The Accounting Podcast

Could an AI catch what auditors and a CFO missed? This week, Blake and David unpack how a founder used Claude to scan QuickBooks and uncover a $2.1M embezzlement in 18 minutes. They also tackle Deloitte’s AI ‘workslop’ refund, shutdown-driven IRS and air travel woes, the IRS’s new “CEO” and crypto ties, OpenAI’s personal finance play, EY’s audit rebound, BDO’s ESOP squeeze, and crypto funds courting CPA clients.


Chapters

• (01:35) - Deloitte's AI Report Scandal
• (09:05) - Government Shutdown Impact on IRS and Air Travel
• (23:56) - AI in Accounting: Risks and Opportunities
• (34:49) - Competing with the Status Quo
• (35:38) - Pricing Bookkeeping Services
• (36:31) - Standardizing Services Based on Price
• (37:14) - Client Needs vs. Service Offerings
• (38:00) - The Monthly Close Obsession
• (40:01) - Broken Charts in Financial Reports
• (43:15) - Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy
• (47:08) - EY's Audit Quality Turnaround
• (49:53) - Crypto Investment Schemes
• (55:48) - BDO's Financial Struggles
• (01:00:34) - Conclusion and Announcements

 

Deloitte to partially refund Australia for report with apparent AI-generated errors
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/deloitte-partially-refund-australian-government-report-apparent-ai-126281611

Claude Exposed My Co-Founder's $2M Theft — AI Evidence Turned Into Lawsuit
https://techbullion.com/claude-exposed-my-co-founders-2m-theft-ai-evidence-turned-into-lawsuit/

New Research: 20% of Americans use AI tools 10X+/month, but growth is slowing and traditional search hasn't dipped
https://sparktoro.com/blog/new-research-20-of-americans-use-ai-tools-10x-month-but-growth-is-slowing-and-traditional-search-hasnt-dipped/

The Danger of Bad Charts
https://www.cpajournal.com/2025/10/10/the-danger-of-bad-charts-2/

Cracker Barrel's logo controversy was driven by bots
https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/cracker-barrel-s-logo-controversy-was-driven-by-bots-what-operators-should-learn-from-this

Our commitment to audit quality — Ernst & Young LLP's 2025 report
https://www.ey.com/en_us/assurance/audit-quality-report

EY drops clients to improve audits after leading Big Four in deficiencies
https://www.cfobrew.com/stories/2024/08/27/ey-drops-clients-to-improve-audits-after-leading-big-four-in-deficiencies

OpenAI Buys Personal Finance App Roi
https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2025/openai-buys-personal-finance-app-roi/

With its latest acqui-hire, OpenAI is doubling down on personalized consumer AI
https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/03/with-its-latest-acqui-hire-openai-is-doubling-down-on-personalized-consumer-ai/

BDO USA Expands Professional Services Capabilities Through HORNE
https://www.bdo.com/insights/press-releases/bdo-usa-expands-professional-services-capabilities-through-horne

Auditor BDO Cuts Jobs With Focus on Managing Apollo Debt https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-11/auditor-bdo-cuts-jobs-with-focus-on-managing-apollo-debt

Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com
Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com

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.

Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.

Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com

TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd

The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page