From Homeless to $20 Billion Deals: An Accountant's Journey
Download MP3What happens when a homeless 21-year-old musician transforms into a financial leader negotiating $20 billion deals at Google? Devon Coombs shares his remarkable journey from living in his car after his recording studio failed to becoming an ASC 606 revenue recognition expert who helped shape multibillion-dollar cloud contracts. You'll discover how he leveraged technical accounting expertise to leapfrog traditional career paths, why he cold-called a thousand controllers as a first-year auditor, and his predictions for how AI will transform accountants into "orchestrators" rather than individual contributors. Plus, learn why he's leaving Google to build a consulting practice focused on helping the profession adapt to an AI-driven future.
Chapters
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Chapters
- (00:54) - Devon's Early Struggles and Music Industry Journey
- (02:59) - Transition to Accounting and Education
- (04:52) - Challenges and Lessons from the Recording Studio
- (06:58) - Impact of Automation and AI on Careers
- (12:59) - Devon's Path to Success in Accounting
- (17:59) - Early Career at Deloitte and Winning Business
- (22:45) - Transition to Smaller Firm and ASC 606 Insights
- (25:36) - Deep Dive into ASC 606
- (28:06) - Becoming an Expert in ASC 606
- (31:13) - Transition to Google and Work-Life Balance
- (34:18) - Negotiating Billion-Dollar Deals at Google
- (37:45) - The Role of AI in Accounting
- (48:20) - Leaving Google for Principal Consulting Group
- (51:49) - Conclusion and Future Collaborations
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, Devon Coombs
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devoncoombs/
Website: https://www.devoncoombs.com/
Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/
Creators and Guests
Guest
Devon Coombs
Devon Coombs, CPA, MBA is a nationally respected technical accounting expert, strategic advisor, and fractional CFO who helps companies navigate complex deals, build resilient finance functions, and lead with purpose. He most recently served as Chief of Staff for the Google Cloud Controllership and led the Revenue Accounting Deals Desk, where he advised on multi-billion-dollar AI and infrastructure deals, global go-to-market strategy, and M&A. Before Google, Devon started his career at Deloitte and went on to become an adjunct accounting professor, blending hands-on technical knowledge with a gift for translating complexity into clarity. Today, he serves as a strategic advisor to Principal Consulting Group, where he helps scale technical advisory practices and drive high-impact outcomes for Fortune 500s and startups alike. He also advises AI-native companies like TABot, empowering founders with fractional CFO support, strategic finance guidance, and accounting infrastructure built to grow. His expertise spans revenue recognition, deal structuring, ASC 606, AI contracts, and leadership coaching. But Devon’s path hasn’t always looked like success on paper—15 years ago, he was homeless. From sleeping in motels to helping close billion-dollar partnerships, Devon’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and rising again. He now shares those lessons as the host of Ambition, Aligned, a podcast exploring the intersection of high performance, purpose, and financial freedom.
