Founder and CEO of Earmark CPE

President and Founder, Sombrero Apps Company

Aaron is responsible for Sage’s technology strategy and software architecture. He has more than 20 years of high-tech engineering experience in business applications and software development strategies. Previously a founding leader of Sage Intacct, acquired by Sage in 2017, Aaron led the company’s product vision and technology direction, establishing Sage Intacct as the innovation leader in cloud financial management solutions. You can follow Aaron on Twitter @AaronRHarris

Innovation Strategist, Rightworks

Reporter, CFO.com

Managing Editor @going_concern | accounting shit | disruptive before it was cool | comment section gatekeeper | 🚲 life | new twitter acct (obvs)

Partner in charge of Product & Innovation at Armanino LLP

CEO/Founder of Shay CPA P.C. CPA, Quickbooks ProAdvisor, Deep expertise in Early Stage Tech Company Accounting, Tax Compliance, and R&D Tax Credits.

COO at Padgett Business Services

Chief Enlightenment Officer | Conscious Public Accountants - Amber Setter is the chief enlightenment officer for Conscious Public Accountants, whose mission is to guide accountants back to their wholeness. She is a national expert on building coaching cultures within the accounting profession. Her professional experience includes serving as an internal and external coach, facilitating and coaching within leadership development experiences, and building a nationally recognized learning and development function. She holds a Masters in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego and a Bachelors in Business Administration, Accounting from San Jose State University. She is a graduate of Accomplishment Coaching — an ICF accredited Coaches Training Program — and also completed their Advanced Leadership Program as a Mentor Coach. She is an inactive CPA and an ICF Professional Certified Coach, and was recognized by CalCPA as a Woman to Watch in the Experienced Leader Category.

Anthony provides business valuation and advisory services to corporate and individual clients of DeJoy & Co. He has expertise consulting clients through gift & estate tax planning and succession planning. Additionally, he has experience advising on corporate transactions, mergers & acquisitions, deal structuring, and financial due diligence. Before joining DeJoy, Anthony had 5+ years consulting high net worth individuals and small to mid-sized companies on business valuation and tax planning. Additionally, Anthony led financial planning and analysis for a large multinational company. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Forensic and Valuation Services Section. He is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester. Anthony earned his MBA and BS in Accounting from St. John Fisher University. He is Accredited in Business Valuation by the AICPA and has a Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Anthony grew up in the Rochester area where he attended McQuaid Jesuit and now resides in Victor, NY.

Country Manager, United States @Xero

Bonnie Forssell is the Chief Financial Officer of Vitamin Angels, a public health nonprofit working to improve nutrition and health outcomes in low-resource settings worldwide. As the CFO, her focus is on overseeing the strategic direction of the $100m+ organization, international expansion, and ensuring all funds raised are used as efficiently as possible in order to advance the mission of the organization. Additionally, she leads the Finance, IT, HR, and Legal/Compliance teams at Vitamin Angels. She has a Masters in Accountancy from the University of Missouri – Columbia and is a licensed CPA (inactive).

Brannon Poe is the founder of Poe Group Advisors and the creator of Accounting Practice AcademyTM, an online workshop that is transforming how owners run their firms. He began facilitating successful accounting practice transitions in 2003 and has since pioneered a consulting-based approach to transitioning CPA firms, culminating in Poe Group Advisors’ unique process – The Seamless SuccessionTM. He started his career in public accounting as an auditor with Ernst & Young before working for several years in auditing and tax preparation for the regional firm of Elliott, Davis & Company. Brannon is the author of several books, and multiple industry articles. He is also the host of the “Accountant’s Flight Plan” podcast. Brannon is passionate about entrepreneurship and is a founding member and past president of the Charleston chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO). Brannon has worked with some of the most successful and seasoned CPAs in the industry and has been privy to the behind-the-scenes methods that these clients have used to build highly profitable practices along with capable and independent teams.

