Jean Flowers, MBA

WP+D's Barry Graham, CPA, CMA, senior audit manager, shares his insight on AI with Arizona CPAs in the January 2026 edition of AZ CPA magazine. Link to article in comments. Excerpt: AI tools can enhance what we do, but they can’t replace our professional reasoning, ethics or industry context. Just like Excel didn’t eliminate accountants but empowered them, AI has the potential to improve efficiency and free up time for higher-level tasks. Think of it this way: search engines show you where to look; AI attempts to give you the answer. Your job is to make sure that answer is correct. Whether you work in audit, tax, CAS or industry, AI is quickly becoming a standard tool – just like spreadsheets or engagement software. The question isn’t whether to use it, but how to use it well. #AIforCPAs #AI #AIforAccountants #ArizonaCPAs

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❓ How do you supervise remote staff when you can't see their work? This is THE biggest compliance risk for CPA firms right now. Why supervision matters:  • AICPA standards require it (remote or not)  • Work paper reviews must be documented  • State boards are watching ⚠️ During tax season with temp staff? Exponentially harder. 📋 Our comprehensive checklist covers supervision technology, security controls, and compliance requirements: https://lnkd.in/gxiiWwsX #CPAFirm #RemoteWork #FTCSafeguardsRulen #CPASecurity #DataBreach #CyberSecurity

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We’re excited to share that HHM Talent —originally launched as a service offering in February 2024—has officially rolled out as its own standalone entity. HHM Talent now joins our family of companies alongside HHM Bookkeeping Solutions and HHM Wealth Advisors. Led by Joe Arrigo, HHM Talent offers a modern recruiting model built on transparent, hourly pricing—moving away from traditional percentage-based fees and delivering meaningful cost savings without sacrificing quality. Built alongside HHM’s 40+ years of expertise, HHM Talent reflects the same values and service commitment our clients expect—while helping organizations rethink how they approach talent acquisition. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyx5GuiJ

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EDD audits often begin long before a formal audit notice arrives. Payroll discrepancies, contractor payments, and data matching between California agencies frequently trigger early inquiries that lead to deeper reviews. CPAs play a critical role in helping clients prepare for this environment through organized payroll documentation, clear contractor records, and consistent reporting practices. A structured compliance framework helps businesses respond confidently if EDD requests documentation and supports long-term payroll accuracy. Read the blog here:

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99% of accountants say they’ve experienced burnout. Yet most firms still think retention is about pay, not pressure. Explore how burnout is reshaping the accounting profession — and how smarter staffing models are helping firms retain their best people. Read now: https://lnkd.in/dqKem9Nv #AccountingIndustry #OffshoreStaffing #BurnoutInTaxProfessionals #UnisonGlobus

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Imagine the workflow every auditor secretly dreams of: 1. Drop a file (or connect your system). 2. Ask in plain English: “Analyze these entitlements against our SOX control language and conduct substantive tests for each entitlement.” 3. Get instant, traceable, near-100% coverage results. Clean. Fast. Intuitive. How audit should feel in 2026. The brutal truth:
Do that today with real customer data in any public AI tool (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) and you’d be fired by lunch — your firm facing seven-figure PCAOB/SEC/GLBA/CFPB fines. Those tools ingest, retain, and train on your data. Even with enterprise-grade privacy offerings, black-box AI still leaves auditors defenseless: opaque decisions can't be justified to regulators demanding transparent, traceable reasoning for every SOX-flagged exception. Entitlements, GL journals, SOX evidence? That’s not risk — that’s a compliance disaster. At AuditRAMP(AI), we built security-first so the dream workflow is the safe one: • The LLM never sees any PII — zero exposure to raw evidence. • Full data tenancy isolation: your files stay in your tenant boundary. • Zero retention outside your environment. • Bank-grade encryption, access controls, and audit logs everywhere. • Private, explainable models tied to your ontology — no public training, no leakage. Drop the file. Ask the question. Get complete, defensible coverage — all while meeting the strictest bank and regulator demands. No more speed vs. safety tradeoff.
No more Excel exile because AI can’t touch production data. Audit & GRC leaders: How close is your team to this “drop-and-analyze” reality without setting off security alarms? What’s your biggest blocker? Share below. Tag a compliance or security peer who’s stuck in the same spot. #AuditTech #ContinuousAssurance #DataPrivacy #SOXCompliance #AIinAudit #GRC #EntitlementControls #SecurityFirst

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The American Institute of CPAs approved a standards update to modernize how CPAs get audit evidence via external confirmation procedures. The AICPA's new Statement on Auditing Standards: External Confirmations, adds a new requirement for auditors to employ external confirmation procedures for cash and cash equivalents held by third parties unless certain conditions exist.

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The AICPA and state CPA societies strongly oppose any proposal that fails to recognize accounting as a professional degree program. Accounting is a profession – full stop – one built on trust, integrity, and rigorous standards. As such, we urge the Department of Education to recognize accounting programs as professional degree programs. This definition matters. Hear more from AICPA President and CEO, Mark Koziel CPA, CGMA. https://bit.ly/4pty86q #Accounting #CPA #HigherEducation #PublicInterest #AICPA

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The MICPA, AICPA and state CPA societies nationwide are united in opposition to any proposal that excludes accounting as a professional degree. We're calling on the U.S. Department of Education to clearly include accounting programs in the professional degree definition in order to safeguard graduate financial aid and keep the CPA pathway accessible.

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CPAs dedicate more than 40 hours each year to continuing education.  Yet a 2024 AICPA survey shows that 78% of accountants struggle to find platforms that combine quality content with reasonable pricing. This guide compares the best online CPE platforms for CPAs in 2026 and outlines what professionals should evaluate before choosing a provider. Read the full blog:  https://lnkd.in/dspGukqG #MYCPEONE #CPALearning #ContinuingEducation

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Big news for Washington CPAs and future licensees! On October 17, the Washington State Board of Accountancy adopted new pathways to CPA licensure. A major step toward modernizing the profession and reducing barriers for aspiring CPAs. Beginning later this fall, Washington will offer three pathways to licensure (all still requiring the CPA Exam): 1. 150-hour pathway: Bachelor’s degree + 30 semester hours + 1 year of experience 2. Bachelor’s-only pathway: Bachelor’s degree + 2 years of experience 3. Post-baccalaureate pathway: Master’s (or higher) degree + 1 year of experience These changes, supported by the AICPA and NASBA, align Washington with nearly half the U.S. states, that have added more flexible routes to licensure. As WSCPA President Kimberly Scott shared, “These new pathways will help reduce barriers for students and mid-career individuals who want to pursue their CPA.” This is a forward thinking move to futureproof the profession and keep it accessible, diverse, and sustainable for the next generation.

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