AICPA Town Hall Podcast Summary

Episode: Strategies for Firm Growth and Beating Burnout
Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Erik Asgeirsson, AICPA & CIMA
Guests/Panelists: Jeff Weiner (ex-Marcum CEO), Rachel Dressen (DC Update), Melanie Lauritsyn (IRS Update), Lexi Weber (PCPS), Lauren Baptiste (Burnout consultant), Carl Mays (AICPA Profession Ready Initiative)

Episode Overview

This episode of the AICPA Town Hall focuses on dynamic strategies for firm growth—with a special leadership conversation with Jeff Weiner—and on addressing burnout within the accounting profession. The show continues with critical DC policy developments, tax and IRS updates, the launch of new tools for preventing burnout, and introduces the “Profession Ready” initiative that aims to bridge evolving skills gaps in accounting. The tone is practical, insightful, and forward-looking, with experts offering guidance and real-life perspectives throughout.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Firm Growth and Leadership with Jeff Weiner

[00:11 – 19:41]

Jeff Weiner’s Journey and Firm Strategy

• Jeff joined Marcum as the seventh employee in 1981; by 2024, the firm had grown to over $1.3 billion and was acquired by CBIZ.
• The firm’s early growth was not fueled by private equity (PE), but by “relentless focus on clients, reinvesting in talent and technology.”

  “It was an overnight success that took 40 years…” (Jeff Weiner, 02:09)

• Importance of scalable investments:

  “We were always motivated by servicing our clients well, not having our clients outgrow us. So we always invested in two things, which were talent and technology.” (Jeff Weiner, 03:06)

Financing Growth: Debt vs. Equity

• Marcum shifted from organic to acquisitive growth after 2008’s recession.
• Jeff engaged in institutional debt financing, learning from Grant Thornton.

  “Debt is always cheaper than equity. While private equity coming into the profession I think has been a great thing... bringing in equity is always more expensive than bringing in debt.” (Jeff Weiner, 07:01)

• Emphasizes strategic borrowing for “growth with clear payback”—not for speculative ventures.

Managing Risk

• Jeff uses an analogy from a retreat: If you take a risk below the waterline, the boat sinks; above the waterline, you can recover.

  "Every time we took a risk, whether it was borrowing money… we always tried to make sure that the risk we were taking wasn’t going to sink the boat.” (Jeff Weiner, 09:20)

The M&A and PE Landscape

• PE has transformed accounting, driving up multiples and creating a “liquid market” (14–15x earnings), fueling further consolidation.
• New value seen in tech and firm platforms:

  “The multiples have seemed to stabilize… There have been probably 15 or 20 platform firms… all those firms have gone on acquisition binges.” (Jeff Weiner, 10:02)

Technology/AI and Value Creation

• Tech has shifted junior roles from “key-punch” work to more analytical/review functions.

  “The first-year kids are reviewing [the tax return] and thinking about it. They'd much rather do that than be a key punch operator.” (Jeff Weiner, 12:37)

• Firms should leverage tech not just for cost-cutting, but for building new value-added services.

  “Don’t just drive efficiency—a race to the bottom. Think through the additional value you can provide.” (Erik Asgeirsson, 14:21)

Leadership Principles

• “You can’t lead unless they’re willing to follow.”
• Great leadership is about accountability, creating a supportive culture, and understanding the responsibility for so many livelihoods:

  “Every night I went to sleep knowing I had to support 4,000 people… leadership is not just about getting up in front of the room and speaking and getting a big paycheck.” (Jeff Weiner, 16:14)

• Advice for new professionals:

  “Be the first one in, be the last one out, and whatever they ask you to do, do more… and show up.” (Jeff Weiner, 17:46)

2. Washington, DC Policy Updates

[19:41 – 29:59]

Speaker: Rachel Dressen (AICPA DC Office)

Government Funding/Shutdown

• Brief partial shutdown affecting Treasury/IRS, now resolved until September 30.
• Dept of Homeland Security funded until Feb 13, ongoing risk for TSA/visa processing.

PCAOB Board Appointments

• Four new board members announced, including high-profile figures from EY and regulators.

Department of Education Loan Cap Issue

• Ongoing advocacy to ensure “accountancy” is recognized as a profession eligible for graduate loan caps; positive language included in latest rule.

  “Designation as a profession is crucial—it affects not just loans, but future regulations." (Rachel Dressen, 27:36)

Crypto / Digital Assets Legislation

• Senate and House both working on frameworks for stablecoins and broader digital assets oversight; ongoing bipartisan activity.

K-12 STEM Grants for Accounting

• Pending Senate bill would let existing STEM grant funds be used for accounting education, boosting profession pipeline.

3. IRS and Tax Filing Season Technical Update

[30:03 – 36:39]

Speaker: Melanie Lauritsyn

IRS Operations Post-Shutdown

• IRS remains funded; contingency plans tapped Inflation Reduction Act funds.
• Paper processing backlogs have tripled since 2019; 17% fewer seasonal staff (i.e., phone support).

