Shows
UnbalancedWhat bad bookkeeping actually costs your clients with Melissa GuinnMelissa Guinn once found $180,000 of loan proceeds misclassified as income. Her client had paid taxes on money that was never earnings. A corrected return later, the client received $40,000 back. That kind of discovery is not luck. It is what happens when a bookkeeper asks enough questions, runs a real onboarding process, and knows what to look for.Melissa is the owner of Lookout Bookkeeping in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a virtual firm serving service-based businesses and real estate investors. In this conversation, she talks through the real cost of underpriced services, how she made the shift from hourly to...
2026-05-0644 min
CPA Trendlines PodcastsSarah Flischel: The End of the SALY Audit | The DisruptorsTransformation in audit can help predict clients’ futures.Full show notes hereThe DisruptersWith Liz FarrFor CPA TrendlinesAudit has a reputation for being slow to change, but leaders like Sarah Flischel, Director of Audit Transformation and Training at AAFCPAs, are making it happen.“We’re fundamentally reimagining how audits are being conducted,” Flischel says. She’s pushing not merely for change in the profession, but true transformation, drawing on wisdom from Tom Hood to distinguish change and transformation: “Change is doing things differently, and transformation is doing differ...
2026-05-0455 min
UnbalancedWhat you don’t see coming as a firm owner with Erin PohanErin Pohan, founder of Upkeeping and creator of WAVE Seattle, joins Sam and Candy for a conversation about the parts of firm ownership no one really prepares you for. From building real community in the accounting profession to navigating a $100,000 IRS notice and a years-long fight to protect her business, Erin shares what it looks like to keep going when the unexpected hits.Along the way, they talk about conferences, connection, and why finding your people matters more than anything when work and life get complicated. This episode is honest, funny at times, and grounded in the...
2026-04-2846 min
UnbalancedFrom doing the work to leading the work with Rachel DauchyWhat changes when you go from doing the work to leading a team doing it for you?In this episode, Rachel Dauchy shares what growth actually looks like behind the scenes, from navigating client expectations that don’t evolve with your business, to hiring, letting go, and learning how to trust your team. She talks about building a firm rooted in systems, automation, and specialization, while still holding onto the parts of the work she genuinely loves.This conversation also challenges the way we think about accounting itself. Not as rigid or purely technical, but as...
2026-04-211h 09CPA Trendlines PodcastsSharrinn Fuller: Build It Better, Then Let It Run Without You | The DisruptorsFreedom comes from systems.Full show notes hereThe DisruptersWith Liz FarrFor CPA TrendlinesSharrin Fuller isn’t your typical accountant. For one, she’s not a CPA. She doesn’t have an accounting degree. She didn’t even go to college. But despite lacking what most consider the usual credentials and following “the most unconventional and broken path possible,” she managed to build and sell two successful accounting firms. Fuller recounts this story in her new book, Unfollow the Rules: The Messy Truth About Burnout, Bad...
2026-04-1448 min
UnbalancedWhy most accountants are asking the wrong questions with Debra KilsheimerMost accountants were taught to focus on the work. The transactions, the categorization, the details. But that’s not what clients actually need.In this episode of Unbalanced, Debra Kilsheimer challenges the way the profession has always operated. She shares why accounting should be about asking better questions, not just producing reports, and how AI is forcing a shift away from data entry toward real decision-making.From her unfiltered take on software and the future of the industry to her perspective on confidence, pricing, and doing things your own way, this conversation is equal parts pr...
2026-04-1459 min
UnbalancedThe moment your biggest client becomes your biggest risk with Tiffany GonzalezWhat looks like growth on paper can quietly introduce risk beneath the surface. Tiffany Gonzalez shares how one client scaling rapidly forced her to confront client concentration, shifting power dynamics, and the pressure it puts on teams. She walks through how she navigated that moment without reacting from fear, including restructuring internally and returning to sales with intention. This conversation explores pricing discipline, boundaries, and what it really takes to build a resilient firm. It is an honest look at the tradeoffs firm owners face as they grow.Powered by Anchor.
