The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast

Ellen Choi, founder of Edgefield Group and former Awin chief product officer, breaks down what actually separates firms making real AI progress from those stuck experimenting. She walks through her firm maturity scorecard, why "return on investment" is harder to pin down than most partners assume, and why the biggest AI decisions have to start at the top. The conversation also covers token costs, on-prem alternatives, and why an outdated AI policy might be a bigger risk than no policy at all.(00:00) - Podcast intro (00:38) - Meet Ellen Choi (02:22) - Meditation and retreats (05:07) - Who Edgefield serves (08:19) - AI adoption shifts (11:40) - What triggers change (13:21) - How firms implement AI (16:43) - Cutting through AI noise (22:03) - Edgefield AI Foundations (23:41) - AI maturity scorecard (27:20) - Vendor ROI hype (28:16) - ROI Investment Reality (29:24) - Hidden AI Enablement Costs (30:16) - Turning Time Into Revenue (31:43) - Measuring Qualitative Returns (33:03) - Why 20 Minutes Daily (36:50) - Big Firm Spending Headlines (39:31) - Rising AI Costs And Tokens (42:21) - Open Source On Prem 2.0 (44:26) - Where To Start With AI (45:51) - Copilot First And Policy (47:02) - Who Owns AI Rollout (49:22) - Keeping The Human Touch (51:04) - Final Takeaway And Wrap Connect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715Get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.appDownload the Earmark AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

After Intuit reached out to clarify a few misconceptions from Matt’s earlier take on Enterprise Suite, he dove deep into product demos to get the real story. Doug and Matt deliver an unfiltered comparison between Intuit Enterprise Suite and Sage Intacct, covering everything from pricing strategies to AI capabilities. They break down which solution fits different business scenarios, revealing why your choice between these platforms might not be as obvious as you think.SponsorsPayhawk - https://unsage.promo/payhawk(00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast (00:56) - Sage Future Conference Recap (01:54) - Revisiting QuickBooks and Intuit Enterprise Suite (03:49) - Intuit Enterprise Suite vs. Sage Intacct: Market Position and Pricing (10:22) - Deployment Models and User Experience (18:19) - Strengths and Weaknesses of Intuit Enterprise Suite (24:50) - Strengths and Weaknesses of Sage Intacct (29:56) - Areas for Improvement in Sage Intacct (33:00) - Industry-Specific Recommendations (37:06) - Module-by-Module Comparison (43:06) - Scoring Intuit and Sage Intacct (45:47) - Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways Connect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715Get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.appDownload the Earmark AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Julie Adams, SVP of Construction and Real Estate Products at Sage, discusses how AI is revolutionizing construction from bid management to field operations. She explores Sage Intacct Construction's journey from a 2020 launch during COVID to becoming the fastest-growing vertical, featuring AI-powered takeoff tools, drawing management, and predictive bidding that helps contractors win projects at the right price. The conversation covers how modern construction teams are moving beyond spreadsheets and paper processes to integrated platforms that connect pre-construction, project management, and financials in one seamless workflow.**We apologize for the audio quality issues that occur the final 10-15minutes through this episode. This interview was recorded live at Sage Future conference, and we experienced some technical difficulties during the recording. Thank you for your patience and understanding.**(00:00) - Introduction and Conference Overview (01:42) - Meet Julie Adams: SVP of Construction and Real Estate Products (02:18) - Sage Intacct Construction: Innovation and Growth (09:40) - AI in Construction: Enhancing Efficiency and Accuracy (12:53) - AI-Powered Drawing and Takeoff Management (16:18) - Field Operations and Change Management (19:09) - Cost Efficiency and Employee Satisfaction (19:17) - Overview of Sage Intacct Products (21:06) - Specialized Modules for Different Sub-Verticals (23:08) - Future Innovations and Roadmap (26:51) - Personal Insights and Experiences (29:37) - Fun and Lighthearted Wrap-Up Connect with Julie Adams https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliechoiadamsConnect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715Get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.appDownload the Earmark AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Recording live from the Accounting Today Firm Growth Forum in San Diego, the hosts sit down with Frank Longobardi (former CEO of CohnReznick) and Dario Grassini from SAPRO to discuss the evolution of global staffing in accounting. The conversation covers how firms can successfully integrate international talent, the cultural nuances of working with teams from South Africa and India, and why starting with senior talent is key to offshore success. Dan Hood from Accounting Today also joins to share insights on helping firms navigate constant change in the profession.Connect with the Guests:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariograssinihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/frankplongobardihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-hood-3494ab49 Connect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