Taxpayer Advocate Report

• Severe staff shortages and “brain drain”—27% workforce loss, especially in leadership.
• Refund backlog, especially for ID theft victims; key concern for practitioners.
• IRS achieved only 60% phone service rates (goal: 85%).

Practitioner Tools

• Ongoing issues with Tax Pro Online Account access and manual processing of power of attorney forms (35,000+ backlogged).

FAQs & Deadlines

• Minor new guidance on electronic payments and overtime FAQs.
• Extended window for amended IRAs to Dec 2027.
• Plugged upcoming AI-focused webcast for optimizing tax practices.

4. Burnout Prevention: PCPS Toolkit Launch

[37:22 – 49:13]

Speakers: Lexi Weber (AICPA PCPS), Lauren Baptiste (Ekoloa Wellness)

Why Burnout Matters

• Burnout is a “slow build”—constant deadlines, pressure to deliver, staffing shortages, and overwork.

  “Burnout rarely starts with a breaking point. It builds day by day.” (Lauren Baptiste, 38:49)

• The toolkit offers profession-specific, practical guidance; aims to foster early recognition and response.

  “If we want consistent performance, we have to build smarter ways of working.” (Lauren, 39:09)

How to Get Started

• Self-assessment: “Immediate clarity” for individuals and teams to spot early warning signs—cognitive decline, irritability, fatigue.
• Not labeling—creating awareness: Use as a springboard for informed, supportive team conversations.

Recognizing Burnout

• “For many professionals, burnout doesn’t feel dramatic. It feels like an ordinary day… because we’ve normalized the pace.”
• Early warning: lack of focus, re-reading emails, irritability, questioning productivity.

Organizational Response

• PACE Framework:

  • Pinpoint: Spot the signs early
  • Analyze: Identify key stress drivers
  • Calculate: Understand the business cost of inaction
  • Engage: Adjust workflows and support

  “Replacing just one experienced professional can cost firms hundreds of thousands when you factor in lost productivity, recruiting, onboarding, and lost knowledge.” (Lauren, 43:09)

• Includes a detailed implementation guide for firms—focus on practical, incremental changes.

• Burnout prevention is positioned as a “direct investment in retention and firm performance.”

5. Profession Ready Initiative

[49:25 – 54:44]

Speaker: Carl Mays (AICPA)

• Addresses entry-level skills gaps, reflecting rapid tech shifts and changing work expectations.
• Three-pronged approach:
  • Skills Framework (set for 2027): Define essential modern skills for new accountants.
  • Technology-Enabled Learning: Simulations, AI-driven training before real-world assignments.
  • Academic Engagement: Provide best practices so colleges can adapt to workplace demands.
• Call for input from firms and academics via survey/Q&A:

  “Whatever we produce should reflect your needs.” (Carl Mays, 51:39)

Notable Quotes

• On Leadership:

  “You can’t lead unless they’re willing to follow… leadership is not about getting up in front of the room and speaking and getting a big paycheck, but it’s the responsibility that comes with it.” (Jeff Weiner, 16:14)

• On Technology:

  “Technology takes care of populating the tax return. And the first-year kids are reviewing it and thinking about it. They’d much rather do that than be a key punch operator.” (Jeff Weiner, 12:37)

• On Burnout:

  “Burnout rarely starts with a breaking point, it builds day by day…” (Lauren Baptiste, 38:49)
  “We often assume this level of pressure is just part of the job, but it’s not.” (Lauren, 41:34)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jeff Weiner Leadership and Firm Growth: 00:11 – 19:41
• DC Update (Shutdown, Legislation, STEM): 19:41 – 29:59
• IRS Update (Season Readiness, Tech Issues): 30:03 – 36:39
• Burnout Toolkit Launch: 37:22 – 49:13
• Profession Ready Initiative: 49:25 – 54:44
• Open Forum / Q&A: 54:44 – 60:13

Memorable Moments

• Sailboat Risk Analogy:
  “If you take a risk below the waterline, the boat sinks; above the waterline, you can recover.” (Jeff, 09:20)
• Workplace Advice for Young Pros:
  “Be the first in, last out, do more, and show up.” (Jeff, 17:46)
• Burnout Toolkit Use:
  “Don’t just hand a colleague the quiz and say ‘you’re burned out’—use it as a team resource and discussion starter.” (Lauren, 56:56)

Practical Resources Mentioned

• PCPS Burnout Prevention Toolkit (self-assessments, early warning guides, implementation plans)
• Upcoming AICPA AI Webinars (applying AI in tax; Feb 11, 2pm ET)
• Resources on Firm Tech Adoption (CPA.com/AIInitiative)
• Profession Ready Skillset Survey (Contributions requested)

The episode delivers a robust overview of growth strategies—grounded in real firm experience—while pivoting to the human side of the profession with actionable resources to prevent burnout and equip new talent. The overall tone is collegial, practical, and solutions-oriented.