Programs - All Tracks

This is a private meeting, by invite only for members of our 2026 Roundtable. Details and registration are available through the group facilitator, Kathy Sautters. If you are attending, please be sure to make your travel reservations to arrive in time for Sunday’s session

Join us for an interactive BRN Summit focused on “Building Relationships, Navigating the Alliance & Best Practices for Success.” This year’s event will feature Dr. Ryan O’Sullivan, author of Building B2B Relationships: How to Identify, Map and Develop Key Relationships to Win More Business as our keynote speaker. Dr. O’Sullivan will share actionable strategies for identifying and nurturing the relationships that drive growth. As moderated by Judd Ballard, Director of Practice Growth at GBQ and Adam Klein, Head of Industry, Accounting and Advisory at Introhive, other highlights of the Summit will include roundtable discussions on engagement challenges and success stories, an Alliance Knowledge Challenge (a fun quiz with prizes!), and speed networking (rapid-fire conversations to expand your network).

Ideal for BRNs and BRN Champions within CPA firms, CPA firm leaders, and BDO professionals. Stay for the cocktail reception immediately following!

This is a private meeting, by invite only for roundtable members and other CPA firm COOs, CFOs, Firm Administrators and Managing Partners. Details and registration are available through the group facilitator, Kathy Sautters. If you are attending, please be sure to make your travel reservations to arrive in time for Sunday’s session.

Private meeting, by invite only for members of this Roundtable.

Ready to boost your leadership game? Join us for an engaging evening with Amy Vetter from The B3 Method Institute, who’s focused on helping executive women step up their executive presence and speak with real authority.

What’s in store:

1. Hands-on Training: Amy will share practical tips and tools to help you show up confidently, communicate clearly, and make a strong impact in any room.
2. Roundtable Exercise: Delve into the concepts in small group exercises, putting Amy’s advice into action.
3. Networking & Cocktail Reception: Wind down and connect over drinks at our special cocktail reception. It’s a great chance to build new relationships and catch up with friends.
4. Optional “No-Host Dinners” where you are aligned with other attendees to continue the conversations and further build relationships.

This session is perfect for partners, directors and other C-Suite members who want to refine their leadership style, amplify their voices and build lasting connections by offering practical tools and inspiration to help you thrive. It’s limited to 200 people and will reach capacity fast, so register soon!

This gathering of A&A professionals from Alliance firms, including BDO Assurance principals, will allow for ample discussion of challenges, best practices and innovative ideas in leading efficient audit practices. Your fellow Alliance firms will drive the content and topics to be discussed and will help facilitate the meeting.

BDO Tax Leaders will provide an update on Tax operational matters including outsourcing, AI tax strategy and tax compliance processing. The balance of the session will be roundtable discussions with peer Alliance firms sharing information on these and similar topics.

Unlock the full potential of your CAS practice during this dynamic three-hour workshop. Featuring several Alliance members and led by the professionals at Woodard Consulting, this session dives deep into diagnosing operational, pricing, and capacity barriers, while equipping you with actionable strategies to drive scalable growth. You’ll gain valuable insights on AI’s increasing influence, growth strategies and emerging technologies. Attendees will also engage in a hands-on working session to document a repeatable SOP, define automation opportunities, and establish practice success metrics. By the end, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to better systematize, automate, and elevate your CAS delivery—enhancing efficiency, consistency, and profitability across your practice.

Ideal for professionals who are involved in the development and management of CAS practices.

Marketing in accounting firms is undergoing a significant transformation, and firm leaders need to stay ahead of the curve. Join us for an insightful forum that will explore growth strategies and how they impact the entire firm. Sarah Dobek of Inovautus will provide an executive-level overview of critical shifts in the marketing landscape, including the rise of inbound lead generation, the role of generative SEO, and how modern lead qualification processes are evolving. We'll focus on what these changes mean for firm strategy, resource allocation, and partner involvement in driving growth. Christine Hollinden of Hollinden marketers + strategists and Adam Klein of Introhive will then bring us two complementary perspectives: how to design and refine your growth strategy, and how to embed a mindset of growth across business development, marketing and sales. Together, they’ll walk through the eight pillars for creating scalable growth—specialization, advisory, client optimization, partnerships, client experience, cross-selling, marketing, and technology—and show how these levers only work when tied to accountability and leadership alignment.

Ideal for partners, practice leaders and marketing/growth professionals.

This gathering of Human Resources and Operations professionals in the CPA industry will offer an engaging and interactive session that explores the most pressing and relevant topics affecting our field today. In this collaborative setting, you will have the opportunity to discuss current challenges, emerging trends and best practices for common issues faced by HR and operations professionals, such as talent acquisition, employee retention and process optimization – all while building connections with Alliance peers who understand the priorities and demands faced by fellow attendees in these roles. Whether you're looking to enhance your strategic approach, improve efficiency, or simply gain new perspectives, join this roundtable to learn what knowledge and tools you need to succeed.

This is an opportunity for all attendees to get together, immediately following our General Session. Our ever-popular Tradeshow event is legendary, offering access to over 100 member exhibitors and industry-leading vendors! Experience the energy of this conference and what the BDO Alliance USA has to offer by mingling with fellow members, sponsors, exhibitors, and BDO professionals.

Drink and food stations will be available throughout the room.

