CAS practices are growing 30% annually. But most firms still can't scale past bookkeeping.

In this episode, Kane Polakoff, Partner and CAS Practice Leader at CohnReznick, shares how they are approaching AI adoption with discipline, transparency, and professional responsibility.

In this episode, we cover:

• The AI question clients are already asking firms

• How and when to be transparent about AI use

• Why CAS growth often slows inside firms

• What drives sustainable CAS growth at scale

Get this right, and you'll build client trust competitors can't replicate.

Connect with us here:

Kane Polakoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanepolakoff/

CohnReznick:https://www.linkedin.com/company/cohnreznick-/

Kacee Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/

Digits: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/

Three of the most influential builders in modern accounting software explain the shift every firm will feel as AI reshapes the profession, both in the near term and the decade ahead.

In this episode, Dan Wernikoff (Bill), Craig Walker (Digits), and Jeff Seibert (Digits) sit down with Kacee Johnson to break down what’s actually coming next.

You’ll hear them discuss:

• How AI goes far beyond the cloud shift accountants lived through

• The automation of month-end close expected by 2026

• What 96% AI accuracy actually means for bookkeeping and review

• What is expected of accountants as firms go AI-native by 2030

Connect with us here:

• Dan Wernikoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwernikoff/

• Craig Walker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/storminwalker/

• Jeff Seibert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jseibert/

• Kacee Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/

• Digits: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/

00:00 Trailer

01:28 Introduction

02:27 Journey Through Cloud Solutions and AI

06:38 The Future of Accounting: AI and Automation

23:55 The One That Got Away: Unbuilt Features and Missed Opportunities

27:21 The Future of Budgeting: Automating Financial Planning

28:41 Trust and AI: Balancing Innovation with Client Confidence

38:54 Predictions for 2030: The AI Native Firm

As AI accelerates work automation, how do accounting firms prove their value?

Ron Baker, co-founder of Threshold, joins Kacee Johnson to explore ‘outcome focused accounting’.

In this episode, they dive into:

• designing firms around long term transformations rather than hours.

• why trying to be all things to all clients undermines firm effectiveness.

• tracking client impact through time saved, time invested, and transformation KPIs.

• linking financial guidance to clients’ broader aspirations like health and purpose

Connect with us here:

1. Ron Baker- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbaker1/

2. Kacee Johnson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/

3. Digits- https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/

(00:00) Trailer

(01:10) Understanding the Transformation Economy

(04:34) The Evolution of Economic Value

(09:05) Challenges and Opportunities in Professional Services

(26:38) AI's Impact on Hourly Billing and Firm Confidence

(31:34) Private Equity's Influence on Accounting Firms

(38:20) The Future of Accounting: Transformation Economy

On AI Native Accounting, Kacee Johnson sits down with Joe Woodard, founder & CEO of Woodard Group and trainer of 125,000+ accounting professionals, as they explore ways accountants can move past skepticism and take practical steps to integrate AI into their workflows.

• how low-code AI tools replicate a decade of manual efficiency gains

• global trends showing which countries and firms will face the sharpest disruption

• why accounting, like the ministerial profession, hinges on connections that no algorithm can replace.

Connect with us here:

1. Joe Woodard- https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjoewoodard/

2. Kacee Johnson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/

3. Digits- https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/

00:00 Trailer

01:23 AI Skepticism and Adoption in Accounting

06:06 AI Tools and Their Integration in Firms

18:01 Future Skills and Final Mile in Accounting

24:22 The Limits of AI Understanding

25:55 Embracing Humanity in the Age of AI

30:04 The Future of Accountancy and AI

40:23 Practical Steps for Accountants to Leverage AI

AI is step one. The real win is becoming a tech-agile accounting firm.

On AI Native Accounting this week, Kacee Johnson sits down with Lindsay Stevenson, Chief Transformation Officer at BPM (Top 50), to unpack how her teams moved from curiosity to ~80% daily Copilot usage and what broke along the way.

• grassroots rollout that beat a formal “AI committee”

• how BPM handles duplicated agents, ROI, and a faster intake than the PMO

• what late adopters should do this quarter

Connect with us here:

1. Lindsay Stevenson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaystevensoncpa/

2. Kacee Johnson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacee-johnson/

3. Digits- https://www.linkedin.com/company/digits-financial/

Join host Kacee Johnson for the second episode of AI-Native Accounting, featuring an engaging conversation with Dan Luthi, Partner at Ignite Spot.

Dive into how AI is revolutionizing the accounting profession, from enhancing daily operations to elevating client services. Dan shares his experiences working with diverse businesses and his involvement in advisory boards that shape cutting-edge accounting tools.

Discover actionable strategies to modernize your practice, improve efficiency, and boost profitability. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for accountants and firm owners ready to harness the power of AI.

Join host Kacee Johnson for AI-Native Accounting's inaugural episode, recorded live at Scaling New Heights.

She sits down with Dawn Brolin, CEO of Powerful Accounting Inc., and Matt Gardner, Co-Founder & CEO of Hiline. Together, they explore the practical impact of AI on firms, discussing real-world applications and benefits they're seeing and using today.

Discover how AI is being integrated into everyday tasks and decision-making processes. With valuable insights and advice for accountants + firm owners, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to modernize their practice.