I continue to produce a podcast weekly with Randy Johnston for CPA Practice Advisor. The podcast is available on their website at cpate.ch/atl, or you can see it on YouTube at cpate.ch/youtube.

Accounting Technology Lab (Podcast)

Accounting Technology Lab is a weekly podcast hosted by Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley, CPA, focusing on the intersection of accounting, audit, tax, and technology. It is published by CPA Practice Advisor and covers trends in accounting software, AI/automation, audit innovation, advisory models, and more. The podcast presents interviews, reviews of new tools, case studies, and commentary on how technology is reshaping public accounting.

Episodes are available on both YouTube and CPA Practice Advisor. New episodes are available at noon ET every Friday and are featured in CPAPA’s weekly Technology Advisor Newsletter.

ATL 227: What is Advisory?

In this episode of Accounting Technology Lab, hosts Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley explore the evolution of advisory services in accounting, focusing on Thomson Reuters’ Practice Forward and Ready to Advise platforms. They explain how firms can transition from compliance-driven work to higher-value advisory relationships through structured frameworks, automation, and AI-assisted tools. The discussion highlights the importance of client trust, data privacy, and controlled use of AI in delivering advisory insights. They emphasize advisory’s role in attracting young professionals, enhancing firm growth, and building long-term client relationships grounded in proactive business and personal planning.

ATL 227 Quotes (with Timestamps)

1. (01:35) – “Working with someone’s business is like dating their daughter — trust is everything.” — Brian F. Tankersley
2. (08:25) – “We have a fiduciary responsibility to protect client data — and too many accountants aren’t doing it.” — Randy Johnston
3. (12:18) – “We’re in the trust business — and there’s no easy way to get that trust back once you lose it.” — Brian F. Tankersley
4. (13:30) – “Clients don’t just want tax returns — they want stress removed from their lives.” — Randy Johnston
5. (22:25) – “Advisory will never feel comfortable at first — but you’ve probably been doing it for years without getting paid for it.” — Brian F. Tankersley

ATL226: Audit Automation Solutions

In this episode of Accounting Technology Lab, hosts Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley discuss the transformation of the audit profession with Audit Sight co-founders Jonathan Womack and Michael Zimmerman. They explore how AI, automation, and continuous auditing are redefining assurance services, staffing, and client relationships. The conversation covers audit standardization, AI agents, risk-based testing, offshoring challenges, and talent retention. The guests emphasize balancing automation with human oversight, ensuring audit quality and documentation remain defensible. They predict that AI agents will soon assist auditors with documentation, risk analysis, and meeting prep—ushering in a new era of efficient, tech-enabled assurance work.

ATL 226 Quotes (with Timestamps)

1. (08:25) – “We’re driving talent out because we’re making them do things they’ve never had to do before in their lives.” — Jonathan Womack
2. (14:58) – “Outside the Big Four, life looks different because your clients and what they struggle with look different.” — Jonathan Womack
3. (21:14) – “Technology won’t go fast enough—offshoring is a short-term need, but success depends on process and authority.” — Jonathan Womack
4. (29:50) – “AI agents that sit beside you—taking notes, updating audit files—will soon be your digital interns.” — Jonathan Womack
5. (38:30) – “If it’s not documented, it’s not done—and AI outputs must still be reviewable and reproducible.” — Michael Zimmerman

ATL225: Zoho SMX and Zoho Balance

In this episode of Accounting Technology Lab, hosts Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley review two major Zoho events—Zoho Balance in Salt Lake City and Zoho SMZ (Small Business Summit) in San Antonio. They discuss how Zoho is positioning itself as a strong alternative to QuickBooks and Shopify by expanding its finance suite, CRM tools, and AI-powered features. Key topics include new releases such as Zoho Solo (for freelancers), Zoho Start (LLC formation), Zoho Contracts, Zoho Commerce, and Zoho Notebook. The hosts highlight Zoho’s “seed-to-tree” vision for small business growth and its strong privacy, integration, and mobile-first architecture.

