What does it take to build an accounting or finance career in one of the most volatile industries in the world? CFO Rayna Kordonowy shares how she went from small-town Montana roots to leading finance at United Energy Corporation—spanning oil and gas production, power and gas marketing, and large-scale commodity trading. Hear how her team navigates commodity swings, hedging, complex consolidations, and fast-changing ESG rules, plus why she believes AI won’t replace accountants—but will reshape how they work.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 35 - A Look Inside The World of Oil & Gas Accounting with Rayna Kordonowy

In this episode of the Tax News Now Podcast, Mark Gallegos and his guest, Damien Martin, Partner at Ernst & Young, mark the one-year anniversary of HR1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) reflecting on what the landmark tax legislation has actually meant for high-net-worth clients in practice. They dig into estate planning under the federal exemption, the nuances of state-level estate taxes, and key changes to charitable giving deductions that took effect in 2026. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on AI's growing role in tax advisory work and how practitioners can embrace it as a tool while maintaining the human, consultative edge that clients genuinely need.

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Tax News Now Ep. 20 - Permanent Until It Isn't: Navigating Tax Complexity in a Post-HR1 World with Damien Martin

AI isn’t just changing accounting workflows—it’s changing what clients need most from their advisors. As part of a five-part series, Heather Esposito joins us to reframe the fear of “being replaced” into a powerful question: what makes you irreplaceably human? She shares why anxiety shuts down good decision-making, how accountants can shift from having all the answers to navigating uncertainty with clients, and why real growth takes practice, feedback, and vulnerability. If you want to feel more confident—and more valuable—in an AI-driven profession, this conversation will change how you think about your future.

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BAP Ep. 7 - The Advisor Leap Part 5: The Advisor Leap and the AI Question with Heather Esposito

In this episode of a five-part series, Chris Mitchell and leadership coach Heather Esposito unpack why technical excellence alone isn’t enough—and how “relationship is the container for the product.” They explore the difference between being likable and being trusted, why professional distance can be fear-based, and how real advisory work requires psychological safety, vulnerability, and strong boundaries. You’ll also hear practical ways to build trust without becoming performative, and why deeper relationships can increase efficiency and impact.

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BAP Ep. 6 - The Advisor Leap Part 4: The Relationship Is The Product with Heather Esposito

Heather Esposito, founder of Movora Strategies, joins us as part of a five-part series to explain why accountants are wired for a “compliance mindset”—certainty, patterns, fast answers—and why today’s uncertainty demands an “advisory mindset” rooted in curiosity, presence, and better questions. She and host Chris Mitchell explore how identity, stress, and workplace rewards keep us stuck, and how human “power skills” like psychological safety and brain-friendly communication will differentiate professionals in the age of AI. Practical, candid, and timely—this episode will change how you show up with clients.

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BAP Ep. 5 - The Advisor Leap Part 3: Compliance Mindset vs. Advisory Judgment with Heather Esposito

Most firms train their people to be trusted advisors — and then wonder why nothing changes. Heather Esposito joins us as part of a five-part series to unpack the gap between learning in a room and doing in the real world. She dives into the neuroscience of habit, why your environment controls your behavior more than any training ever will, and how to finally measure ROI on development. If you're serious about leveling up your team, don't skip this one.

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BAP Ep. 4 - The Advisor Leap Part 2: Why Advisory Training Programs So Often Fall Flat with Heather Esposito

In this episode of Tax News Now, Mark Gallegos and his guest, Chris Wittich, Partner at Boyum, discuss key lessons learned from navigating the PPP and ERC landscape as well as the evolving role of CPAs as trusted advisors beyond traditional compliance work. The episode also explores the future of the profession through the lens of AI integration, talent retention, work-life balance, and the critical importance of practitioner involvement in shaping tax legislation.

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Tax News Now Ep. 19 - Beyond Compliance: How CPAs Become Trusted Advisors in Times of Change with Chris Wittich

Clients may ask for answers—but in today’s uncertain, fast-changing environment, they’re often looking for something more: a calm, credible guide. As part of a five-part series, host Chris Mitchell interviews Heather Esposito - CPA, ICF-credentialed coach, and founder of Movora Strategies - on how accountants can shift from “problem-solver” to trusted advisor. Heather shares how to navigate complexity without a playbook, use questions that change how clients think, and build the self-awareness that makes those skills usable in real conversations. This is a must-listen for firm leaders and rising professionals.

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BAP Ep. 3 - The Advisor Leap Part 1: The Difference Between Solving Problems and Holding Complexity with Heather Esposito

Heather Esposito’s career path is anything but linear: from special education to earning six Mary Kay career cars (including the Pink Cadillac), rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, and rising into leadership development at major companies—before returning to accounting, earning her CPA later in life, and launching two businesses. In this interview, she shares how curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning shaped every pivot, plus what she believes is changing fast in the accounting profession. Listen for practical insights on reinvention, leadership, and skills-based growth.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 34 - Turning Experience into Expertise: A Story of Learning and Reinvention with Heather Esposito

Veteran CPA and former healthcare CFO Melvin Alexander joins host Chris Mitchell to unpack what makes healthcare finance uniquely challenging—and surprisingly mission-driven. They dive into how reimbursement really works, why consolidation keeps reshaping hospitals, and how labor, inflation, and technology pressures are squeezing margins. Melvin also explains what “complex accounting events” look like in healthcare and shares practical career advice for students and accountants considering the field. If you want a clear, real-world look at the financial engine behind patient care, this episode delivers.

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Balancing the Future Ep. 35 - The Business of Care: Healthcare Accounting in a Changing Market with Melvin Alexander

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Ruth Berry

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