2026-04-0742 min
UnbalancedWhat almost broke her business taught her the most with Karen ReeseIn this episode of Unbalanced, Candy Bellau and Sam Hallburn sit down with Karen Reese of Starlight Bookkeeping for an honest conversation about the hard lessons that come with building a business. Karen opens up about trust gone wrong, cash flow mistakes, pricing clarity, and learning to put the right safeguards in place as her firm grew. It’s a grounded, practical episode about what firm owners often learn the hard way and what it really takes to build a business that works for you, not just because of you.Powered by Anchor.
2026-03-3144 minCPA Trendlines PodcastsOz Demirdoven: Why U.S. Firms Lag the World in Advisory | The DisruptorsSuccess breeds complacency – and obsolescence.Full show notesThe DisruptorsWith Liz FarrSuccess, long the defining strength of U.S. accounting firms, is fast becoming their most dangerous liability, according to Oz Demirdovan, a PKF executive with a global portfolio.Flush with steady profits, deep client rosters, and decades of compliance-driven demand, many firms see little reason to change—just as the ground beneath them shifts, Demirdovan tells Liz Farr in this episode of The Disruptors.MORE DISRUPTORS: Candy Bellau: The $350 Pricing Mistake that Nearly Broke this Bout...
2026-03-2655 min
She CountsTell Me You’re A Woman In AccountingIt's Questian's birthday, and your hosts are celebrating with the most creative gift they could think of: a crowdsourced collection of "You know you're a woman in accounting when..." moments from their community. From conference survival strategies to scheduling babies around busy season, the hosts laugh, vent, and commiserate over the absurdities of life in this profession. Plus, a bonus visit from Nancy's best friend Shawn Simmons, who joins Nancy and Questian to share her sabbatical project using graphic design and fiber arts to build community around women's menopause journeys.SponsorsForwardly - https...
2026-03-251h 02
UnbalancedThe mistake every new founder makes in their first year with Blair DrakeMost founders don’t struggle because they aren’t capable, they struggle because they say yes to the wrong things early on. In this episode of Unbalanced, Blair Drake shares what her first year in business actually looked like, from a slow start to taking on work that pulled her away from what she really wanted to build. She opens up about the moment things shifted, not from doing more, but from getting clearer on her value and what she needed to say no to. This conversation explores the tension between being needed and being effective, and why patience, boun...
2026-03-2443 min
UnbalancedShe tried psychedelic therapy to heal burnout. What happened next shocked her with Dr. Kristy ShortDr. Kristy Short returns to the Unbalanced Podcast for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about mental health and what it really takes to heal. She shares the story behind her book Civil Warrior, the breaking point that forced her to rethink everything, and why high performers are often the best at hiding their struggles. Kristy also opens up about a psychedelic therapy experience that helped her confront fear, control, and the pressure she had carried for decades. This conversation explores burnout, anxiety, leadership, and the courage it takes to show up fully as yourself....
2026-03-1748 min
UnbalancedWhen work becomes a refuge from grief with Liz FarrLiz Farr joins Unbalanced to talk about grief, forgiveness, and the quiet ways work can become a shield. After losing her brother during tax season, her parents in a sudden accident, and later her stepson to violence, Liz reflects on how deeply she had internalized the profession’s expectation to push through and keep producing. This conversation explores how accounting culture shapes the way leaders respond to hardship and what more humane, flexible leadership could look like inside today’s firms.Powered by Anchor.
2026-03-0938 min
UnbalancedWhen success starts to feel like failure in firm ownership with Lynnette Oss ConnellBurnout is one of the most common experiences in firm ownership, yet it is rarely discussed openly. In this episode of Unbalanced, Lynette Oss Connell shares her journey from building a CAS practice to becoming a burnout coach for women in accounting. She talks candidly about the pressure of trying to hold everything together while raising a family, managing illness at home, and running a firm. This conversation explores the mindset shifts that helped her redefine success and why so many firm owners struggle silently. If you’ve ever wondered whether the stress you’re carrying is normal, this epis...
2026-03-0945 minCPA Trendlines PodcastsCandy Bellau: The $350 Pricing Mistake that Nearly Broke this Boutique Firm | The DisruptorsHow to reset pricing, rebuild margins, and stop “helping” clients into bankruptcy.Full show notes hereThe DisruptorsWith Liz FarrCandy Bellau didn’t set out to build a firm that could operate without her. But her hand was forced when her mother became ill. “I kept dropping the ball at my own company and my team, the long-term members kept picking it up, and slowly but surely, they just absorbed the client work I was doing,” Bellau recalls. MORE DISRUPTORS: Blake Oliver: Build a Biz that R...
