The Future of Accounting is Human
Download MP3Karl Paadam made partner at PwC Estonia at 26, spent a decade in tech, and came back to build United Accountants on a contrarian thesis: the future of accounting is human. He joins Blake to explain how a firm can hand bookkeeping, categorization, and reconciliation to an AI operating system that layers on top of whatever software a firm already runs, freeing CPAs to keep their local brand and focus on judgment and advisory work. They also get into outcomes-based pricing, what it means to build "the first big small firm," and why the accountant who ignores AI is the one who gets replaced.
Chapters
Learn more about United Accountants
https://www.unitedaccountants.com/
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https://earmark.app/
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Chapters
- (00:00) - Welcome Karl Paadam to the Earmark Podcast
- (01:51) - Building a Practice
- (02:40) - Leaving PwC for Tech
- (03:29) - Accounting Is Human
- (05:17) - Advisory Skills Shift
- (06:35) - AI Productivity in Practice
- (09:25) - United OS Walkthrough
- (10:34) - Partner Model Keep Brand
- (14:50) - Integrations No Rip Replace
- (18:44) - First Big Small Firm
- (21:48) - Outcomes Based Pricing
- (25:00) - AI Like Excel Era
- (28:05) - What AI Does Next
- (29:21) - Fear Traps and Controls
- (32:39) - Who United Fits Best
- (33:25) - Wrap Up and Contact
Learn more about United Accountants
https://www.unitedaccountants.com/
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
https://earmark.app/
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Connect with Our Guest, Karl Paadam
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/karl-paadam-39730214
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/
Creators and Guests
Guest
Karl Paadam
Karl Paadam is co-founder of United Accountants, a firm rebuilding the CPA model from the ground up for the AI era. A former PwC partner, Karl built PwC's practice in Estonia from zero into a top-5 firm in the country within five years — and went on to lead the practice across Central and Eastern Europe, including M&A. After PwC, he co-founded and exited a venture-backed tech company. Karl's thesis: the future of accounting is human. AI strips out the mechanical work; trust, judgment, and relationships become the real product.