Co-founder & Partner at LiveCA LLP

Charles is a M&A Corporate Development advisor for B2B Services and Work Tech. Charles works with CEO entrepreneurs and institutional family office and private equity leaders on their corporate development initiatives (platforms and add-on acquisitions). His leadership increases valuations for emerging enterprises, helps create shareholder and institutional wealth, and creates industry sector leaders. Previously, Mr. Bedard has been a successful entrepreneur and held numerous positions with fast-growth technology-enabled service companies. Charles earned his Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas, his Masters of Business Administration from the Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth Texas, and is a certified M&A Advisor (CM&AA) and Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Research Intern, University of the Pacific - Eberhardt School of Business

I am a staff accountant for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Atlanta. I previously served as a forensic accountant for the Securities Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission and then later as the Chief Account of Enforcement. Prior to that, I worked at a mid-sized consulting firm in Washington DC. I graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2019 with a bachelors in accounting. While in college I interned at the SEC and a boutique forensic accounting firm in Los Angeles. Before college I volunteered for 2 years as a missionary in Ghana. I am a CPA, CFE, and CFF. I am 29 years old and married with 2 kids.

A passionate and driven individual, Connor is currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Jonny Pops, LLC, a business he helped create in 2011. Connor oversees a growing team of individuals producing JonnyPops products, a broadening sales organization, and is responsible for the organization's financial management. Connor graduated from St. Olaf College in 2014 with Distinction in Economics and a Computer Science major.

David is a lifelong programmer who founded Expensify in 2008 and built it into the most popular preaccounting platform on the planet. He’s recognized as one of the world’s top network engineers, having created Expensify’s blockchain-powered database a year before Satoshi’s white paper on Bitcoin. Prior to Expensify, David led engineering for Red Swoosh — which was acquired by Akamai Technologies in 2007 — and held various roles in 3D graphics and VR development. When he’s not fearlessly leading Team Expensify from Portland, David enjoys playing Minecraft with his daughter.

David has over 25 years of experience as a North and South Carolina CPA, including a BS in Business Administration and Masters of Accounting from Kenan-Flagler at UNC Chapel Hill. ‘Big Six’ audit experience and real-estate experience as the CFO of a $100 million company, assisting in the ultimate sale of the company to a southeastern regional builder, has given David significant industry experience. He also has Litigation Support experience in federal court and his service on local and state non-profit boards rounds out his ability to successfully help integrate financial statements, tax planning, capital planning, and exit strategies for his clients.

Passionate about entrepreneurship within the accounting industry. I founded Big4Transparency.com to bring salary transparency to the accounting industry and have helped serve hundreds of thousands of CPAs since, giving them access to quality salary data as well as helping them find their next role.

Believer, Investor, Speaker, @Adweek Brand Star & @Forbes Next 1000. Founder of award-winning platform @TheBOSSNetwork 💻@BOSSOnCampus 👩🏾‍🎓#BOSSImpactFund 💰

I teach accounting to students, investors, and business owners. Feel free to ask me anything accounting! Go Trojans!

Dr. Akpan is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Methodist University who is passionate about incorporating new technologies, such as AI, to provide students with up-to-date and contextually relevant learning experiences that will help them thrive in our rapidly transforming world. He has 10+ years of experience in teaching, research, and service in accounting and financial management, and his contributions to AI research, particularly in the accounting sector, are widely recognized in academic and professional circles. Dr. Akpan is also the author of several books, including The Hitchhiker's Guide to Virtual Reality, which aims to give educators—K–12 and university professors—a practical and tactical method for using virtual reality in the classroom.

Accounting for Coaching & Consulting Companies

As the founder and EVP of Oracle NetSuite, I understand that a business starts with an idea, but it succeeds because of the people. At NetSuite, we have grown from a small office above a hair salon into a global organization that now works with more than 32,000 customers in 217 countries and dependent territories.

