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special

why the accounting move project is evolving to reach a broader audience

accounting move project 2025 is about understanding what truly supports sustainable success in accounting workplaces.

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by donny c. shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

recently, “dei”—short for diversity, equity, and inclusion—has become a lightning rod across corporate america. for some, it signals progress. for others, it evokes skepticism or resistance. in the accounting profession, which is already navigating talent shortages, regulatory pressures, and generational turnover, these tensions can be especially pronounced.

more: donny shimamoto | accounting move project 2025 |

that’s why this year, as a partner of the accounting move project (“move project”), the center for accounting transformation (“center”) is taking an important step forward: we’re evolving the research language from dei-affirming to dei-neutral.

this is not a departure from the move project’s founding principles, which since 2010 have been focused on creating greater opportunity and equity for women in the profession. rather, it’s an intentional evolution to ensure it reflects the full spectrum of today’s workforce. by adjusting the language used in questions and responses, enabling, for example, analysis based on sex (including men) and ethnicity (including white employees), we can fully assess how firms are supporting all employees in areas like equal pay, advancement, and career development.
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featured video

amy cooper: new research unpacks key retention factors | know-how korner

study finds job embeddedness, not engagement, drives retention.

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know-how korner
with donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

a new study by dr. amy cooper, cpa, cfe, cgma, an assistant accounting professor and program director at university of alaska fairbanks, challenges conventional wisdom, revealing that job embeddedness—not engagement—is the key to keeping accountants in public firms. 

more: donny shimamoto

“i assumed smaller firms would foster stronger embeddedness, but my research showed the opposite,” says dr. cooper. “larger firms offer more career mobility, specialization, and structured support, which increase long-term commitment.” 
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innovation & change management

grow leaders to transform accounting

letter blocks flip between the words "lead" and "learn"

create a culture where leadership can be learned and practiced.

by donny c. shimamoto

series note: this article is part of a series of articles inspired by “joy, inc.”, written by richard sheridan, cofounder and ceo of menlo innovations. while his book is about the software industry, there are many direct analogies applicable to the accounting profession. we must #transformaccounting and bring joy back into the work we do to sustainably address our profession’s people crisis.

when we talk about leadership in accounting, we often think about the partners in accounting firms, the controller or cfo of a finance department, or the chief audit executive of an internal audit department. we also talk about “young leaders” or “emerging leaders” when referring to those we think have “leadership potential” and could aspire to the positions described above.

more: transform accounting by fighting fear and embracing change | tear down towers of knowledge to transform accounting
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however, i have always held the belief that everyone in an organization can be a leader, and we need to equip people within our organizations to lead when an appropriate situation arises. part of empowering employees is enabling them to take action or make a decision, even when “the leader” isn’t present. the organization’s values, policies and culture should help employees make the right decisions – or know who to escalate an issue to make the decision. what we don’t want is total inaction.
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innovation & change management

transform accounting by fighting fear and embracing change

smiling man facing camera while seated at table with four colleagues behind him

focus on actual risks, not artificial fear.

by donny c. shimamoto

series note: this article is part of a series of articles inspired by “joy, inc.”, written by richard sheridan, cofounder and ceo of menlo innovations. while his book is about the software industry, there are many direct analogies applicable to the accounting profession. we must #transformaccounting and bring joy back into the work we do to sustainably address our profession’s people crisis.

“fear is one of the biggest killers of joy,” says richard sheridan. this is viewed as so important by sheridan that he dedicates an entire chapter in his book to explaining why we must fight fear and embrace change. that’s how important these concepts are to create joy in a company.

more: tear down towers of knowledge to transform accounting
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accountants are often stereotyped as being afraid of change and behind the times, and even as killers of joy. but i will contend that we are ahead of many of the other major professions like doctors, lawyers and teachers. people also often stereotype our work as boring and mundane – not work that would bring joy to people. but all of us who have had successful careers as accountants, and other professionals who are a part of the accounting profession, know that we do very meaningful work that helps people prosper and communities thrive. we help bring joy to people’s lives.
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pro member exclusive

tear down towers of knowledge to transform accounting

why sharing beats hoarding.

by donny c. shimamoto

series note: this post is part of a series inspired by “joy, inc.”, written by richard sheridan, cofounder and ceo of menlo innovations. while his book is about the software industry, there are many direct analogies applicable to the accounting industry. we must #transformaccounting and bring joy back into the work we do to sustainably address our industry’s people crisis.

