Journal of Accountancy Podcast

Artificial intelligence is accelerating the transformation of the finance function in ways that go beyond automation of existing processes.
Gartner senior director Mallory Bulman explains how finance teams can help organizations move faster, make better decisions, and prepare for 2030 and beyond.
The conversation explores digital talent, enterprise simulations, product management techniques, and what Bulman heard from attendees at the Future of Finance Summit about contending with volatility and deciding whether to be "AI-forward" or "AI-cautious."
What you'll learn from this episode:
The number of CFOs that Bulman speaks with each week, and the universal truths she hears in those calls.
What an OODA loop is and why, in Bulman's words, the "observe" part of that acronym will be getting shorter.
A key theme of a Gartner finance presentation and its tie-in with one of Bulman's sons' science classes.
How a product management mindset and self-service tools can help finance teams effectively deliver decision-ready information.
Bulman's takeaways from the Future of Finance Summit earlier in August.

Rebekah Olson, CPA, CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs, returned to the Journal of Accountancy podcast for the first time since 2019 to discuss how community, collaboration, and relationships can strengthen the accounting profession.
She shared insights into efforts to address recruiting and retention challenges, the role of professional associations in creating value for members, and an update on CPA licensure.
Olson also explained the thinking behind the MACPA's Beyond the Bottom Line YouTube series and why engagement remains critical for the profession's future.
What you'll learn from this episode:
Olson's "best part of the accounting profession" and how it led her state association to start a YouTube series.
Why Olson believes relationships and community are among the profession's greatest strengths.
What she learned from Tom Hood.
How Maryland's CPA licensure changes fit into broader efforts across the profession.
What associations can do to create more value and engagement for members.
Why positive news about accounting enrollment, in Olson's mind, doesn't eliminate the need for continued workforce development efforts.

For the 500th episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, the show went on the road to the Future of Finance Summit.
The conversation with the AICPA's Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Growth and Engagement, focuses on how finance leaders are moving beyond exploration of artificial intelligence and into active piloting and scaling.
Hood discussed priorities other than AI for finance leaders, who gathered last week in National Harbor, Md. Hood also looked back on the growth of the Future of Finance community, explaining how the "wisdom of the crowd" is one of the event's big draws.
What you'll learn from this episode:
A brief look back at the start of the JofA podcast, which has published 500 episodes.
What live polling at last week's Future of Finance Summit revealed about the pace of AI adoption in corporate finance functions.
Senior finance leaders' top issues in 2026 other than AI.
How finance leaders are trying to balance growth initiatives with continued pressure to control costs.
Why Hood says the Future of Finance community is helping leaders learn faster through case studies, peer collaboration, and shared best practices.
A look ahead to the 2027 Future of Finance Summit.

Eric R. Alexander, CPA, president of advisory service company Six Arrows Consulting, discusses the lessons he's learned throughout his career in finance and what being a finance leader means for him, and other insights from his upcoming book, Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin' Accountants: Serving as the CFO.
He shares key strategies for developing as a stewardship leader, including how he holds himself accountable, how he views his role as a trusted adviser for organizations, and the steps he has taken to improve in the relational and people aspects of the finance function.
"I've been most effective in my work when I've functioned as a steward, meaning I understood things had been entrusted to me to be responsible for," he said. "I was accountable to people, and fundamentally, it was not all about me."
Editor's note: This episode was originally on the FM podcast.
What you'll learn from this episode:
Why Alexander says the CFO role is not about you as a finance leader.
Key elements of stewardship leadership.
How to hold yourself accountable as a finance professional.
Why getting into the finer details can complicate decision-making.
What it means to own your results.
Tips for enhancing people and soft skills.

People are living longer, and that reality may call for a different approach to retirement planning. In this episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Kelley Long, CPA/PFS, shares why she believes working longer can be a positive choice, how mini-retirements and career flexibility fit into that vision, and what those ideas mean for personal financial planning. 
In the last of the JofA's summer episodes recorded at ENGAGE, Long reflects on discussions from the conference, including lessons for younger professionals and the growing interest in designing a career that supports a balanced life.
In April, Long previewed one of her ENGAGE sessions on the JofA podcast and wrote about planning for mini-retirements.
What you'll learn from this episode:
Why Long believes many professionals should plan to work longer and why that doesn't have to be a negative outcome.
How mini-retirements and sabbaticals can fit into a long-term career and financial plan.
Ways to approach conversations with employers about career flexibility and extended time away from work.
How shifting from a retirement-focused mindset to a lifestyle-focused mindset can influence financial decisions throughout life.
How first-time ENGAGE attendees can navigate multiple aspects of the conference — from its size, learning tracks, and networking opportunities to its indoor/outdoor temperature changes.
Long's review of several ENGAGE keynote sessions.