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The Accounting Podcast

The Accounting Podcast

What CBIZ Means for PE, Starbucks Kills Off AI Inventory Counting

Jun 5, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min · 23 segments

Is private equity betting on the wrong accounting firms? Blake and David break down CBIZ’s stock slide, why investors may be losing faith in the traditional firm model, and how AI could help smaller…

Is private equity betting on the wrong accounting firms? Blake and David break down CBIZ’s stock slide, why investors may be losing faith in the traditional firm model, and how AI could help smaller firms compete far above their size. They also cover Starbucks ditching AI inventory counts, Microsoft reining in AI tool costs, and what all of it means for accountants navigating automation, pricing, and the future of firm growth. **Sponsors** Canopy - http://accountingpodcast.promo/canopy OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay C&R Consulting - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cnr Maxima.AI - http://accountingpodcast.promo/maxima **Chapters** - (00:00) - TAP 490 - (02:53) - CBIZ Stock Slide - (06:13) - AI Threat to Firm Models - (11:32) - EisnerAmper Anti AI Take - (15:42) - Livestream Shoutouts - (16:13) - New England CPA Society Merge - (20:42) - Starbucks Kills AI Inventory - (23:34) - NASBA Exam Data Mess - (26:34) - Phoenix Call Center Jobs and AI - (28:36) - Will AI Really Kill Jobs - (31:09) - Spreadsheets Then AI Now - (33:07) - Automation Enables CFO Services - (35:08) - Microsoft AI Token Shock - (36:31) - Managing Token Spend - (39:27) - AI Architect Role - (43:36) - Trump IRS Settlement Reopened - (45:04) - Beneficial Ownership Bill - (45:52) - Newsom 100% Tax Threat - (46:57) - KPMG Australia Whistleblower - (49:35) - Xero Force No Code Agents - (54:03) - Xero Earnings Melio Impact - (59:03) - Vibe Coding Real Examples - (01:02:35) - Wrap Up Earmark CPE **Show Notes** What Can We Learn from CBIZ? https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/what-can-we-learn-from-cbiz EisnerAmper on Accounting for AI https://www.privatefundscfo.com/eisneramper-on-accounting-for-ai/ State Societies Merge to Form New England Society of CPAs https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/state-societies-merge-to-form-new-england-society-of-cpas Starbucks Kills Off Its Automated Counting AI Tool After Just 9 Months https://www.goingconcern.com/starbucks-kills-off-its-automated-counting-ai-tool-after-just-9-months-because-it-sucked-at-counting/ NASBA's CPA Exam Reporting Problems Are Improving, But Not Solved https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/nasbas-cpa-exam-reporting-problems-are-improving-but-not-solved Phoenix Built an Empire of Cubicle Jobs. AI Is Coming to Tear It Down. https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/phoenix-jobs-ai-call-centers-1ca1c3b3 Why the A.I. Job Apocalypse (Probably) Won't Happen https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/opinion/ai-jobs-unemployment.html Microsoft Cut Its Engineers Off from AI Because the Bill Got Too Big https://fortune.com/2026/05/22/microsoft-ai-cost-problem-tokens-agents/ Does Your Firm Need an AI Architect? https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/does-your-firm-need-an-ai-architect Judge Reopens Trump's $10 Billion IRS Lawsuit https://www.notus.org/donald-trump/trump-irs-suit-investigate-collusion Newsom Vows California Will Impose 100% Tax on Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund https://abc7.com/post/newsom-vows-california-will-impose-100-tax-trumps-18-billion-anti-weaponization-fund/19188298/ AICPA Backs Bill Limiting Beneficial Ownership Reporting https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/aicpa-backs-bill-limiting-beneficial-ownership-reporting KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates Resigns Amid Whistleblower Scandal https://www.internationalaccountingbulletin.com/news/kpmg-australia-ceo-andrew-yates-resigns-amid-whistleblower-scandal/ Xero FY26 Result: Revenue Surges 31% but Profit Dips Due to Melio Acquisition Costs https://www.fool.com.au/2026/05/14/xero-fy26-result-revenue-surges-31-but-profit-dips-due-to-melio-acquisition-costs/ **Need CPE?** Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com **Get in Touch** Thanks 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.** **Sponsorships** Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. **Need Accounting Conference Info?** Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com **Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities** TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch **Subscribe** - Apple Podcasts: http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcasts - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcast - Spotify: http://cloudacctpod.link/Spotify - Podchaser:[]()