a “tower of knowledge” (“tower”) is a person on your team who has vast technical knowledge that no one else has. this knowledge could be about a client or about the project itself. this person is often seen as the center of the team or as a key person who holds the project together.

more by donny shimamoto
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for high achievers – which many accountants are – this probably sounds like a good thing. being a tower of knowledge reinforces our worth and makes us feel important. “yes, i’m critical to this project. yes, the team needs me. yes, i know a lot. yes, i am important.” yes, being a tower can be very validating and make us feel good.
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audit & assurance

jeff joireman: how csr drives consumer behavior | know-how korner

beyond its ethical implications, csr can bring tangible financial gains, including increased sales and market share.  

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know-how korner
with donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

corporate social responsibility has become more than just a buzzword; it’s a critical component of modern business strategy.

more: donny shimamoto

in the latest episode of know-how korner, donny shimamoto hosts jeff joireman, a distinguished professor of marketing at washington state university, who shares his extensive research on csr and its profound impact on consumer behavior.  read more →

client accounting services

cas can play a critical role in clients’ vendor selection

the needed skills are already part of the accountant’s skill set; they just need to be applied outside of the finance function. 

by donny c. shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
center for accounting transformation

historically, vendor selection has been primarily driven by operations or it teams. however, recent research by the chief executive group for the cfo leadership council shows that finance teams play a critical role in vendor selection. forward-thinking cas teams should take a cue from these finance teams and broaden their service offerings to help clients be more successful. 

more donny shimamoto, cpa.citp, cgma | more cas | more cfo services

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how finance teams support vendor selection 

as shown in figure 1 below, more than 7 of 10 finance teams are involved in the final selection of vendors and products. many people often see finance’s involvement as just the final stamp of approval, but the research clearly shows that finance teams are involved throughout the purchasing process. 

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accounting arc

archos advisors: a structured approach to change management

innovation insights: effective change management strategies include understanding human nature, scaling and ranking people dependence, and addressing resistance. 

center for accounting transformation
center for accounting transformation

innovation insights
with donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

in a rapidly evolving business landscape, managing change effectively is crucial for organizational success. in the latest episode of innovation insights, donny shimamoto, cpa.citp, cgma, hosts diane brown, managing principal, and david graham, principal, from archos advisors, to explore the importance of change management in driving performance and innovation.

more donny shimamoto

“organizations don’t change; it’s the people within them that change,” says brown. this statement encapsulates the essence of change management, which brown defines as applying a structured approach to transition an organization from its current state to a desired future state to achieve specific outcomes.

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featured video

it’s time for accounting to play the infinite game

agents of transformation, the time is now.

by donny c. shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
center for accounting transformation

every day, i see or hear criticisms of the accounting profession: everyone is burning out, the partners are only in it to get rich, everyone is leaving the profession, and students don’t want to be accountants anymore. it wrenches my heart to hear this because i love my work. i’ve had a wonderful career that lets me help others succeed, and the broader accounting profession has opened up opportunities that i would never have dreamed possible. is accounting really on the decline? ask the pundits, and you get a resounding “yes!” 

more: harper & co. cpas: the perspective of a non-accountant is imperative | menlo innovations: improve office culture by overhauling internal reviews | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | chase birky: overcoming paralysis by analysis |

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yet, reading simon sinek’s book, the infinite game, shed some light on what the profession is doing wrong—the current leaders of the profession are playing a finite game. one of the key concepts that sinek explains in his book is that of an existential flex. he described an existential flex as something that “recreates that passion for something new at a time when the company is already enjoying success.” this is where the accounting profession is now. we’ve enjoyed decades of success, and accounting firm partners and cfos have been enjoying the riches of that success, but our profession has lost the connection to our just cause.  

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accounting arc

unraveling the collapse of silicon valley bank | accounting arc

delving into financial disarray and what contributes to the shutdown of community banking institutions

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accounting arc 
with donny shimamoto, liz mason, and byron patrick
center for accounting transformation

in the labyrinth of financial intricacies, the collapse of a bank sends shockwaves through the economic landscape, leaving stakeholders scrambling for answers. in this episode, “accounting arc: unraveling the collapse of silicon valley bank” dissects the demise of silicon valley bank to unravel the intricate web of factors that precipitated its downfall.

more: harper & co. cpas: the perspective of a non-accountant is imperative | menlo innovations: improve office culture by overhauling internal reviews | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | chase birky: overcoming paralysis by analysis |

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hosted by seasoned financial experts, this accounting arc episode, featuring terry sherrill, cpa, a managing director with tps thayer in sugar land, texas, dives deep into the underlying causes of bank collapses while offering invaluable insights for cpas, auditors, and financial professionals to fortify against such catastrophes.

