients. The episode also highlights the April column on writing effective engagement letters for client advisory services. The articles discussed in the episode: January: "Don't Let a Bankrupt Client Bankrupt You." February: "Tell a Story With Your Documentation." March: "Luxury Liabilities: Serving High-Net-Worth Clients." April: "Tips for Writing CAS Engagement Letters." What you'll learn from this episode: The reasons CPA firms can be drawn into litigation when clients face bankruptcy. How strong client acceptance and continuance practices can help firms identify and manage higher‑risk engagements before problems arise. Why documentation acts as a firm's voice in a professional liability claim — and how gaps or inconsistencies can weaken defense of a claim. Why Ference has been told that "celebrities and CPA firms don't mix." What makes high‑net‑worth and celebrity clients higher risk and why firms should avoid relaxing standard risk management protocols for them. Why for engagement letters related to CAS, Ference said: "The devil is really in the details of that engagement letter."

David Stone, CPA, CFE, MBA, is the author of the most recent FVS Eye on Fraud report. In this episode, Stone, senior manager–Financial Services Practice Group at BerryDunn, shares insights from the report, which focuses on internal and external fraud risks facing financial institutions. Stone explains how long‑standing schemes — from misuse of dormant accounts to persistent check‑fraud activity — continue to evolve even as institutions strengthen their controls. Stone, a graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy, also describes emerging, technology‑driven threats such as deepfakes, more sophisticated ransomware, and the potential impact of quantum computing on systems once considered secure. Previous Eye on Fraud-focused episodes: February 2026 July 2025 March 2025 What you'll learn from this episode: David Stone's explanation of perhaps the first recorded case of bank fraud. Defining internal and external fraud, both of which are focus areas in the March Eye on Fraud report. Why dormant accounts offer opportunities for fraudsters. The fraud stat that "astounded" Stone. How deepfakes and enhanced ransomware tactics are reshaping the threat landscape for financial institutions. What quantum computing could mean for the future of fraud prevention.

Optimism among U.S. CPA decision-makers in February improved when compared with the outlook in November, but overall sentiment remains guarded. That's one conversation topic in the latest Journal of Accountancy podcast episode. In the episode, Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, associate director–Management Accounting Research & Development for the AICPA and CIMA, break down the sentiment about the domestic economy, the global economy, and respondents' companies. The discussion also touches on top challenges, hiring plans, and recession expectations. What you'll learn from this episode: The increase in own‑company optimism from the previous quarter. The reasons that both optimists and pessimists cite for their views. The "dance" that inflation and domestic economic conditions have done on the survey's list of top challenges. Projected revenue and profit growth in the coming 12 months.

Early this month, the AICPA launched its Profession Ready Initiative. In this episode of the JofA podcast, Carl Mayes, CPA, the AICPA's vice president–CPA Candidate Quality and Competency, explained more about the initiative and why a rapidly changing workplace demands new skills from emerging and early-career CPAs. He discussed how automation, AI, and offshoring are reshaping entry-level work — and how Rise2040 research is informing the initiative. Listeners will learn how to get involved, what's planned for ENGAGE, and how the effort benefits both early-career professionals and experienced CPAs. What you'll learn from this episode: Why the AICPA launched the Profession Ready Initiative. How Rise2040 research informed the approach to improving entry-level CPA skills. The ways automation, AI, and offshoring are reshaping the first years of CPA careers — and what new competencies employers say they need as a result. The initiative's multifaceted approach, including research, new learning solutions, academic collaboration, and state-level engagement. Ways that CPAs, educators, and firms can participate. How the effort will benefit both early-career professionals and experienced CPAs.