Roll out your mat (or hotel towel) and join us for a yoga class with Amy Vetter, CPA and RYT500, to stretch and energize your body and mind. The class will incorporate movement through yoga poses and breath work that is accessible to all levels. There is no better way to begin your day than taking time for yourself to get present, while cultivating the focus and energy you need before attending conference sessions and networking with your peers!

Completion of online waiver required at registration.

Swing by our Exhibit Hall on the 4th Floor to mingle with our sponsors and exhibitors at any time Tuesday morning, but especially during the extended morning break @ 9:15 am (grab a coffee there!) and meals. Located adjacent to breakfast and lunch.

Choose to attend one of these extended 75-minute sessions, taught by some of the leading consultants to the industry:

Leading Change in an Accounting Practice
Amanda Garner, The Growth Partnership (BRN Member)

Change is no longer an occasional event in the accounting profession—it’s a constant reality. From new technologies and automation to evolving client expectations and regulatory shifts, firms must adapt quickly to remain competitive and relevant. Yet, while the need for change is clear, leading change successfully requires more than implementing new tools or processes; it demands vision, communication, and the ability to inspire people through transition. This session will explore proven strategies for leading change within accounting practices, with a focus on balancing innovation with stability. Attendees will learn how to anticipate and navigate resistance, engage team members at all levels, and foster a culture that embraces transformation rather than fears it. Real-world examples from progressive firms will illustrate how leaders can align people, processes, and technology to drive sustainable growth.

The Endgame of Independence, PE or M&A: Visionary’s firm valuation model
Bob Lewis and Doug Lewis, The Visionary Group (BRN Member)

Emotional decisions are not the right way to decide your future. In this session, we will run a valuation model to help firms understand their market value and show them how to increase EBITDA. Whether a participant wants to remain independent or explore M&A or PE opportunities, they will understand the mechanisms driving value and how to leverage profitability. Leadership will be able to make data driven decisions to determine their best path to forward.

Yes, You Can! Strategies to Assure Your Firm’s Ongoing Independence and Sustainability
Jennifer Wilson, ConvergenceCoaching (BRN Member)

Since its inception, our profession has mainly been guided by conscious capitalism, where all stakeholders matter including clients, talent, community, and of course shareholders. If you are aligned with this philosophy, you can say no to PE or being acquired and build a thriving, growing, profitable firm that’s true to your core values. Attend this session where you will recall the difference between traditional and conscious capitalism and which aligns with your core values; explore some of the common tradeoffs of losing your firm’s independence through a PE investment or rolling up into a larger firm; define critical cultural attributes and must-have strategies, including capitalizing on opportunities with AI, and identify practical places to start; and list communication strategies to create your declaration of independence and position your firm to attract and retain talent and clients. Gain confidence in your plans to stay true to your core values and build a firm you can pass to future generations.

The Impact of PE on Competitive Landscape and CPA Firm Valuations
Phil Whitman, Whitman Advisory (BRN Firm)

Private equity (PE) investment is reshaping the accounting industry, driving rapid transformation in how CPA firms compete, grow, and deliver value. Join this session for an engaging discussion exploring the far-reaching effects of PE on the competitive landscape and firm valuations. Discover how PE-backed firms are boosting sales through aggressive growth strategies and enhanced talent solutions, expanding client value with deeper and more innovative service offerings, and scaling operations to keep pace with market demands. We’ll also discuss how these changes are shifting client perceptions, helping firms stay ahead of evolving expectations, and building lasting relationships. Whether you’re considering PE investment or navigating a market influenced by it, this session will provide actionable insights to position your firm for success in a dynamic environment.

Performance Meets Culture: Building Accountability for the Future-Ready CPA and BRN Firm
Gary Thomson, Thomson Consulting (BRN Member)

In today’s rapidly changing accounting landscape, high-performing firms recognize that culture is just as critical as strategy. Accountability serves as the bridge between the two—ensuring that values are lived, goals are met, and teams remain aligned even amid disruption. This session will explore how firm leaders can embed accountability at every level to drive stronger performance, foster trust, and sustain a culture that supports growth and innovation. Attendees will gain practical insights into balancing results with relationships, creating systems that reinforce accountability, and positioning their firms to thrive in the future.

Profitability by Design: Competing and Winning in a Transforming Marketplace 
Gary Shamis, David Toth and Brian Blaha, Winding River Consulting (BRN Member)

As the profession transforms under the weight of technology, private equity, and rising partner retirements, profitability has become more than a goal—it’s a necessity. Sustained profit funds everything that matters: technology adoption, advisory expansion, leadership succession, and long-term stability. Join this session for a candid discussion on how intentional design drives profitability. We’ll connect the dots between leverage, pricing strategy, service mix, governance, client acquisition, retention, delivery, and experience—revealing how high-performing firms are competing and winning by design, not chance. It will go beyond theory to help leaders think differently about how their firms create and sustain profit in a transforming marketplace.

This session will discuss developments and reminders in the areas of ethics and independence.

Technical leaders from BDO will cover recent updates made by the Government Accountability Office to Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), as well as best practices to ensuring compliance with GAGAS requirements.

This session will be an update on case law, regulations and other IRS pronouncements, as well as the impact of the OBBBA enacted in 2025 on accounting methods.

In Part 1 of this two-part session, we will review the most common tax issues with ownership structures, employment tax and others that need to be addressed well in advance of ownership transition.

