Today, Blake, David, and special guest, ChatGpt, examine the impact of private equity on accounting firms, looking at how PE ownership affects partner compensation and firm structures. They dig into some recent data showing record numbers of accounting errors in public companies, linking these issues to the broader talent shortage crisis. Next, they explore CalCPA's pushback against proposed licensing changes, the surprising economic costs of Daylight Savings Time, and much more! SponsorsLiveFlow - http://accountingpodcast.promo/liveflowSuralink - http://accountingpodcast.promo/suralinkSmartVault - http://accountingpodcast.promo/smartvaultTaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbanditsChapters(00:59) - Introducing ChatGPT as Co-Host (01:58) - Hot Topics in Accounting News (04:05) - Private Equity in Accounting Firms (07:35) - Debating the Impact of Private Equity (22:40) - DirectFile Controversy (28:02) - App News and Updates (34:23) - Enron's Return? (38:28) - Fraudsters and Presidential Pardons (42:00) - Accounting Errors on the Rise (44:52) - The Daylight Savings Debate (50:04) - AI Tools: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (58:26) - Final Thoughts and Announcements Show NotesAccounting errors force US companies to pull statements in record numbershttps://www.ft.com/content/716c4ad5-e8fa-4a34-afba-9fb2d1db019d Republican lawmakers ask Trump to kill IRS Direct Filehttps://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2024/12/republican-lawmakers-ask-trump-kill-irs-direct-file/401595/ IRIS to buy Dext in £500m dealhttps://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tech/accounting-software/iris-to-buy-dext-in-ps500m-deal How Private Funds Could Hurt Americans Under Trumphttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/opinion/trump-presidency-billionaires.html LegalZoom and 1-800Accountant Join Forces to Deliver Full-Service Tax and Bookkeeping Solutions for Small Business Ownershttps://investors.legalzoom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/legalzoom-and-1-800accountant-join-forces-deliver-full-service Zoho Releases New Payroll Solution in the U.S.https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2024/12/13/zoho-releases-new-payroll-solution-in-the-u-s/152935/ BILL Unveils 1099 Form Filing Solution for SMBshttps://investor.bill.com/news/news-details/2024/BILL-Unveils-1099-Form-Filing-Solution-for-SMBs/default.aspx Is Enron back? Here’s what we know … https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/is-enron-back-houston-19953844.php CalCPA Submits Comments on Exposure Draft on CPA Licensurehttps://www.calcpa.org/whats-happening/articles/calcpa-submits-comments-on-exposure-draft-on-cpa CEOs Want Trump to Change Course on Tariffs. He Isn’t Budging.https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/trump-tariff-plan-business-lobbying-8f02ccea Donald Trump vows to end daylight saving timehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDR1IURzO1QMore Than a Lost Hour of Sleep: The True Cost of Daylight Saving Timehttps://www.chmura.com/blog/dst#:~:text=our%20methodology%20below.-,Results,was%20approximately%20%24672.02%20million%20annuallyNeed CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.SponsorshipsAre you interested in sponsoring the Cloud Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus.Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.comLimited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessitiesTeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merchSubscribeApple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcastSpotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/SpotifyPodchaser: http://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserStitcher: http://cloudacctpod.link/StitcherOvercast: http://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastClassifiedsForwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/Client Hub - https://clienthub.app/Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, ...