ATL 225 Quotes (with Timestamps)

1. (03:53) – “Zoho Balance brought together nearly every accounting influencer—you’ll be hearing a lot more about Zoho from now on.”
2. (06:34) – “Zoho’s vision is simple: serve customers, empower employees, and run operations—all from one platform.”
3. (14:56) – “Zoho Solo is free and built for the 70 million freelancers in the U.S. alone.”
4. (17:03) – “They formed an LLC in two minutes—Zoho Start supports all 50 states, and it’s practically free.”
5. (26:42) – “Their pace of development is exploding—they’re even using AI to write and clean code.”

ATL 224: Agentic AI Developments, Summer 2025

In this Accounting Technology Lab episode, Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley review the latest wave of agentic AI developments transforming accounting technology. They explain how agentic AI—which can act autonomously and perform multi-step processes—differs from generative AI. The hosts examine Intuit’s new AI agents in QuickBooks, SmartVault’s SmartRequest AI, DataSnipper’s audit agents, and other innovations from Bloomberg Tax, CCH AnswerConnect, Ramp, and Ignition. They discuss benefits like automation and decision support alongside major risks around data privacy and control. The takeaway: agentic AI will redefine productivity across accounting, tax, and audit within just a few years.

ATL 224 Quotes (with Timestamps)

1. (01:17) – “Agentic AI takes action on your behalf—it doesn’t just think, it does.”
2. (05:18) – “Agentic AI is self-directed and hallucinates less; it’s where true autonomy begins.”
3. (09:13) – “We need skunk detection for technology—there are a lot of stinkers out there.”
4. (11:10) – “Intuit’s AI can now draft emails, reconcile bank accounts, and forecast cash flow—without you.”
5. (24:14) – “If we record this tomorrow, half of these AI announcements will already be outdated.”

We have many interesting upcoming topics, including interviews, event summaries, commentary, and product reviews. Please join us every week for the podcast.

Randy Johnston and I are about half way through the third season of our podcast called The Technology Lab for the CPA Practice Advisor. We’ve had a lot of good conversations over the 121 episodes we’ve published so far. A summary of those episodes appears below.

Generative Artificial Intelligence – AI that creates detailed responses – has captured the zeitgeist of the world in 2023. We’ve been hearing all about AI in the press for the last few months… so I asked ChatGPT-4, the leading generative AI tool in the market today, to explain some AI concepts to acccounting professionals. Here’s its response.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that focuses on creating intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. For accounting professionals, understanding AI concepts can be essential to staying ahead in an increasingly technology-driven industry. In this brief overview, we will introduce key AI concepts and discuss their potential applications in accounting.

Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI that enables computers to learn from data and make decisions or predictions without explicit programming. ML algorithms can identify patterns, trends, and relationships within large data sets, making them particularly useful in the accounting domain. For example, ML can be used for fraud detection by analyzing patterns in transaction data to identify suspicious activities.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is another AI subfield, focusing on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language. NLP can help automate tasks such as document analysis, contract review, and client communication. For instance, an AI-powered chatbot can assist clients with tax inquiries or provide real-time assistance during audits.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) involves using software robots to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks. RPA can be particularly useful in streamlining accounting processes, such as invoice processing, data entry, and account reconciliation. By automating these tasks, accounting professionals can focus on more strategic and value-added activities.

In the near future, AI may help automate even more complex tasks, such as financial forecasting and risk assessment. By analyzing historical financial data and market trends, AI algorithms could provide more accurate predictions and enable better decision-making.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to significantly transform the accounting profession by automating repetitive tasks, improving efficiency, and enabling more strategic decision-making. As an accounting professional, it is crucial to stay informed about these emerging technologies and adapt to the changing landscape. Embracing AI can not only enhance your productivity but also help you stay competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Response from ChatGPT-4 to the query in the image above

The COVID-19 Pandemic brought a lot of changes to my world – my whirlwind travel schedule abruptly came to a screeching halt, I got much better at teaching virtually (over a hundred virtual seminars and conferences), I started keeping bees, and my friend and mentor Randy Johnston and I started a podcast called “The Technology Lab” for CPA Practice Advisor. This post will provide some background on The Technology Lab and will also categorize some of the past episodes.

Why Did You Do A Podcast?

One of the first questions many people asked is, “why did you do a podcast?” The answer is actually pretty simple – the accounting community needs credible expert advice on software selection. Randy and I spend a lot of time together on the road, and we were speaking at dinner one night after a conference about how practitioners can learn more about software for their firms. We were both struck by how few credible reviews were created, and the low wordcount on those reviews made it difficult to learn the major things you want to learn when making a purchase decision – what the product is designed to do, what it costs, where it integrates, how it works, and the good, the bad, and (most importantly) the ugly.

What’s The Podcast Format?

The podcast is a 10-20 minute discussion between Randy and me about a single topic. That topic is commonly a software product/solution, but it can also be an interview, a discussion of important trends, or what we learned at a conference or other event. We try to keep things at the practical level – while we may mention technical topics like encryption or blockchain, but we know our audience neither wants nor needs to have a detailed review of the different algorithms/methodologies used to provide either of these technical topics. As my friend Gary Boomer is wont to say, “You don’t have to know how to build a watch in order to be able to tell time,” and our goal is to help you learn some of what you need to know about products and trends in accounting technology.

What Topics Have You Covered In The Past?

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The accounting profession’s first and only national, independent premier benchmark survey for practicing accounting, tax and bookkeeping professionals

December 6, 2019 – Hutchinson, Kansas and Knoxville, Tennessee – Randy Johnston, Chairman Emeritus, Network Management Group, Inc. and Brian Tankersley, President of Adept Practices, Inc., announce the launch of the 7^th Annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology (AFOT) Survey.  The AFOT Survey will remain open through February 15, 2020.  The survey results eBook, to be released in April 2020, will continue to remain a free resource delivered to practicing accounting, tax and bookkeeping professionals who complete the survey.

“We are always pleased to understand the technology in use by CPA firms across the United States. The survey provides operational information to CPA Firm Leading or Managing Partners while revealing new trends,” said Johnston.  The AFOT Survey continues to lead the profession as the nation’s most valid and complete, professional and insightful presentation of data impacting decisions being made centered on technology budget spend, software adoption and practice management. “I’ve learned something of note every year of the survey,” continued Johnston.

*** Take the survey now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AFOTS7  ***

The 7^th Annual Survey eBook will feature a familiar design, trend lines and consultative commentary from Johnston and Tankersley.  “The survey’s validity is hugely important to us; we take this aspect seriously due to critical operational and technology decisions being made by practitioners based on the trend lines our survey reveals,” said Tankersley. “This survey is the premier benchmarking tool for practitioners nationally.”

Facts about the 7^th Annual AFOT Survey

• Take the survey, get the $495 Survey results eBook, FREE OF CHARGE.
• 91 multiple choice survey questions.
• 30 minutes is the average amount of time required to complete the survey.
• Only one survey respondent per firm is required; the survey respondent will receive the AFOT Survey eBook via email on or before April 15, 2020.
• Who is the best person to take the survey in your firm? The person most familiar with operations, practice management and technology and how decisions in the firm are made.
• Survey areas include:
  • Demographics
  • Practice Management
  • Technology Management
  • Operating Systems
  • Computer Hardware
  • Application Software
  • File and Data Storage/Management
  • Remote Access/Internet/Telecommunications
  • Technology Spending, Decision-making
  • Annoyances and Trends

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 About the Principals

Randy Johnston is Chairman Emeritus of Network Management Group, Inc. (NMGI), a company he helped to create in 1983. Johnston is renowned throughout North America for consultation he provides on CPA Firm on their operations and technology, while also serving hundreds of CPA firms by proactively managing their technology.  Johnston provides insight and guidance for firms of all sizes interested in growth, profitability, mergers and acquisition.

Brian Tankersley, CPA,CITP, CGMA is President of Adept Practices, Inc.  Tankersley is a consultant, an author, and a speaker who specializes in accounting technology issues.  Tankersley has spoken in 48 US states, and three Canadian provinces, and writes for major accounting press outlets including CPA Practice Advisor and AccountingWeb.  He is also a faculty member for Yaeger CPA Review and K2 Enterprises.

Press Contact:

Brian Tankersley, +1 865-684-4707 or brian@adeptpractices.com