Why Culture Beats Capital in Building Independent CPA Firms | Carla McCall
Episode Summary
“You're not going to take an old process and fit it into a new tech box.”
Carla McCall believes the firms struggling most with AI are often the ones trying hardest to preserve the way they’ve always operated.
As Managing Partner of AAFCPAs and former Chair of the AICPA, Carla shares why firms need to rethink management habits, communication structures, and even how young professionals are trained in an AI-enabled world.
Tune in to hear how AAFCPAs scaled from $16M to nearly $80M by building a people-first culture.
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.
Featured Guest
Carla McCall
Managing Partner, AAFCPAs
Carla McCall is Managing Partner of AAFCPAs, a U.S. Top 100 CPA and consulting firm, and former Chair of the AICPA. A recognized leader in accounting, innovation, and firm culture, she has helped expand AAFCPAs’ services beyond audit and tax into advisory, automation, cybersecurity, wealth management, and data analytics. Carla has been named one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People and one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor. Known for her people-first leadership and commitment to change, she continues to shape the future of the profession through mentorship, inclusion, innovation, and client-centered growth.
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.
