Can the accounting profession grow with fewer people? Blake Oliver and David Leary unpack how AI is reshaping firms, from PwC Australia’s staffing cuts and rising partner pay to new questions about performance metrics, CPA pathways, and the future of CAS. They also cover the IRS’s tax season recap, tariff refunds, Deloitte’s fake AI citations, and why firms need better ways to measure value in an AI-driven world.SponsorsDigits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digitsCloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayWurthy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/wurthyChapters(00:00) - Show kickoff and tax season (01:05) - Sponsor Digits AI bookkeeping (02:45) - IRS CEO tax season recap (06:18) - Direct File and enforcement debate (07:54) - Tariff refund portal CAPE (09:54) - IRS CI pulled to ICE then back (11:49) - CAS growth engine for firms (15:12) - New firm metrics beyond hours (24:02) - AI ROI metrics survey (25:30) - Sponsor Cloud Staffing and OnPay (29:45) - Rethinking Course Requirements (31:44) - States Drop 150 Hours (33:16) - Experience Sign Off Hurdles (33:59) - Geopolitical Risk Survey (35:25) - Deloitte Fake Citations (38:46) - Big Four Cuts and Pay (41:51) - Worthy Sponsor Break (43:23) - ARR Metric Trouble (48:37) - Shorter Contracts Shift (49:49) - Ilhan Omar Filing Error (53:18) - Wrap Up and Free CPE  Show NotesIRS CEO Touts Successful Tax Season Despite Cutbackshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-ceo-touts-successful-tax-season-despite-cutbacksThe CAPE Tariff Refund System Is Here — Are You Ready?https://globaltrainingcenter.com/the-cape-tariff-refund-system-is-here-is-your-global-trade-team-ready/IRS Shakes Up Leadership Ahead of Tax Seasonhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-shakes-up-leadership-ahead-of-tax-seasonLooking to Grow Like a Top 100 Firm? Try CAShttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/looking-to-grow-like-a-top-100-firm-try-casAccounting Firms Need New Metrics for an Old Modelhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/accounting-firms-need-new-metrics-for-an-old-modelOnly 18% of Organizations Track AI ROIhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/only-18-of-organizations-track-ai-roiCPA Licensing Laws Are Constraining Accounting Firms in the AI Erahttps://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/accounting-firms-schools-must-craft-next-generations-futureMaryland Approves CPA Licensure Pathways Billhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/maryland-approves-cpa-licensure-pathways-billNevada Implements CPA Licensure Changeshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/nevada-implements-cpa-licensure-changesAccountants Worried About War in Iranhttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accountants-worried-about-war-in-iranAccounting Watchdog to Investigate Deloitte Over Fake Citations in $1.6M Healthcare Reporthttps://theindependent.ca/news/lji/accounting-watchdog-to-investigate-deloitte-over-fake-citations-in-1-6-million-healthcare-report/PwC Australia Profit Drops, But Fewer Partners Split the Pothttps://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/pwc-australia-profit-drops-but-fewer-partners-split-the-potDeloitte US to Cut Benefits for Segment of Employees Amid Job Architecture Reshufflehttps://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026/04/20/deloitte-us-to-cut-benefits-for-segment-of-employees-amid-job-architecture-reshuffleWhat Is ARR? Behind the Least-Trusted Metric of the AI Erahttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-07/what-is-arr-behind-the-least-trusted-metric-of-the-ai-eraAI Tools Are Upending Typical Software Contractshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-25/ai-tools-are-upending-typical-software-contractsRep. Ilhan Omar Cites Accounting Error in $30 Million Financial Disclosurehttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/18/rep-ilhan-omar-cites-accounting-error-30-million-financial-disclosure/Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks 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.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info?