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featured video

transformation talks: scharrell jackson: lead with diversity of thought

every smart leader knows to look for blind spots. 

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transformation talks
with donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

center for accounting transformation
center for accounting transformation

in the latest episode of transformation talks, renowned international speaker, leadership coach, and business consultant scharrell jackson emphasizes the pivotal role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (dei) in ensuring the sustainability of businesses across diverse industries. jackson delves into the profound benefits of dei, extending beyond business culture to impact recruiting and the overall bottom line.

more transformation talks: harper & co. cpas: the perspective of a non-accountant is imperative | menlo innovations: improve office culture by overhauling internal reviews | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | chase birky: overcoming paralysis by analysis |

goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the discussion unveils a critical factor contributing to the failure of many organizations in implementing dei initiatives – the lack of a clear definition of success. according to jackson, organizations often struggle because they fail to articulate specific outcomes tied to business success. she advocates for a shift from merely increasing diversity percentages to a more focused approach, urging organizations to identify and commit to the desired outcomes.

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advisory & consulting

six steps to battle cybersecurity risks

what cost or time investment would you pay to protect your firm and your clients?

by donny shimamoto
cybersecurity for accountants

when it comes to cybersecurity, one risk aspect to consider is whether or not the steps you’ve taken to protect clients’ pii will stand up in court in the event of litigation related to a data breach or damages to a client because of a cybersecurity issue caused by your firm. during litigation, opposing counsel will often bring in cybersecurity experts to describe cybersecurity best practices—which are often a higher level of controls than just compliance.

more: understanding the full cost of a data breach | the 7 categories of of cybersecurity solutions firms need | future firm growth requires a mindshift | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firms | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firms |  staff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
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be sure to consult with both your cybersecurity advisor and legal counsel to determine which controls you may still want to implement even if you qualify for some of the exemptions. many controls, like the ones identified in the ftc exception, do not cost much to implement and can demonstrate that you still fulfilled your professional obligation to protect clients’ data—reducing your litigation risk.

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featured video

harper & co. cpas: the perspective of a non-accountant is imperative

“the perspective of a non-accountant is imperative.”

subscribe to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 podcasts anywhere: apple, google, spotify, iheart, deezer, amazon music and audible, player fm, audacy, gaana (india), and boomplay (africa).


transformation talks
with donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

center for accounting transformation
center for accounting transformation

glen harper, cpa, says businesses should be willing to reinvent themselves and that diverse perspectives can be a valuable asset. the owner of harper & company cpas should know: he’s had to embrace both philosophies to become successful. 

more transformation talks:  menlo innovations: improve office culture by overhauling internal reviews | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | chase birky: overcoming paralysis by analysis | dustin verity: keep an open mind and constantly learn | james ross: csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | o.d. lanier: stepping into advisory | mike maksymiw: the secret to success? a growth and abundance mindset | paul mueller: from tax to transformation

more podcasts & videos: cas or caas? getting clarity | the seller’s guide to getting the best price for your firm | 2022年世界杯抽签  | why the future is in risk advisory | fine-tuning the subscription fee model | thinking smart about new tech: byron patrick | blake oliver: why tax work yearns to be free | private equity explodes in u.k. | brannon poe: the status quo must go  |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | private equity vs. the cpa firm partnershipthe fintech flood: accounting will never be the same  |  think small to think big with matt wilkinson | your sales tax headaches are only just beginning | when financial statements go extinct with corey schmidt  |  can geraldine carter save accountants from themselves? |  re-inventing accounting with tyler anderson |  turning client service into new revenue | see all podcasts and videos here

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in a recent episode of transformation talks, harper tells host donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma, who is also the founder and managing director of intraprise techknowlogies llc and the founder of the center for accounting transformation, that a good advisor can help you see your business from a different perspective and identify opportunities that you may have missed. he said after some self-reflection, he needed what his successful clients already had–a ceo.

enter julie smith.

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