2026-02-191h 03
She CountsMarking Ourselves Down: Gender Disparity in PricingCandy Bellau joins Nancy and Questian to discuss a problem that costs women accountants thousands of dollars every year: underpricing. The conversation covers why women tend to charge 25-50% less than men for the same work, how compassionate pricing and relationship loyalty keep us trapped in unsustainable business models, and what changed when Candy discovered male colleagues were quoting double her rates despite having less expertise. The three dive into practical solutions, including reframing value-based pricing, building community support around fee conversations, and remembering that sustainable pricing is not only about personal profit, but also about taking care of...
2025-11-191h 16
Growth AmplifiersAn Inspiring Journey From Bookkeeper to Business Leader | Candy BellauJoin us on this episode of Growth Amplifiers as we welcome Candy Bellau, a dynamic thought leader who has made a remarkable journey from working as a bookkeeper to becoming a pivotal figure in the accounting industry.
Candy shares her inspiring story of discovering her passion for accounting, overcoming financial challenges, and transforming her business. Learn about her upcoming ventures, including a spin-off company focused on fraud investigation and her raw, unfiltered podcast 'Unbalanced.'
Candy also offers valuable advice for accountants on overcoming imposter syndrome and transitioning to consulting roles.
Don't miss this heartfelt and motivating conversation brimming with...
2025-07-2524 min
The Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe WoodardEpisode 126 - Does your practice have termites? - The Woodard Report PodcastOn this episode Joe speaks with Heather about identifying and removing toxic clients who undermine accounting and advisory practices. Joe shares a vivid metaphor—likening bad clients to termites in a home—and outlines a checklist to help firms define their ideal client profile based on profitability, behavior, scalability, and alignment with firm systems. TV and Movie Quote: Heather quoted Thelma and Louise Joe quoted Presumed Innocent Book of the Week: The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma Favorite Social Posts: Heather mentioned Candy Bellau on LinkedIn Joe mentioned The Soul of Ente...
2025-06-1151 min
FraudishFamily Secrets, Forensic Work & the Fraud Triangle with Candy BellauIn this episode of Fraudish, Kelly sits down with forensic accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner Candy Bellau, whose journey into the world of fraud is anything but typical.From never picturing herself as a forensic accountant to building a career in the field, Candy brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of real talk. We dive into the personal side of fraud—because let’s face it, there’s always more to the story.Candy opens up about her own family’s history with fraud (yes, it’s complicated), the mystery of her grandmothe...
2025-05-0644 minThe Woodard Report Podcast: Featuring Heather Satterley and Joe WoodardEpisode 99 - Interview with Candy Bellau - The Woodard Report PodcastOn this show, Heather Satterley speaks with Candy Bellau about her personal journey in the accounting industry, touching on resilience, pricing, and the power of community. Candy shares valuable insights from her experiences, especially on overcoming business struggles, and offers guidance for accountants facing similar challenges. Some of the wide ranging topics discussed in this episode: Candy's Career Background Building Resilience Community Support Overcoming Pricing Struggles Importance of Mindset Creating a Positive Work Environment Practical Advice for Accountants Thank you to our show sponsor! Rightworks — All your accounting apps, unified in the cloud Learn more ab...
2024-10-3031 min
Accounting Leaders PodcastTurning all of life's lemons into lemonade, with Candy BellauCandy Bellau grew up with an unconventional father who applied his genius in all the wrong ways. In this episode, Candy candidly shares how others' mistakes enlightened her to live a life of integrity, and what she's doing to maintain work-life balance for herself and her staff.
Learning how to do bookkeeping at 14 years old (01:20)
Uncovering major accounting fraud while working as a bookkeeper (03:00)
How Candy's evil genius father shaped her moral and ethical codes (05:00)
Reconnecting with her father on his deathbed (12:00)
Candy's accidental involvement with a check-kiting scheme (18:00)
A brief stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in...
2023-04-2738 min