Geof Brown, CAE, is president and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), one of the largest state CPA societies in the nation. Brown also serves as president and CEO of CPAs for the Public Interest and ex-officio board member of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois. In 2023, Brown was named to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list. A seasoned certified association executive (CAE), Brown has more than 23 years of experience as an association professional. Before joining ICPAS in 2022, he served as CEO of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the nation’s leading professional association of fee-only financial advisors, for nine years. Prior to NAPFA, Brown was an account executive with Sentergroup, an association manager at SmithBucklin Corporation, and held multiple positions with North-American Interfraternity Conference. Brown served as the board chair for Association Forum and is an active member. He also serves on the American Accounting Association Foundation Board of Trustees, is an active member in the American Society of Association Executives, and is a board member with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values. Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland.

After 18 years as a private business partner at PwC, I co-founded Accountests after becoming frustrated with the lack of certainty when hiring accountants. Does a potential recruit actually possess the necessary technical accounting skills to perform their role? Too many times when working with clients I saw the costly, time consuming and confidence-eroding impact of that gap between anticipated and actual ability of the accountants and bookkeepers they employed. So, I teamed up with Psychometric testing expert Steve Evans and we went about developing a set of tests to verify technical accounting skill levels for a variety of different roles. To the best of our knowledge, we are the only global provider of aptitude tests made by accounting experts, for accountants. Our customers tell us they love our tests and the cost-effective peace of mind the tests provide. If you want to start making informed accounting and bookkeeping hiring decisions, get in touch with us today.

I am a Tax Consultant and Real Estate Investor, and podcast host of Healthy, Wealthy & Wise. I advise clients on the application of Tax Efficiencies relating to their investments both directly and indirectly. My education is in Accounting but my entrepreneurial spirit has led me through many business ventures. But I love finding money for people who didn't know it was there! Cost Segregation, 179D deduction, 45L credits, R&D tax credits, Historical Tax Credits, Conservation Easements, Opportunity Zones, Alternative Investments, and Captive Insurance are a few tools we can help you with. As the Executive Vice President and Board Member of Engineered Tax Services I help plan for growth and operational improvements internally, while working externally with investment minded individuals to optimize their investment. I also teach over 30+ Continuing Education courses annually to CPA's, Design Build Professionals and Real Estate Professionals across the U.S. If synergies are apparent, please send me a connection request and let's see how we can work together.

Jack Castonguay, PhD, CPA is an assistant professor of accounting at Hofstra University and vice president of strategic content development at Surgent Accounting and Financial Education. He has a BBA and MS in accounting from James Madison University and a PhD in accounting from the University of Tennessee. He holds an active CPA licensce in VA and NY. He has published articles in The CPA Journal, Strategic Finance, and Accounting Perspectives and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, and CFO Dive. Jack lives in NYC with his two dogs, Gatsby and Mr. Feeny.

Jason Sheehan CPA, Director of Finance, Griid

Ed Ketz, Ph.D., a member of the Penn State faculty since 1981, has authored and edited 17 books as well as numerous articles. His book Hidden Financial Risk (Wiley, 2003) examines the corporate culture and the institutional setting that engendered recent accounting scandals, informs investors how to protect themselves, and suggests improvements for the profession. Accounting Ethics (Routledge, 2006) investigates the accounting profession over the last century by scrutinizing its positions on ethics and its roles in myriad accounting scandals and by exploring how to reduce the number of accounting frauds. Fair Value Measurements (BNA, 2007), co-authored with Mark Zyla (Managing Director at Acuitas, Inc.), summarizes the FASB’s efforts in this area, supplies the conceptual ideas behind this topic, describes methods employed by valuation assessors, and reviews criticisms of fair value measurements. Professor Ketz has been cited in the popular and business press, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Week, Bloomberg News, USA Today, and Chicago Tribune, on topics such as accounting for stock compensation, business combination accounting, accounting for derivatives, the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector and related CDOs, and evaluations of specific corporate accounting practices at Enron, Tyco, Rite Aid, HealthSouth, AIG, CVS, Starbucks, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and other corporations. He also has appeared as an accounting commentator on CNBC, CNNfn, and National Public Radio. Ed Ketz provides investment and accounting advice and has consulted for Banc of America Securities, Wells Fargo, Gerson Lehrman Group, Association of Audit Committee Members, the Coleman Research Group, and several hedge funds. He also has served as an expert witness.

Chief Executive Officer at Padgett Business Services

Chief Executive Officer at PICPA » CPA | MBA | Accounting & Finance Leader

15+ years in all areas of Accounting, including Intercompany, financial reporting, month-end close, fixed assets, Accounts Payable and Receivable and bank reconciliations. Project accounting, prepare personal, partnership and corporate tax returns. Forensic Accounting with strong attention to detail. Hospital accounting, including reporting for Medicare/Medicaid. Prepare yearly budgets.

💼 Helping independent knowledge workers build sellable businesses 🎙 Host JWellsCFO Show 🎙 Co-host @CPAAdvisoryShow 👨‍👩‍👧 Husband & father 💬 DMs open

Senior Advisor, Board Member, Audit Committee Chair and Author

As an author, consultant, business coach, and national speaker, Joe has trained over 125,000 accounting and business professionals in areas of practice development, changing technology trends, strategic consulting, and how to maximize the use of accounting software in their practices. Joe founded Woodard Events, LLC (aka Woodard®) a training and resource organization for accounting professions that provides education, community, and coaching offerings through onsite training events, virtual training events, and intensive, coach-led practice advancement courses. Joe is the host of one of the world's leading training conferences for accountants and bookkeepers called Scaling New Heights®. For every year since 2014, Joe has been recognized by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Influential People within the accounting profession. Joe regularly publishes articles for numerous news sources and media organizations that service the accounting profession, including The Woodard Report, the media arm of Woodard®. that reaches over 100,000 readers each year.

Technology Risk Consultant, RSM US LLP

Keila is the go-to expert for business owners looking to keep their financials in check. She is a fierce accountant who takes her work very seriously and is keenly aware of the fears associated with finances. She has created a safe space for business owners to face their fears head on, helping countless clients save money on taxes, avoid financial pitfalls, and achieve their financial goals. With over two decades of experience in taxes and accounting, Keila’s portfolio of clients includes coaches, consultants, makers and service providers across all industries.

Kwame Agyei is the Founder & CEO of Appoynt, a UK-based BPO with operations in Ghana. With previous experience as a Finance Director in the SME space, Kwame brings a wealth of expertise to the intersection of finance and outsourcing. Under his leadership, Appoynt has become a beacon of excellence in outsourcing, leveraging technology and talent to drive efficiency for businesses across industries. A thought leader and innovator, Kwame is passionate about sharing his insights on accounting podcasts, offering valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of finance and entrepreneurship.

Chair, National Pipeline Advisory Group

President at Minnesota Society of CPAs

Chief Economist, Gusto

Tax lawyer and sports fan

Accounting translator for entrepreneurs

Accounting Manager at Sprague Pest Solutions

Excellence and innovation in one of the oldest professions in the world. I strive to do my work in the best way I know how; doing things right the first time, every time. I know how to work hard and find solutions to the many unique problems that arise when growing a business. I use the framework that accurate, integral accounting and finance practices provides to inform decisions and take action to ensure lasting, meaningful growth.

An entrepreneur that specializes in small business financial management. Running a business has always been a passion of mine. I took the time to learn the ins and outs of exactly what it takes to take a business to the next level. Building scalable financial systems is the most important component of sustaining a profitable business.

Servant • Haitian • Finance advisory to tech + biopharma CFOs • #SVBWarRoom/#SVBDebrief 🎙 @weleadwithvalue | Own Views.

Nicolas is an experienced CPA with over 20 years in the field. Throughout his career, he has delivered high-quality accounting and financial services to mid and small-sized companies. In recent years, he has specialized in bridging the gap between US accounting and bookkeeping firms and talented professionals in Argentina. By leveraging his expertise and extensive network, he helps firms find the right talent in South America.

SF Software Entrepreneur, CEO @BitwavePlatform (Crypto Accounting) Angel investor, bitcoin fan. Former @Synata, @Cisco, @Microsoft

I am a total finance and Excel Nerd.

