In this episode, Yuri (aka "The Fun CPA") explains why now is the perfect time to build the kind of firm where people genuinely want to work. He's spent four years building a following on LinkedIn by saying the things that managers and senior accountants at big firms are thinking but can't say out loud.

His mission is to change the perception of accounting by showing what's possible when you prioritize people, mentorship, and actually enjoying the work you do.

The good news is that students aren't avoiding accounting because they don't want meaningful work. The firms that figure out how to create those better options internally will win the talent game for the next decade.

The conversation covers:

• Why visibility into firm life (thanks to Reddit and Fishbowl) is actually helping the profession by forcing transparency and accountability
• How forward-thinking firms are building cultures where people genuinely want to stay, creating competitive advantage in a tight talent market
• The opportunity for firms that invest in mentorship and long-term thinking, while others chase short-term efficiency metrics
• Why the current moment is perfect for CPAs who want to build firms differently (or work at firms that prioritize culture over billable hours)
• How Yuri's Mentors Count community is filling the mentorship gap for accountants in their first five years
• The rise of networking events that people actually enjoy attending (and why that matters for building genuine professional relationships)

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It―Unlock Your Persuasion Potential in Professional and Personal Life: Voss, Chris, Raz, Tahl

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction of Yuri Capilovich and his mission in accounting

03:10 - Yuri's background and career path into accounting and technology

07:30 - The real problems holding accounting firms back

12:45 - AI as an enabler, not a replacement

18:30 - Using technology to improve client experience and firm margins

23:40 - The mindset shift firm owners must make to scale

29:10 - What forward-thinking firms are doing differently right now

34:50 - Final thoughts on the future of the profession

Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/

Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.

If your best accountants are walking out the door, it's probably not about the money.

In this episode, Tim Schurrer (CEO of David Novak Leadership and author of "The Secret Society of Success") reveals the leadership principle that grew Yum! Brands from $4 billion to $32 billion, and it has everything to do with solving what's plaguing CPA firms right now: the talent crisis.

Here's the reality: when your senior accountant flawlessly closes out another month, files returns ahead of deadline, or navigates a complex client situation without you even knowing there was a problem, they become invisible.

That's the curse of excellence in accounting.

And while you're focused on billable hours and realization rates, your best people are quietly wondering if anyone actually notices the value they bring.

We talk to Tim about how his company studied companies that built decades-long dynasties (Walmart, Southwest Airlines), and found one non-negotiable: they created cultures where everyone counted. Not through pizza parties during busy season or casual Friday perks, but through systematic recognition that made people feel genuinely seen for their contributions.

Tim breaks down how this translates directly to CPA firms struggling to keep talent.

In this episode, we cover:

• The two reasons people quit (spoiler: your compensation package isn't fixing either of these)
• The danger of taking "the joy of the decision" away from your team, especially during tax season when you're tempted to control every client interaction
• How firm owners can stop micromanaging review notes and start empowering staff to own client relationships (with the right training framework)
• Why so many managing partners hit burnout chasing revenue targets that don't actually align with what success means to them personally
• The "empowerment is an earned right" framework that lets you delegate without losing quality control

Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/

Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.

You've spent years developing your next generation of partners, but what happens when they don't want to lead, can't secure financing, or simply aren't the right fit to take over?

In this episode, our Ontario Market Leader Darryl Boyd, reveals why so many multi-partner firms are discovering that their "default" internal succession plan isn't working, and why external sales often deliver better outcomes for everyone involved.

Over his decade with Poe Group Advisors, Darryl has helped the Canadian M&A landscape transform from earnout-heavy transactions to all-cash deals that prioritize fit over spreadsheets.

We explore the uncomfortable truth about internal succession: technical excellence doesn't equal business leadership, and the partner who's great at client work may have zero interest or aptitude for running the firm.

The conversation highlights that:

• Why exhausted accounting firm owners often just need better systems, not an exit strategy
• How private equity is slowly earning trust in Canada, and why most CPA firm sellers still choose CPA buyers
• The hidden assumptions killing Accounting M&A deals (like the "25% client loss" myth with zero data behind it)
• Why the best transactions happen when both parties forget about price and focus on whether the handoff will actually work

We also tackle the massive variability across firms that makes a cookie-cutter valuation worthless: profitability, owner workload, geographic markets, and cultural dynamics all impact valuation more than sellers realize. Whether you're a multi-partner firm wrestling with succession, a solo tax practitioner planning your exit, or a buyer trying to understand what sellers really care about, this episode will challenge your assumptions about how accounting practice transitions actually work.

Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/

Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.