A Top 20 Accounting Firm's AI Playbook, Without the Hype
Episode Summary
Most accounting firms are jumping into AI headfirst, buying tools, chasing models, and wondering why nothing is sticking.
Thomas DeMayo, AI lead at PKF O'Connor Davies, one of the top 20 accounting firms in the country, has a different approach entirely.
He breaks down why your knowledge layer has to come before any tool decision, what AI can and cannot do in audit, and why the billable hour is already on its way out.
If you're a firm leader trying to build an AI strategy that holds up over time, this one is worth your time.
Hosted by Kacee Johnson, fintech innovation leader and Principal at Radical, AI-Native Accounting is the podcast at the crossroads of AI and the future of finance. Engage in monthly discussions with firm owners, tech pioneers, and visionary accountants. Explore real-world applications of AI, uncovering how it's streamlining processes and enhancing decision-making. Discover what's working, what's emerging, and what's on the horizon in the world of accounting technology.
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Featured Guest
Thomas DeMayo
Partner, Cybersecurity and Privacy Advisory, PKF O'Connor Davies
Tom DeMayo leads cybersecurity and privacy advisory at PKF O’Connor Davies, one of the top accounting and advisory firms in the country. With 20 years of experience securing systems and managing information risk, Tom has advised organizations across healthcare, education, government, hospitality, nonprofit, and commercial sectors. His expertise spans cybersecurity strategy, privacy, incident response, business continuity, digital forensics, penetration testing, and major compliance frameworks including PCI-DSS, SOX 404, HIPAA, COBIT, and ISO 27001. He’s also a frequent speaker and writer on cybersecurity, bringing a practical, risk-focused perspective to how organizations can protect themselves in an increasingly complex technology landscape.
Your Host
Kacee Johnson
Digits Advisor & Innovation Partner
Kacee Johnson is a leading figure in the accounting profession, recognized among Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People, CPA Practice Advisor's Top 25 Thought Leaders, and as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting. She advises AICPA and CPA.com as an innovation partner and leads the Startup Accelerator program, mentoring startups that shape the profession's future. In 2025, she completed Harvard Business School's Executive Program on Private Equity and Venture Capital and joined the be radical team as a Principal in FinTech Innovation.
