The accounting industry doesn’t stand still for long. Whether it’s technology and innovation, the ever-changing regulatory landscape, or the latest accounting trends, there’s always something new to learn. So how do you keep up?
One of the best ways is by following accounting influencers. The accounting profession is well blessed with a growing number of high-profile people who share the ideas and wisdom you need to stay ahead of the curve.
In this article, we’ll run through some of the biggest accounting influencers and thought leaders — and why you should follow them. We’ll look at accounting experts who are active across social media platforms, blogs, podcasts, and the speaker circuit.
Ready? In no particular order, here's our list.
Our top 15 accounting influencers in 2023
1. James Hearle
Kicking off our list of accounting influencers is James Hearle, founder of the popular Youtube channel Accounting Stuff. Originally from the UK, James cut his teeth working as a CPA at Big Four accounting firm Deloitte, before branching out on his own.
Today, James has well over half a million subscribers to his channel. His videos are slick and to the point, covering everything from basic accounting skills to the most popular accounting software. This makes them a great choice for small-business owners just starting out in the accounting profession.
There’s also an Accounting Stuff website, where you’ll find accounting cheat sheets and practice questions.
Follow him on: Youtube, Twitter
Check out: Accounting Basics: A Guide to (Almost) Everything
2. Tom Hood
With over three-quarters of a million followers across LinkedIn and Twitter, Tom Hood is an influential person in the accounting world. A CPA with decades of experience, he was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame in 2015 by Practice Advisor.
Tom’s currently EVP of Business and Growth at the Association of International CPAs. He’s also CEO and co-founder at the Business Learning Institute. Follow him for expert thoughts on the latest accounting and business trends.
Follow him on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: Riding the Waves of Transformation
3. Jody Padar
Our list of the best influencers wouldn’t be complete without Jody Padar, author of From Success to Significance: The Radical CPA Guide. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the accounting world by Accounting Today.
Jody currently heads up tax strategy at software company April. Before that, she was VP of Strategy at Botkeeper, a workflow automation software for accounting and bookkeeping firms. Her hands-on experience in public accounting, tax, and technology makes her the perfect person to follow for the latest industry trends.
Follow her on: Twitter, LinkedIn
Check out: How Accounting and Fintech are Evolving
4. Jason Blumer
Jason Blumer is the CEO of the accounting firm Blumer CPAs. He’s also the founder and CEO of Thriveal CPA Network and the co-host of The Thrivecast podcast. So it’s fair to say he knows a thing or two about accounting.
Besides his business ventures, Jason is an active writer, speaker, consultant, and investor. He’s the author of The Challenger’s Almanac and the eBook The Intimacies of Pricing Your Customer.
Follow him on: Twitter, LinkedIn
Check out: Leading an Atypical Firm
5. Kelly Phillips Erb
Known in the industry as Tax Girl, Kelly Phillips is a popular accounting influencer and tax expert. A former Senior Editor at Forbes, Kelly now writes for Bloomberg Tax and Accounting as well as her own blog. She’s also the host of the Taxgirl podcast.
Kelly has written four accounting books, including the best-selling 100 Things You Need to Know About Money. Follow her on social media for her latest tax-related stories, ideas, and reflections.
Follow her on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: 10 Things You Can Do to Get Ready for Tax Season Now
6. Amy Vetter
Amy Vetter is a CPA and popular influencer, author, and keynote speaker. Outside of the regular business world, she’s a yoga teacher, and her content often stands at the intersection of these two different worlds.
Amy hosts a podcast called Breaking Beliefs, which explores how to break the habits that are holding us back from success in life and business. Amy also offers business consulting services.
Follow her on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube
Check out: Being Coachable: What It Takes to Provide and Receive Constructive Feedback
7. Greg Kyte
A CPA and stand-up comedian, Greg Kyte brings some much-needed comic relief to the accounting world. He describes himself as “the de facto world’s greatest accounting cartoonist,” and we’re entitled to agree.