What roles will your team need in 2030, and how do you start preparing today? This session will explore a strategy for identifying emerging capabilities and designing growth paths that balance human insight with evolving technology. Peer community insights will ground the conversation in how CAS practices are addressing talent development and succession planning in real time.

Join us for an engaging session where specialists from both sides of the M&A world—healthy and distressed—come together to provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape. Transaction Advisory leaders will offer valuable insights into the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions, whether dealing with thriving companies or those in turnaround situations. We'll also dive into the latest trends in the private equity environment, exploring how these forces shape M&A activity. We will conclude with an open Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask the tough questions and gain practical knowledge to apply in your own practice.

As the accounting industry continues to evolve, many firms face growing pressure from consolidation and private equity involvement. This session explores the essential strategies that independent firms can adopt to maintain their autonomy and thrive in today’s competitive environment. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to help their firms remain resilient, competitive, and proudly independent in a rapidly changing market.

Accounting isn’t just a numbers game, it’s a people game. And in today’s workforce “people” includes a rising wave of professionals who think, process, and contribute in ways that may fall outside traditional expectations. Neurodivergent individuals (those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, bipolar, and other cognitive variations) are increasingly represented in the profession. Leaders have a powerful opportunity, not just to accommodate, but to amplify the strengths neurodiverse professionals bring. This session is a fresh, engaging look at neurodiversity in public accounting, built for firm leaders who want to create environments where every brain can thrive. We’ll move beyond compliance checklists and dig into real strategies for inclusive team design, communication, and leadership. Through case stories, practical frameworks, and a bit of myth-busting, attendees will walk away better equipped to hire, support, and retain neurodiverse professionals, all while unlocking the kind of innovation and problem-solving that drives long-term success.

The accounting profession’s chronic talent gaps, rising service demands, and pressure to deliver more with less require fresh leverage. Beyond efficiency gains, AI agents now offer a new way to unlock our human potential by transforming how teams learn, develop, and deliver client service. This session explores how AI agents are helping firms reimagine how work gets done—reshaping roles, upskilling talent at every level, and creating more fulfilling, resilient workplaces. Through case studies from Top 100 firms already integrating agents firmwide, attendees will learn where to begin, what to delegate, how to train teams to collaborate effectively with AI, and how firms are strengthening culture, retention, and future readiness in the process.

Great ideas grow when they’re shared. And sustained growth starts with empowering people to think - and act - like business developers. Join CPA Alliance Members Saltmarsh and LerroSarbey as they explore how a simple business development challenge evolved into firmwide movements for leadership growth and client connection. Participants will explore practical steps for engaging professionals across all levels, building accountability into business development goals, and turning friendly competition into a long-term strategy for firm growth. Come away with tangible ideas for jumpstarting your own business development initiatives - whether you’re looking to build momentum, deepen collaboration, or create a more intentional culture of growth and connection.

The accounting and tax landscape is rapidly evolving, requiring firms to adapt to stay competitive. Join this dynamic panel to hear from industry leaders sharing innovative solutions for the tax and accounting sector. Discover how top firms are tackling pain points and boosting profitability through strategies like outsourcing low-value tasks, optimizing workflows for greater efficiency, and driving value-focused growth. This session delivers actionable insights and real-world examples to transform client challenges into sustainable opportunities, empowering your firm to thrive in a competitive market.

The accounting profession is entering a new phase of AI adoption. Beyond experimenting with generative AI, forward-looking firms are now beginning to embrace AI agents—autonomous digital assistants designed to handle entire workflows with minimal human intervention. In this session, we’ll explore how AI agents differ from today’s AI-enabled tools and why they signal a shift toward proactive, intelligent automation. Attendees will see how these systems are already reshaping tax, audit, and client service functions—from multi-agent collaboration in tax preparation to automated audit validation and client outreach.

Join construction industry focused firm leaders as they share their perspectives on the top tax, audit and consulting issues facing the construction industry today. The panelists represent a diverse cross-section of firms that serve a variety of construction client types and sizes.

This session will discuss developments in Employee Benefit Plans, including recent DOL activity, quality control findings, and recent standards setting activity.

Technical leaders from BDO’s governmental practice will lead a discussion on the latest changes issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the status of current projects being deliberated, including several recently issued GASB Statements.

This session will provide an update on case law, regulatory and other IRS guidance and the impact of the OBBBA on C corporations and S corporations.

This session will give an update on what is happening at the IRS given the significant changes in workforce. We will also provide an update on tax controversy matters that impact both individuals and businesses.

We see trends in the profession—some are evident, some are emerging, and some are just conjecture. But as CAS practice leaders, we occasionally need to get out of the weeds and pay attention to local and global indicators that can help us to build a lasting strategy for growth and success. In this session, we will call on our inner futurists to delve into how emerging technologies, evolving workforce trends and cultural shifts will reshape the future of CAS. With educated predictions, we'll help guide you to practical strategies for future-proofing your practice and seizing opportunities for greater impact.

This session will provide an update on M&A and capital raising trends and activity. We will discuss how to help clients, who are positioning their company for a sale, avoid seller pitfalls and maximize the value of their business through a structured sales process.

In an era of data overload, forensic investigations are evolving. This session explores how AI is transforming document review—accelerating analysis, maintaining quality, and lowering costs—so firms can deliver smarter, faster insights to clients. We’ll walk through real-world use cases where AI tools have streamlined forensic workflows, reduced manual effort, and enhanced defensibility. Whether you're advising on fraud, compliance, or litigation, attendees will gain practical strategies to integrate AI into your investigations process, leaving with a clear understanding of how to scale forensic services efficiently and competitively in today’s advisory landscape.

In today’s rapidly shifting accounting landscape, firm growth isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. Should you double down on staying independent? Merge with a larger firm? Be the acquirer? Or take the leap with private equity backing? This candid panel brings together three managing partners from Alliance firms, each of whom has chosen a distinct growth strategy. Hear firsthand how their decisions are playing out, what they wish they’d known before choosing a path, and the impact on culture, talent, and long-term vision. No theory; just real talk from firm leaders navigating growth in real time.

Staying compliant with employment laws is critical – and it’s a responsibility shared by both firm leaders and HR staff. This session breaks down the key HR compliance issues affecting CPA firms, including hiring practices, employee classification, medical leave, harassment, and accommodations — all without the legal jargon. Attendees will gain practical strategies to identify risks early, ask the right questions, and work together effectively to protect employees and the firm.

Gen Z brings both promise and pressure to today’s workplace. They are ambitious, creative, and eager to contribute, but they also bring bold expectations around flexibility, feedback, and purpose. For many firms, the challenge is not just attracting Gen Z talent but keeping them engaged and committed for the long term. This interactive session reframes that challenge as an opportunity. Attendees will gain practical strategies to attract, develop, and retain Gen Z talent – strengthening both team performance and employer brand.

In today’s landscape, growth isn’t just about adding clients - it’s about adding the right clients and pricing smarter. This session explores how to align your firm’s pricing strategy with the 6-Step Smart Growth Framework to drive profitability, attract ideal clients, and empower your team to deliver higher-value advisory work. You’ll leave with practical strategies and discussion insights to strengthen pricing confidence, consistency, and impact across your firm.

For many accounting professionals, business development feels intimidating—full of rejection, self-doubt, and uncertainty. But what if those same challenges could become stepping stones to success? This session reframes business development through the lens of a growth mindset, encouraging professionals to see setbacks as opportunities to learn and to approach client relationships with curiosity rather than fear. By cultivating resilience and reframing challenges, participants will walk away with the confidence to approach business development as a journey of growth, not perfection.

Cybercriminals are using AI to launch smarter, faster, and more convincing attacks—targeting people, not just systems. Accountants and CPA firms, with access to sensitive financial data, are squarely in their sights. This session dives into how hackers are weaponizing AI to craft believable phishing schemes and malware, bypassing even strong tech defenses. Learn from real-world breaches and walk away with practical steps to spot threats and strengthen both your firm’s technical and human firewalls—before your data becomes their payday.

Tired of the same old ethics training? This session breaks the mold by focusing on the most critical element in the ethical decision-making process—YOU! While traditional ethics programs often focus on codes of conduct and what to avoid, we dive deeper into how you can become a more ethically grounded professional. In this highly engaging, evidence-based session, we’ll explore how your brain responds to ethical dilemmas and how your moral maturity evolves over time. Attendees will gain a mental map to guide you through tough decisions and sharpen your ethical instincts.

Technical leaders from BDO will discuss upcoming changes to the Uniform Guidance promulgated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the upcoming compliance supplement. Also, they will discuss lessons learned and practice issues related to Single Audits engagements, including any current developments and trends.

Featuring popular IFRS case studies from BDO, this session will cover hot topics in IFRS and common challenges in cross-border reporting.

In Part 2 of this two-part session, we will review tax areas that threaten the success and completion of an ownership transition, including sales and use tax exposure, locking down key executives, and preparing for an ESOP or PE exit.

This session will provide an update on changes and guidance from select states on both income tax and sales and use tax.

AI is shifting from a tool into a true collaborator. This session will unpack AI agents—what they are, which accounting workflows they can already take on, and which will become possible over the next 12–24 months. You’ll learn how to set up file structures, refine internal operations, and choose technologies that make your practice agent-ready and future-proof. We’ll also look at how to supervise agents like team members – with clear direction, monitoring, and feedback – to ensure compliance, security, and measurable value.

As firms expand into advisory services and integrate AI into their operating models, many encounter a painful—but predictable—dip in performance, clarity, and confidence. This session explores the Advisory J-Curve: the economic and cultural realities behind the early-stage investment, delayed returns, and eventual acceleration of advisory growth. Ultimately, attendees will walk away with a roadmap for scaling advisory services with confidence—embracing technology, reimagining pricing and talent models, and leading their firms through the J-Curve toward lasting profitability and differentiation.

With work compression and staffing capacity issues creating stress in organizations, cultures, and individuals, the risk of not having bench strength is at an all-time high. Through The B³ Method, we will reveal how organizations can move beyond "this is just the way it is" to create genuine transformation and remain competitive in the market. Drawing from experience transforming organizations throughout the country, Amy will demonstrate how integrating leadership development, digital transformation, business processes, and well-being programs creates cultures where people build up destination careers.

Everyone talks about finding the right buyer or the perfect acquisition target. Nobody talks about the 18 months after signing when everything you thought you knew gets turned upside down—and when most integration plans fall apart. This session offers a brutally honest look at post-merger integration based on real experience from both sides of M&A transactions. From managing partner egos to reconciling multiple versions of “the way we’ve always done it,” we’ll share the messy realities of what actually happens after the champagne toast. You’ll hear what worked, what failed spectacularly, and what we wish someone had told us before the ink dried.

In today’s dynamic work environment, leaders and managers often express frustration about the difficulty of finding “good” team members. But what does “good” truly mean in the context of your team’s unique needs and goals? This session will challenge participants to rethink their assumptions about what makes a valuable team member. Through guided discussion and real-world examples, we’ll explore how to define and identify the specific qualities and skills that contribute to team success—beyond traditional metrics or job descriptions. By the end, attendees will be equipped with actionable insights to build more effective, diverse, and resilient teams.

The skills needed to run a successful accounting firm are rapidly evolving. While professional accounting expertise remains central to firm success, talent shortages and technology advancements are prompting top-performing organizations to focus more on developing internal talent and expanding the skills required of team members beyond traditional accounting roles. In this session, attendees will gain insights into what the new talent map looks like and when it’s most effective to hire from within. Discover where to find external candidates and how to screen them effectively to ensure the right fit for your organization. We’ll also explore strategies for navigating the competitive hiring landscape, including how brand differentiation can give your firm an edge during the hiring process. Take away best practices for managing hybrid and remote firm models from a talent management perspective, ensuring your team is equipped to thrive in today’s environment.

In a competitive marketplace where clients have endless choices, true differentiation doesn’t come from technical expertise alone—it comes from the strength of relationships. For accounting firms, building lasting customer loyalty means moving beyond transactional services to deliver experiences that foster trust, consistency, and long-term value. This session will explore the key drivers of customer loyalty in professional services, from understanding client expectations to delivering proactive advice that positions your firm as a trusted partner. Attendees will learn strategies for deepening client relationships, anticipating needs, and creating memorable touchpoints that set their firm apart.

Artificial Intelligence has reached a turning point. In 2025, AI was deeply embedded in business operations, driving both excitement and unease—from fears of a “jobpocalypse” to breakthroughs in agents, automation and decision-making. In 2026, new trends such as AI Companions, Agentic AI, Wearable AI, and the rise of AI sovereignty are shaping how organizations compete and scale. In this session, LBMC’s Shareholder-in-Charge of the AI Practice and an experienced data scientist will unpack the current state of AI and chart the road ahead, focusing on developing AI Agents.

Every accounting firm has lived through a technology rollout that didn’t land as expected. After six years of working with 200+ firms on digital adoption – and making our own share of missteps while building Aiwyn – we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the “never again.” In this candid, behind-the-scenes session, one of Aiwyn’s co-founders will share lessons learned from both sides of the table, including the most common pitfalls that cause tech initiatives to fail inside firms.

While many firms utilize the Alliance as a resource when they are conflicted out of work, there is so much more that this wide array of firms and practices can offer regarding broad industry expertise. In this session, attendees will explore niche services in the healthcare space (i.e., healthcare regulatory compliance, credentialing and enrollment, revenue cycle optimization, behavioral health system redesign, health information exchange enhancement, and cutting-edge payor strategy) that can assist you in helping your clients drive sustainable improvements in clinical, financial and operational performance.

Part 1 of this two-part session will explore an issuer’s initial accounting for complex financial instruments, focusing on recognition, measurement and classification under applicable standards, with practical examples and practice issues.

This session will describe practice issues in accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, including the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Given the steady development of AI tools, this session will explore the current availability of AI in tax compliance tools, where the future is heading, and the impact on use of tax professionals.

This session will provide insight and guidance on select partnership compliance issues and challenges, including an overview of new reporting requirements such as Form 7217.

Nothing is more important to firm growth and stability than retaining key clients. In this highly interactive session with facilitated group and table discussions, we will explore creative ideas to truly be proactive and consultative to expand the value you deliver to clients. Leave this session with practical and innovative client service ideas that will ensure your clients look to you and your firm for services for years to come!

Join us for an insightful session focused on how the panelists have designed an advisory business around several practice areas within their firm. Panelists will share how they are building the infrastructure for an advisory practice that supports sustainable growth, including a discussion on the impact of different sales cycles, staffing needs, and resource requirements than a traditional CPA practice requires.

In the fall of 2023, BDO became the first major accounting firm to establish an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to provide its 10,000 employees with a direct stake in the firm. Effective last November, Horne LLP joined BDO through a strategic combination in which BDO’s ESOP played a critical role in these two firms coming together. This session will provide background on the why and how of BDO’s ESOP formation, including an update on our experience since establishing the ESOP, and perspectives from a fellow Alliance firm that is ESOP-owned. It will also dive into some of the considerations that Horne went through as they explored strategic alternatives for their firm.

Modernizing your firm and moving away from the industry status quo is a non-negotiable process facing partners across the country. This session will share experience with change management and building a company culture that supports your modernization goals and is designed to scale as your firm grows. Attendees will take away an actionable framework for making a meaningful impact on firm operations.

This session explores the evolving role of PE in the accounting industry, providing an update on current market trends, firm valuation techniques, and best practices for evaluating PE firms and deal terms. We’ll walk through the M&A process from Letter of Intent (LOI) to close, including the transition post-closing. Additionally, we’ll examine how PE investment is reshaping accounting firms—affecting staffing, driving technology investments, and unlocking firm value. Join this session for a comprehensive discussion on how PE is influencing both the deal process and the future of accounting firms.

Initiative fatigue is real. Every new program gets the eye-roll treatment from your team. Even genuinely good ideas die from cultural antibodies before they have a chance to take root. This session provides change management strategies specifically designed for skeptical accounting professionals who've seen every management fad come and go. Drawing from real change leadership in growing firms, you'll learn how to build genuine buy-in (not just compliance) from teams that have stopped believing in "the next big thing." Attendees will leave with practical tools including cynicism assessment frameworks, trust-building strategies that work on burned-out teams, and change communication strategies proven to work on people who've heard it all before.

AI is not a technology problem—it’s a leadership challenge. While 75% of executives believe their company's AI rollout over the past year has been successful, only 45% of employees share this sentiment. Leaders are misaligned with their people on the success and vision of AI. It is a hurdle that will prevent organizations from achieving AI transformation without a strategic leadership approach. The presenter will show how the leadership lessons he learned at USMA/West Point, leading in Iraq, and in corporate roles can be applied to adopting and planning for AI in 2026.

Sustainable growth in an accounting firm isn’t just the result of great service—it’s driven by leaders who intentionally foster a culture of business development. For partners, firm leaders, and aspiring leaders, the challenge lies in shifting mindsets and embedding growth as a shared responsibility across the organization. This session will explore how to cultivate a proactive, growth-driven culture that moves beyond traditional service delivery, empowers teams to contribute to business development, and positions your firm for long-term success.

This session translates agentic AI into plain English: what it is, where it helps, and how to keep it safe with clear checkpoints for humans. We’ll show how everyday tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can be stitched together with no coding to move a real firm process from request to result. You’ll see an orchestrated agent built live in the room, with simple guardrails, an audit trail, and handoffs that keep staff in control. We’ll finish with a 30-day pilot playbook and the key metrics to prove ROI fast¬—perfect for leaders who want results over hype.

As firms grow, disconnected tools and manual processes create inefficiency. This session will walk through building a modern, integrated firm management stack. It will cover best practices for unifying time & billing, CRM, reporting, and automation—driving better margins, accountability, and client satisfaction.

In today’s digital landscape, cyber events—including data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cybersecurity incidents—pose significant risks to organizations of all sizes. This session will equip audit professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to understand their responsibilities when cyber events occur, both during the audit and in evaluating their impact on financial reporting and internal controls. Attendees will explore the auditor’s role in identifying, assessing and responding to cyber risks, including the implications for risk assessment procedures, audit planning, evidence gathering, concluding and reporting, as well as how cyber events may affect financial statement assertions, disclosures and the overall audit approach. Practical guidance will be provided on communicating with management and those charged with governance, as well as documenting audit procedures and conclusions related to cyber incidents.

Part 2 of this two-part session will focus on the key principles and procedures, along with common practice issues, relative to an issuer's accounting for debt modifications, including recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements.

Tax consulting and advisory is growing significantly due in large part to AI tools for income tax planning, R&D and others. This session will explore the use of AI in being more tax consultative with clients; discuss BRN firms that use AI in tools and software for tax consulting; and how to develop a strategy for AI tax and current tools that are available.

As the IRS continues to focus on partnership tax matters (including reporting and structuring), it is important to stay up to speed on legislative, regulatory and judicial changes. In this continuing session, we will focus on these items as well as practical examples of what BDO is seeing in practice.

This session highlights tax compliance and consulting challenges and opportunities for pass-through businesses including partnerships and S corporations.

As more business owners prepare to scale, transition or exit, CAS teams are uniquely positioned to go beyond compliance and deliver high-value advisory services that support those goals and directly drive client outcomes. This session will show how to integrate core CAS with adjacent services such as FP&A, valuation, transaction advisory, estate & gift planning, and other complementary services. By integrating CAS with strategic advisory, you will deepen client trust, create recurring revenue streams, and solidify your firm as a key strategic partner throughout the client lifecycle.

Do you call yourself an Advisor, but in actuality find yourself stuck in the compliance work? Or, alternatively, do you find that you are uncomfortable learning the advisory skills needed and instead choose to do the accounting work because it is more familiar and comfortable? Being an Advisor is not for everyone. However, for those that desire to become an Advisor, it can be the most rewarding work of your career. Being an Advisor is a mindset. It is the relationship that the client desires so they can translate what the financial results of the business are telling them. When you have an advisory mindset, you understand both the operational and financial aspects of your client’s business and can create strategic plans with them to achieve their goals. That is when you become a true Cherished Advisor®, one that your client can’t imagine living without and you feel more fulfilled by the work you are doing.

Whether you are a managing partner, partner or aspiring partner, you'll benefit from hearing the perspectives of a panel of managing partners representing your peer CPA Alliance firms. We will discuss the results of an April 2026 survey related to MAP topics and hear from our panelists. This year's Pulse session will continue to be interactive, and we will look for audience participation related to a variety of topics, including growth, capacity, succession planning, M&A and partner compensation.

Explore how AI, automation, and advanced technologies are transforming the accounting profession. This session highlights how outsourcing is being enhanced through technology, driving efficiency and enhancing capabilities. Learn how automating routine tasks empowers professionals to achieve more with greater precision, supported by global talent and the evolving Indian market.

Artificial intelligence, automation, and globalization have transformed how firms grow, yet most are still approaching offshoring as a transactional or temporary fix. This session challenges that mindset featuring a dynamic discussion with leaders from top outsourcing and consulting firms on how CPA firms can move beyond outsourcing to build scalable, sustainable, and culturally aligned offshore operations. We will share real-world strategies and lessons learned from different models – from hourly outsourcing to long-term team integration – giving attendees a clear understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and how to future-proof their own approach.

If you came for the same old CAS talk you’ve heard at every CPA conference for the last 30 years—this isn’t it. This is a straight-to-the-point, against-the-grain session that will challenge conventional wisdom, dismantle the myths holding your firm back, and give you a simpler, more powerful way to turn CAS into a true growth engine. It’s no secret — CAS is the fastest-growing, highest-potential service line in the profession, and for good reason. The demand is there, the opportunity is massive, and the clients you seek are already in your book of business. Done right, your CAS service line can unlock up to 9 figures of new annual revenue while strengthening every other service line in your firm. This session will share a proven framework built from 30+ years of transformational CAS results, billions in CAS sales, and over 11,000 CPA client engagements. You’ll discover how to simplify CAS, align it with what clients truly value, and scale it as one of the most strategic and profitable lines in your firm.

Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) teams spend too much time on manual data wrangling instead of client-focused analysis. This session will show how automation and standardized outputs accelerate diligence, reduce errors, and free teams to deliver deeper insights – highlighted through real-world examples. Learn to identify where automation can reduce manual effort in TAS workflows.

You’ve identified your key performance indicators for your restaurant clients—now it’s time to unlock their full potential. This session explores actionable strategies for incorporating statistical metrics into your accounting system, enhancing reporting packages and board reports, and driving ROI through advanced financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Discover shortcuts for blending disparate data sources, gain practical tips for data awareness, including identifying and cleansing dirty data, and identify processes and/or systems to enhance reporting and analysis.

Lace up your shoes and join Jen Wilson and Tamera Loerzel of ConvergenceCoaching, LLC for a morning walk or run! Meet them near the main lobby entrance of the Fontainebleau at 5:55 am for a 6:00 am start time. The walk/run will be approximately 45-50 minutes or approximately 4 miles if you’re a runner (they are mapping a new route since it’s a new hotel and will do our best to make it easy for you to decide your own distance and pace). All are welcome for this fun opportunity to exercise in the fresh air and connect with other conference attendees. Be sure to bring your water and dress for the weather, which will likely be hot!

Completion of online waiver required at registration.

This session discusses practice issues, peer review trends, and other developments in preparation, compilation, and review engagements.

With the new quality management standards now effective, a panel of Alliance members discusses lessons learned from adopting the standards and considerations for compliance moving forward.

In Part 1 of this two-part session, we will focus on the various types of trusts used in income and estate and gift tax planning and how to strategically work with clients to maximize the value of trusts, including revocable and irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts and other types of trusts.

This session provides insight and challenges on select Federal tax reporting forms required when a U.S. business or individual conducts business outside the U.S., including Forms 5471, 8858 and 5472, among others.

This session truly focuses on leveraging the CAS community. It will feature a panel of experienced CAS practitioners and BRN members answering your detailed questions about running a CAS practice, combined with table discussions on pricing, procedures, best practices, outsourcing, organizational structure, talent acquisitions, and more. We will be focused on practical application of how actual practices are surviving (and thriving) in today's complex market.

This session will provide an overview on the Real Estate Market, discussing present trends and metrics of the major property types across the country. We will also discuss how to approach the appraisal review process for external valuations, while performing work as part of our assurance practice for attest clients, and sharing high-level observations gathered during testing.

In today’s dynamic real estate landscape, workplace strategy is no longer just about cost per square foot—it’s about creating environments that are agile, vibrant and responsive to change. This interactive session will explore how to measure and manage workplace performance in ways that align with evolving business needs and employee expectations. The session will begin with a data-driven presentation introducing key concepts and frameworks with live polling to engage the audience and gather real-time insights and challenges. Then, a panel of industry leaders will share practical examples and lessons learned on how to apply these strategies in a variety of workplace situations. Whether you are a business owner, have real estate responsibilities, or simply work in an office and believe that the experience can be better, this session will equip you with the tools and insights to make smarter, people-centered recommendations about your workplace.

The working environment for the CPA professional continues to change. How does risk management fit in the management of your firm? In this session, risk managers from McGowanPRO share risk management tools and processes to help protect your firm from potential claims against you. Topics will include ethics, tax law changes, technology, engagement letter language caveats, and other emerging risk related topics you may not have thought of.

Accountants and CPAs today have the opportunity to expand their role as trusted advisors by integrating HR analytics and strategic HR advisory services into their Client Advisory Services (CAS) offerings. As organizations face a transformed workplace, shifting employee-employer dynamics, and ongoing human capital challenges, accounting professionals can leverage HR insights to help clients make more accurate financial forecasts, optimize talent management, and minimize risk. This session, featuring CAS and HR leaders, will provide actionable strategies for developing and scaling an HR advisory practice within an accounting firm. Explore effective service offerings, technology solutions, and advisory models, and gain practical tools to elevate your advisory expertise, enhance client value, and generate new revenue streams.

We’ve all heard the saying that in M&A, 1+1=3. But that equation only works when firms commit to the effort behind it. With so much consolidation reshaping the profession, the real question isn’t just about the transaction — it’s about what comes next. Some firms take a traditional path of full integration from day one. Others operate as alliances designed to stay independent for the long term. Many are finding themselves somewhere in between, taking a thoughtful, staged journey toward integration that fits their people, their clients, and their culture. In this session, we’ll have a candid conversation with leaders who have lived through mergers, alliances, and everything along the continuum. They’ll share lessons learned, stories from the field, and insights on how to navigate the integration journey with clarity and confidence. You’ll explore how change management principles can help you lead your people through transition and create lasting value beyond the transaction itself.

