Will AI really automate most accounting work by 2040? Blake and David unpack what they heard at AICPA Engage, from deterministic AI agents and rising accounting enrollment to private equity’s growing influence on firms. Plus, Blake shares an exclusive interview with FICPA CEO Shelly Weir on Florida’s fight to protect CPA licensure. Listen to understand where the profession is heading—and what accountants may need to do next.

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Chapters

(00:00) - Cash Stolen In Bay Ridge
(00:27) - Podcast Welcome Back
(02:58) - Engage Conference Takeaways
(03:58) - Hidden Vibe Coding
(07:50) - Rise 2040 Automation Report
(10:47) - Human In The Lead Debate
(15:09) - Top Firm Concerns 2026
(18:29) - OpenAI Finance Team Lean
(21:52) - Enrollment Up And CPA Pathways
(25:19) - 7000 Cash Theft Revisited
(26:52) - KPMG Whistleblower Scandal
(28:33) - Crowe Gets 3B PE Deal
(30:07) - Red Lobster AI Conspiracy
(31:30) - PE Cross Selling Risks
(33:39) - CPA Trust Campaign Launch
(36:17) - Florida Licensure Threat
(37:14) - Why Shelly Stayed Quiet
(39:13) - What The Bill Proposed
(43:28) - Why Deregulation Happened
(45:46) - How FICPA Stopped It
(48:46) - Mobility And Modernization
(01:00:04) - CPE And Future Battles
(01:03:59) - Wrap Up And Next Steps

Show Notes

Man Accused of Stealing $7K from Accounting Firm in Brooklyn

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/brooklyn/man-accused-of-stealing-7k-from-accounting-firm-in-brooklyn-nypd/

AICPA and CIMA Launch Rise2040: Shaping the Future of Finance and Accounting

https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-and-cima-launch-rise2040-shaping-the-future-of-finance-and-accounting

The AICPA Asks: Are You Ready for Accounting in 2040?

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/the-aicpa-asks-are-you-ready-for-accounting-in-2040

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar Offers a Look Inside the Company's Finance Function

https://www.cfo.com/news/openai-cfo-sarah-friar-offers-a-look-inside-the-companys-finance-function/822545/

Accounting Undergrad Enrollment Up 9%

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-undergrad-enrollment-up-9

3 More States Pass CPA Pathways Legislation

https://www.cfodive.com/news/3-more-states-pass-cpa-pathways-bills-accounting/821649/

A Master's Degree Isn't the Job Guarantee It Used to Be

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-masters-degree-isnt-the-job-guarantee-it-used-to-be

KPMG Secretly and Repeatedly Accessed a Whistleblower's Computer, Then Shared the Files with Its CEO

https://thenextweb.com/news/kpmg-accessed-whistleblower-computer

Crowe Gets PE Investment from KKR

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/crowe-gets-pe-investment-from-kkr

57% Say PE Threatens the CPA Brand. But They'll Take the Money.

https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/06/09/cpa-pe-deal-tracker-57-say-pe-threatens-the-cpa-brand-but-theyll-take-the-money/

Red Lobster's CEO Says He's Going to Transform the Chain into 'The Most AI-Forward Restaurant Company That Exists'

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/red-lobsters-ceo-says-hes-153500558.html

Stephano Slack Scores PE Funding

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/stephano-slack-scores-pe-funding

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Get in Touch

Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.

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