Mark Hickman, Managing Director of North America at Sage, joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming Sage Future event, which replaces the former Transform conference and is expected to draw over 5,000 attendees. Mark shares insights about exciting announcements coming to Sage Copilot, the expansion of Sage HR into the North American market, and teases game-changing developments that will be revealed at the event. SponsorsPayhawk - https://unsage.promo/payhawk(00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast (01:01) - Special Guest Introduction: Mark Hickman (01:45) - Mark Hickman's Background and Experience (07:09) - Sage Future Event Overview (14:22) - Exciting Announcements and Sage Copilot (18:17) - Sage HR and Payroll Insights (23:05) - Teasers for Sage Future Event (26:45) - Marketplace Partners and Event Highlights (28:39) - Tips for Maximizing Your Event Experience (32:24) - Reasons People Should Go to Sage Future (38:45) - Rapid Fire Questions and Fun Facts (42:15) - Wrap-up and Dad Joke Connect with Mark Hickmanhttps://ca.linkedin.com/in/markhickman72Connect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715Get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.appDownload the Earmark AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Michael Hulett from Avalara joins the podcast to explain how their tax compliance software helps businesses navigate the increasingly complex landscape of sales tax regulations. With over 43,000 customers, 1,200+ integrations, and expertise handling more than 12,000 tax jurisdictions, Avalara has become the global leader in making tax compliance manageable. Michael shares fascinating insights about the most challenging tax scenarios, from software's evolving taxability to the complexities of state-specific regulations and even the different tax treatments of sliced versus unsliced bagels in New York.SponsorsPayhawk - https://unsage.promo/payhawk(00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast (01:09) - Meet Michael from Avalara (06:31) - Avalara's Role and Services (12:04) - Global Reach and Challenges (13:27) - Integration with Sage Intacct (18:35) - Avalara's Comprehensive Tax Solutions (25:00) - The Importance of Tax Compliance Solutions (26:01) - Challenges in Manual Tax Compliance (27:17) - Automating Tax Compliance with Avalara (28:12) - The Role of Finance Teams in Tax Compliance (30:38) - Complexities of Tax Jurisdictions (34:20) - Avalara's Integration and Human Component (38:57) - Challenging Tax Jurisdictions (43:56) - The Complexity of Software Taxation (47:06) - Concluding Thoughts and Dad Joke Connect with Michael Huletthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hulettConnect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715Get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.appDownload the Earmark AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Barrett King, Head of Alliances at Ramp, shares insights on how the company is revolutionizing corporate spend management and financial operations. From Ramp's partnership with Sage Intact to the future of procurement, Barrett discusses how technology is transforming the way businesses manage their finances, cutting month-end close processes from weeks to minutes. The conversation explores the power of connected systems, data-driven decision making, and how Ramp's all-in-one solution is helping companies optimize not just their money but their time.SponsorsPayhawk - https://unsage.promo/payhawk(00:00) - Introduction and Generator Story (04:00) - Barrett King's Professional Journey (05:45) - Transition to Ramp (10:26) - Ramp's Value Proposition (12:44) - Innovative Features and Future Prospects (19:12) - The Future of Procurement and Sales (23:42) - The Concept of an All-in-One Solution (24:50) - Real-World Use Cases and Optimization (27:46) - Automation and Personal Experiences (30:54) - Change Management and Industry Shifts (35:57) - Future of Ramp and Global Expansion (36:58) - Closing Thoughts and Dad Jokes Connect with Barrett King:https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrettjkingConnect with the Hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmaderehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescaulthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715Get free CPE for listening to this podcasthttps://www.earmark.appDownload the Earmark AppApple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app