Is private equity betting on the wrong accounting firms? Blake and David break down CBIZ’s stock slide, why investors may be losing faith in the traditional firm model, and how AI could help smaller…

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Speakers: Blake OliverHostDavid LearyHost

Top entities: Claude×45 Artificial intelligence×32 National Association of State Boards of Accountancy×18 Microsoft×15 Xero×39

Show signals: SuitabilitySensitivePopularityPopulartop 10%Audience≈47k followers

Opening Hook & Episode Overview0:00 – 1:33

D

David LearyHost

0:00

[upbeat music] Microsoft cut off its engineers from AI because the bill got too big.

D

David LearyHost

0:09

So Microsoft, remember, they invested $13 billion into OpenAI, and they're using AI to write 30% of its own code.

D

David LearyHost

0:17

But they turned off and cut off the engineers from c- AI coding tools because the cost spiraled out of control.

D

David LearyHost

0:24

Coming to you weekly from the OnPay recording studio.

B

Blake OliverHost

0:29

Hey, everyone, and welcome back to "The Accounting Podcast," your weekly roundup of news in the profession.

B

Blake OliverHost

0:35

I'm Blake Oliver.

D

David LearyHost

0:36

And I'm David Leary.

B

Blake OliverHost

0:37

Today, we're gonna talk about what CBIZ's stock price decline means for private equity.

B

Blake OliverHost

0:44

CBIZ is the only publicly traded public accounting firm, and that matters for private equity because we assume private equity is gonna wanna take firms public or offload them someday.

B

Blake OliverHost

0:57

Uh, and those investors who invest in the next round, eventually they're gonna wanna take it public.

B

Blake OliverHost

1:03

Uh, is there room for more accounting firms in the public markets? Also, Starbucks has killed off its AI inventory counting tool.

B

Blake OliverHost

1:14

Not a good sign for AI in accounting.

B

Blake OliverHost

1:16

And it's funny because we talked about how inventory counting is one of those things that, uh, will not be-

D

David LearyHost

1:22

It's a rite of passage, right?

B

Blake OliverHost

1:23

Exactly.

B

Blake OliverHost

1:23

Rite of passage for auditors and, and will not be easily automated, so maybe this is a sign that our jobs are secure.

B

Blake OliverHost

1:29

We'll talk about that and a lot more, but first, David, let's thank our sponsors.

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ClaudeSoftware ApplicationSoftware
99%45 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
98%32 mentions
National Association of State Boards of AccountancyCompany
97%18 mentions
MicrosoftCompanyTechnology company
96%15 mentions
XeroCompanySoftware company
95%39 mentions
Certified Public AccountantEntityJob title
94%21 mentions
CBIZCompanyCompany
93%19 mentions
PhoenixCityCity in Arizona
92%18 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
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EarmarkEntity
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American Institute of Certified Public AccountantsCompanyProfessional association
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Big Four accounting firmsEntity
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Andrew YatesPersonCEO of KPMG Australia
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LendleaseCompanyReal estate company
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46%2 mentions

Stock MarketBusiness > Finance
FinanceBusiness
AI in BusinessTechnology > Artificial Intelligence
Accounting FirmsBusiness > Accounting
Stock PricesBusiness > Finance > Stock Market
AccountingBusiness
CBIZ Inc.Business > Finance > Stock Market > Stock Prices
Private EquityBusiness > Accounting > Accounting Firms
CBIZBusiness > Accounting > Accounting Firms > Private Equity
AI in AccountingTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > AI in Business > AI Applications
CPA FirmsBusiness > Mergers and Acquisitions
New England Society of CPAsBusiness > Mergers and Acquisitions > CPA Firms
State SocietiesBusiness > Mergers and Acquisitions > CPA Firms > New England Society of CPAs
Job MarketBusiness > Accounting
AI Impact on JobsBusiness > Accounting > Job Market
Future of AccountingBusiness > Accounting > Job Market > AI Impact on Jobs
Technology
Business
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology
Mergers and AcquisitionsBusiness
AI ApplicationsTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > AI in Business