What Tax Pros Charge & the PE "Dumpster Fire"

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The Accounting Podcast

Blake Oliver & David Leary

578 episodes

2 days ago

The Accounting Podcast (formerly the Cloud Accounting Podcast) is the world's #1 accounting, bookkeeping, and tax podcast! Join us weekly for a roundup of accounting news, analysis, and interviews. Plus, earn free NASBA-approved CPE credits for listening with the Earmark app. Learn more at https://earmarkcpe.com.

All content for The Accounting Podcast is the property of Blake Oliver & David Leary and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Business News

News,

News Commentary

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What Tax Pros Charge & the PE "Dumpster Fire"

The Accounting Podcast

56 minutes

1 week ago

What Tax Pros Charge & the PE "Dumpster Fire"

Is private equity turning firms into a 'dumpster fire'? Blake and David unpack Accounting Today's survey showing partners are upbeat while staff are sour on PE. They hit Andersen's $176M IPO, why Big Four ties to Big Tech raise independence questions, and how AI could finally kill the billable hour. Plus, what tax pros really charge in 2025 - and the wild 'Middle Finger Ranch' fraud.

Sponsors
OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay
Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas

Chapters

(00:56) - Private Equity in Accounting Firms
(01:51) - Sponsor Message: OnPay Payroll Solutions
(04:15) - Arthur Andersen's Legacy and IPO
(07:45) - Private Equity Survey Results
(21:04) - Big Four and Tech Giants
(28:25) - Pricing Models for CAS Engagements
(30:22) - Tax Preparers' Fees Breakdown
(36:12) - Cloud Accountant Staffing
(37:34) - Economic Growth and Consumer Spending
(40:26) - Fraud Stories: Middle Finger Ranch and More
(43:24) - PCAOB Budget Cuts and Enforcement Actions
(52:29) - IRS Readiness for Tax Season
(53:43) - Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

Show Notes

PE in accounting firms: From 'dumpster fire' to excitement

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pe-in-accounting-firms-from-dumpster-fire-to-excitement

Andersen Group Shares Gain 47% After $176 Million US IPO

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-17/andersen-group-shares-jump-34-after-176-million-us-ipo

Andersen goes public, hits $2.6B valuation

https://thefinancestory.com/andersen-group-ipo-2-6b-valuation

The Big Four consulting firms are embedded in Big Tech. Here's who audits each of the Magnificent 7 companies

https://www.businessinsider.com/big-four-accounting-audits-magnificent-seven-financial-records-2025-12

What do tax preparers charge?

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/what-do-tax-preparers-charge

How much do tax professionals charge in 2025? Insights from NATP's Fee Study

https://www.natptax.com/news-insights/blog/how-much-do-tax-professionals-charge-in-2025-insights-from-natp-s-fee-study/

U.S. economic growth surges in third quarter to 4.3%

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/12/23/gdp-economy-consumer-spending/

The US economy expanded at the fastest pace in two years as wealthier Americans kept spending

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/economy/us-gdp-q3

Kansas accountant diverted family funds to fictitious 'Middle Finger Ranch'

https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-accountant-diverted-family-funds-to-fictitious-middle-finger-ranch/

Kansas Accountant, Who Created Fictitious 'Middle Finger Ranch' for Fraud Scheme, Sentenced to 4 Years in Jail

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/12/04/kansas-accountant-who-created-fictitious-middle-finger-ranch-for-fraud-scheme-sentenced-to-4-years/174381/

PCAOB to tighten budget in 2026

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-to-tighten-budget-in-2026

PCAOB Approves 2026 Budget

https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-approves-2026-budget

Accounting Firms Must Stop Charging for Time

https://cpatrendlines.com/2025/12/02/accounting-firms-must-stop-charging-for-time/

Dirty money gangster jailed over plot worth almost £12m

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/dirty-money-gangster-jailed-over-36410033

PCAOB Sanctions CPA for Violations Related to Audit Evidence and Her Former Audit Firm for Quality Control Issues

https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-sanctions-cpa-for-violations-related-to-audit-evidence-and-her-former-audit-firm-for-quality-control-issues

Ahead of Tax Filing Season, Warren, King, 15 Senators Warn of Tax Filing Chaos After Trump Admin Attacks on IRS

https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ahead-of-tax-filing-season-warren-king-15-senators-warn-of-tax-filing-chaos-after-trump-admin-attacks-on-irs

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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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