Global Lead Instructor, UWorld

Vice President at @BitwavePlatform 🌊 | Member of @WallStreetBTC | @Oracle, @Netsuite, @SageGroupPLC alum

Dad, Husband, CPA, Host of The Unique CPA Podcast, Speaker, Writer, Craft Beer Enthusiast, Stroke Survivor.

Reynaldo Arellano is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with professional designations as a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) and Certified Global Management Accounant (CGMA). In addition to providing traditional CPA services such as bookkeeping, accounting, and taxes (planning, compliance, and representation) his Firm also offers tactical CFO services and strategic business advisory services. Mr. Arellano started in the financial profession as a Big 8 auditor, then an accounting software consultant, then a Controller eventually becoming a CFO, and held NASD and life insurance licenses (presently inactive). Mr. Arellano has consistently proven to have the highest levels of integrity, intelligence and innovation. He has held numerous managerial (C-suite) and leadership (board of directors) positions within corporations and non-profit organizations.

Roger Knecht is president of Universal Accounting Center, a post-secondary school for accounting professionals. With over 20 years of marketing, sales, HR & operations experience, Roger Knecht has helped thousands of business owners work ON their businesses to increase revenue, improve profits and build value. His strong work ethic and collaborative style delivers reliable, high-quality results for business owners. Roger’s podcast, Building the Premier Accounting Firm, keeps accounting professionals on the cutting edge of the industry offering quality bookkeeping, accounting and tax services. He hosts discussions with some of the accounting world’s best minds and shares actionable insights for firms. Roger is the author of “Your Strategic Accountant” and “Your Profit & Growth Expert”, each written to help business owners understand what they can expect from the accounting profession.

Chief Creative Officer at UWorld

Quest: To bury the billable hour and timesheets. Founder of VeraSage Institute. Radio Talk-Show Host, The Soul of Enterprise, on @VoiceAmericaTRN

I believe you should have a business that supports you…not the other way around.

Director, School of Accountancy at University of Denver

CEO @Sagegroupplc - passionate about supporting people that make organisations thrive #saas #customers #colleagues #innovation Volunteer @CVYP0 @SageFoundation

Chief Executive Officer – Public Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

Dir of Accountant Strategy and Partnership at Intuit. Former: seed-stage VC founder, prof. svcs, non-profit leader. Wannabe guitarist.

After years of helping fortune 500 companies and PE backed firms grow, we decided to share all of our insights through multiple shows and our online university.

Innovation Strategist, Rightworks

Wayne Berson has been the CEO of BDO USA, P.C. since 2012, during which time BDO has grown from BDO USA has grown from $600 million to $2.8 billion. He previously served as the Atlantic Assurance Regional Managing Principal, and from 2010 through 2012 as Chairman of the BDO USA Board of Directors. Wayne has been the Chair of the Global Board of Directors of BDO International, Ltd. since 2014. He has more than 30 years of experience in all phases of client service and accounting practices and has served as the responsible principal in a variety of industries, many of which are deeply involved in multinational operations. Wayne has been interviewed in national accounting publications such as Accounting Today, Fortune, Journal of Accountancy, Practical Accountant, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He has been named as one of the Washington D.C. region’s 100 most powerful business leaders as well as one of Accounting Today’s managing principal elites, named to the NACD Directorship 100, and since 2013 has been included in Accounting Today’s annual list of the top 100 most influential people. In 2016 he was presented with the year’s GWSCPA Outstanding Service to the Profession Award. Wayne is a graduate of the University of Cape Town (B.Comm, Accounting) and the University of South Africa (Accounting Science degree, Honors).

Yoseph West is the Co-Founder & CEO of Relay, an online banking and money management platform that puts small businesses, and their advisors—accountants and bookkeepers—in complete control of their cash flow. Before Relay, Yoseph led marketing at Hubdoc, joining the company when it was at zero revenue and leading its growth until Hubdoc’s eventual acquisition by Xero. Prior to that, Yoseph also co-founded Vuru, a financial analysis product that was acquired by Wave Accounting. He later joined Wave Accounting (now H&R Block) to lead the company's product engagement and monetization efforts.