Becker Accounting Podcasts

In this episode of the Tax News Now Podcast, Mark Gallegos and his guest, Marit Burmood, CPA, Enrolled Agent, and founder of Flair Financial, explore her journey from bartender-turned-accounting-student to nationally recognized tax advisor, speaker, and content creator known as "the Extroverted Accountant." The conversation dives into practical tax topics including the unique income and deduction landscape for influencers and content creators, the critical considerations before electing S-Corporation status, and how proactive advisory services help business owners avoid costly tax surprises. Marit also shares her perspective on navigating AI-generated tax strategies, the importance of staying within professional scope, and how building a team of trusted advisors creates better outcomes for clients and practitioners alike. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

Marvin Chiddick, a seasoned finance executive, shares how a single college event sparked a 35+ year career—and how being a first-generation professional shaped his drive, resilience, and leadership. He talks candidly about fear of failure, staying focused instead of comparing yourself to others, taking stretch opportunities that don’t look “perfect” on paper, and growing through discomfort. He also tackles today’s reality: AI is accelerating change, and the winners will be those who re-skill, communicate well, and lean on mentors, sponsors, and community. Listen in for practical, hard-earned advice you can apply to your career immediately. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

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. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer? Login here. Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company’s LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts