What does it really take to pass the CPA exam today? In this episode, CPA exam coach Blake Carroll breaks down why most candidates don’t fail from lack of intelligence—they struggle with burnout, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the rigorous pace of public accounting. He shares how leaders can better support staff, how to rebound after a failed section without spiraling, and why Gen Z’s “comparison trap” on social media makes the journey harder. This conversation is a practical, motivating listen for candidates and firm leaders alike.

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Balancing the Future Ep. 38 - The CPA Exam Mindset Every Candidate Needs with Blake Carroll

What do affordable housing, solar fields, and historic rehabs have in common? Tax credits—and a fast-growing niche in public accounting. In this episode, CohnReznick partner Nic Mathias breaks down tax-incentivized real estate in plain English, from how deals are financed to why the work can be both profitable and purpose-driven. He also shares candid career lessons from 23 years at one firm: building a partner path, learning business development, and staying adaptable. Join us for a practical, timely, and surprisingly relatable conversation.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 39 - Public Accounting’s Hidden Specialty: Real Estate Tax Credits with Nic Mathias

Is SOX 404 helping internal audit—or hijacking it? In this conversation, Ian Burnett, Managing Director at Sirius Solutions, and host Chris Mitchell revisit the chaos of early SOX, why internal audit became the default owner despite not being named in the Act, and how “material weakness” pressure can drive outsized focus on IT general controls. Ian shares practical guidance for aligning management, internal audit, and external auditors, and explains how modern AI tools could automate rules-based testing—freeing teams to tackle the risks that actually move the needle.

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Balancing the Future Ep. 37 - Sarbanes-Oxley Without the Burnout: A Better Internal Audit Model with Ian Burnett

In this episode of the Tax News Now Podcast, Mark Gallegos and his guest, Tony Nitti, Partner in EY's National Tax Office, for a wide-ranging conversation on entity choice and one of the tax code's most powerful — and most misunderstood — provisions. Tony breaks down how the TCJA's corporate rate cut and the expansion of the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exclusion have made C corporations a potentially attractive entity form. He walks through the technical traps that can disqualify stock as QSBS stock as well as the original issuance rules and the pitfalls of converting an LLC or S corporation to a C corporation midstream. Along the way, Tony also shares the personal story behind his path from Arthur Andersen staff accountant to one of the profession's most recognized voices.

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Tax News Now Ep. 22 - Never Stop at Formation Day: How the Right Entity Choice Evolves with Your Business with Tony Nitti

Rayna Kordonowy, CFO at United Energy, joins us to unpack the story behind North Dakota’s 75 years of oil production—and the next big push: “Crack the Code 2.0.” She explains how horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing transformed the Bakken, why the industry is chasing enhanced oil recovery methods, and what it could mean for production and investment decisions. She then brings it back to the CPA lens: reserves, depletion, asset retirement obligations, joint interest billing, and the impact of volatile commodity prices. Tune in for a clear, insider tour of energy accounting.

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BAP Ep. 8 - An Insider Tour of Oil & Gas Accounting with Rayna Kordonowy

Matt Fargo joins host Mike Potenza to share how he went from an entry-level CPA to co-founding Kurtz Fargo and growing it into Colorado’s largest locally owned accounting firm. He breaks down the early risks, the scrappy decisions that built momentum, and why he rejected traditional public accounting “sacred cows” like hourly billing and brutal busy seasons. You’ll also hear his pragmatic take on AI: why knowledge is becoming cheaper, judgment more valuable, and why the best firms will use tech to elevate people—not replace them.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 38 - The Bold Moves That Built a Modern Accounting Firm with Matt Fargo

How do you go from graduating into a recession to becoming CFO of a publicly traded retailer? John Szczepanski shares the real story: the 200-resume grind, pivoting from audit to finance, building a toolkit across treasury, FP&A, M&A, and an 18-year run at Ralph Lauren. Now CFO of The Children’s Place, he breaks down leading through transformation, tariffs, investor pressure, liquidity management, and where AI is already boosting productivity in finance. This interview is practical, candid, and packed with career lessons.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 37 - Leading Through Transformation: How to Build a CFO Toolkit with John Szczepanski

In this episode of the Tax News Now Podcast, Mark Gallegos and his returning guest, Kasey Pittman, Managing Director of Tax Policy at Cherry Bekaert, break down what Congress can realistically accomplish on tax policy before the midterm elections, including the fate of "Reconciliation 3.0" and the odds of a bipartisan tax package emerging in the lame-duck session. They also dig into a year's worth of Treasury and IRS guidance implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, covering Section 174, Section 1202, Qualified Opportunity Zones, Trump Accounts, and a new automatic penalty relief program. The conversation turns to litigation developments affecting COVID-era penalty and interest refunds, and closes with a deep dive into the shifting landscape of U.S. tariffs and what practitioners should be telling clients as trade policy increasingly becomes a tax planning issue.

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Tax News Now Ep. 21 - Tariffs, Taxes, and the Post-Midterm Playbook with Kasey Pittman

Joe Echevarria went from a South Bronx childhood to the CEO of Deloitte—and now President of the University of Miami. In this candid interview, he shares the two chance moments that changed everything, how mentors “adopted” him and taught him the rules of the game, and why relentless effort beats trying to be the smartest person in the room. He also breaks down what AI will really mean for accounting and why finance remains the “book of truth.” This interview is practical, inspiring, and packed with hard-earned leadership lessons you can use right away.

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Cool Careers in Accounting Ep. 36 - Chance Encounters and Big Outcomes: How Accounting Opens Doors with President Joseph Echevarria

What happens when internal audit has to move at corporate speed—and stay credible across third-party risk, compliance, and cybersecurity in the same day? Justin Van Beek shares a candid, practical look at how internal audit teams are evolving: higher tech expectations for “non-IT” auditors, smarter use of co-sourcing for high-risk or fast-changing areas, and the biggest downside of outsourcing—losing institutional context. He also explains why AI is now central to audit transformation and ROI conversations. If you want a clear view of where internal audit is headed and how to stay relevant, listen in.

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Balancing the Future Ep. 36 - Internal Audit Transformation: Building AI Savvy Teams and Smarter Assurance with Justin Van Beek

Ruth Berry (@rberrybeckerpodcast) · Zencastr

Ruth Berry (@rberrybeckerpodcast)

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