AI-driven tax prep is not about replacing accountants; it is about making them extraordinary. By creating capacity per staffer and easing margin pressure, automation frees professionals to deliver higher-value results like faster turnaround, proactive planning, and strategic advisory. For younger talent, this shift transforms accounting from repetitive compliance into a career of impact, positioning firms to attract, retain, and elevate the next generation.

Move beyond basic automation and explore the cutting edge of autonomous AI agents. Learn how these "digital employees" can dramatically increase capacity by efficiently managing complex tasks like compliance, data analysis and operations. This session will provide a practical framework for deploying agents, empowering your team to transition from repetitive work to high-value strategic advising and designing client digital workflows, thereby unlocking their full potential.

Those who serve on the boards of for-profit (public and private) and/or nonprofit organizations must continually monitor the dynamic risk and opportunity landscapes that impact the businesses and communities they serve. Learn what may be top of mind to directors and how to better engage with them on issues, provide added value, and deepen relationships with these key stakeholders. This session will leverage findings and ongoing board engagement from BDO’s Center for Corporate Governance. Topics will include enterprise risk management, AI and emerging technology, data governance and cyber risks, evolving regulatory impact on financial and governance disclosures, human capital management, and other significant factors facing your clients.

This session will provide audit professionals with an in-depth exploration of group audits, emphasizing the practical challenges and key requirements introduced by ISA 600 (Revised); Special Considerations—Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors); and SAS 149, the forthcoming U.S. standard that converges with ISA 600 (Revised). Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the revised standard’s impact on planning, performing and documenting group audit engagements, including the enhanced focus on risk assessment, communication, and the responsibilities of group engagement teams. It will address common practice issues such as identifying components, evaluating component auditors, coordinating audit work across jurisdictions, and ensuring sufficient appropriate audit evidence. Real-world scenarios and examples will illustrate how practitioners can respond to the complexities of group structures and diverse reporting environments.

In Part 2 of this two-part session, we will continue the discussion adding in key case law and regulatory and practice updates that affect tax planning for high-net-worth clients.

The continuing session will provide an update on tax planning and challenges seen by BDO’s international tax teams when working with Alliance firms and their clients that are U.S. companies with foreign ownership or operations, as well as specific country updates most common to Alliance firm clients.

As an outsourced accounting practice, G-Squared generates over 30% of its revenues from services other than traditional transactional accounting. They will explore their business model, delving into the daily advisory services the firm provides and deliver real examples of deliverables and special projects, including forecasting and 13-week cash flow forecasting, exit planning and readiness, audit readiness, cap table management and modeling, profit improvement and turnaround management, accounting department diagnostic, and financing transaction support.

While it feels like someone pushed the “fast forward” button on technology in the accounting and advisory services space, it’s really the new normal. Tools and practices as we know them are under constant improvement and adjustment for maximized speed, accuracy and efficiency. The presenter, with experience in leading development teams for Google and Meta, will share how the technology she helped to implement on a broad scale immediately shapes what you can do in your practice today. Those practical steps will help you leverage the AI available to you now – and in the coming months – so that you can develop strategies for your CAS tech stack, team responsibilities, client services and more.

The most successful organizations foster high-performing cultures—both internally among their teams and externally with their clients. This session delves into the role that a culture of Deep Trust and High Expectations plays in driving exceptional results. Attendees will learn how these principles strengthen relationships within their firm and build lasting partnerships with clients, and will discover strategies for cultivating trust, setting clear and ambitious expectations, and creating an environment where collaboration and alignment thrive.

The gap between AI investment and AI adoption is costing firms millions in unrealized value. This session provides a proven framework for moving beyond experimentation to strategic, firm-wide AI implementation. Discover insights from top 20 firms on developing SMART AI strategies, structuring effective pilots, and driving adoption at scale. Learn how firms with visible AI strategies are 3.1x more likely to experience ROI and explore the five stages of AI adoption that separate innovators from laggards. Walk away with actionable strategies for onboarding, workflow integration, and measuring impact.

The accounting profession is built on accuracy and trust. But when it comes to leading teams and clients, too many professionals default to being “polite” instead of being clear. That might feel safe in the moment, but it slows down decisions, frustrates staff, and leaves clients second-guessing your firm’s guidance. This session gives leaders a modern framework that works in today’s environment—one where hybrid teams, generational shifts, and evolving client expectations demand more clarity and less hedging. As the author of Kind Transparency, the presenter will share the real stories of how speaking truth with clarity and care has turned difficult projects into stronger partnerships, and why the old model of “professional polish at all costs” is holding firms back. Attendees will leave with tools to navigate tough conversations, build influence faster, and lead with a style that resonates across an ever-changing workforce.

AI is here and it’s moving fast. It’s the future of professional services. Already, 75% of knowledge workers are using it daily; roles that require AI skills command a 56% wage premium; and in accounting, AI has cut the monthly close by more than a week. The message? AI isn’t just changing the rules of work, but it’s rewriting the playbook. This isn’t a session about being replaced; it’s about being elevated. Attendees will walk away ready to let AI handle the heavy lifting, so you can focus on the heavy thinking: pattern-spotting, storytelling, experience design, and future-building.