A natural entertainer, Greg has been MC at several big accounting events, including Xero’s Xerocon and Thriveal’s Deeper Weekend conference. Check out his Twitter feed for his unique perspective and witty accounting-related cartoons.
Follow him on: Twitter
Check out: Where Accountants Go episode #199
8. Dawn Brolin
Dawn Brolin is a CPA and CEO of Powerful Accounting, a US-based firm that specialises in accounting, tax, forensics, and fraud. A true thought leader in the accounting space, she’s the author of The Designated Motivator.
Dawn has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting. She’s also a motivational speaker, accounting trainer, and coach. She hosts the DM Disruption podcast, where she’s known for her high-energy, positive approach.
Follow her on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube
Check out: dawnbrolin.com
9. Blake Oliver
Blake Oliver is an experienced CPA and co-host of the Cloud Accounting Podcast, officially the most popular podcast in the accounting and bookkeeping industry. He also writes a popular blog that he describes as “at the intersection of accounting and technology.”
Blake has been named among the Top 100 Most Influential People by Accounting Today and is one of CPA Practice Advisor’s 40 Under 40. He’s a true thought leader in the accounting profession, and his primary focus is providing expertise on accounting tech and tools.
Follow him on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: How Tech Can Increase Conversions and Revenue for Accounting Firms
10. Geni Whitehouse
A former CPA firm partner, Geni Whitehouse is an accounting influencer with decades of experience and knowledge. As the founder of The Thoughtful Advisor, she helps accountants communicate financial information more clearly, enabling them to build better client relationships.
Geni is also an accounting author, blogger, speaker, coach, and management consultant. She was named a Top 25 Thought Leader by CPA Practice Advisor and has almost 150k followers on LinkedIn, where she posts regular articles.
Follow her on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: How Accountants Can Help Their Clients as They Grow
11. Sylvia Dion
Sylvia Dion is the founder and managing tax partner at PrietoDion Consulting Partners, a tax and accounting firm based in the US. An EY alumni, she brings over 25 years of experience in the accounting world to her social media channels.
She’s also an active tax writer, blogger, and public speaker. Unsurprisingly, she was named among the Top 10 Influential Women in Accounting and Tax in 2023 by Canopy, a company that builds accounting practice management software.
Follow her on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: 7 Key Points Foreign Sellers Should Know About US State Tax
12. Bill Sheridan
Another accounting influencer is Bill Sheridan, a seasoned CPA with tons of experience to share. Besides his role as CCO at the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), he’s a content creator, author, and public speaker. He was named among accounting’s Most Influential People for 2016.
At MACPA, Bill hosts a podcast series called Future-Proof with Bill Sheridan. He also writes the organisation’s blog. Follow him on Twitter for highly relevant takes on accounting, technology, and the future.
Follow him on: Twitter
Check out: 2022 in Review: The MACPA’s Top Podcasts and Blog Posts
13. Jason Andrew
Jason Andrew is the co-founder of SBO, an accounting and finance business, and the Arbor Group, a business that helps entrepreneurs accelerate their growth. He’s also the author of the popular book Stark Naked Numbers, which is packed full of accounting wisdom and secrets.
Jason is very active on LinkedIn, where he offers tips and tricks relating to accounting, tax, and building successful businesses from the ground up. Give him a follow!
Follow in on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: What your accountant doesn’t tell you: Here’s why business owners have the edge in tax savings
14. Aly Garret and Andrew Van De Beek
The only double act on our list, Aly Garret and Andrew Van de Beek are the hosts of the amazing Aly & Andrews All Aussie Accounting Adventures podcast. Besides their apparent love of accounting and alliteration, this duo are pretty damn hilarious. No wonder they’ve been making waves in the Australian accounting industry.
Check out their podcast for the inside scoop on how to run a successful accounting firm. Their individual social accounts are also worth a look for humour-infused nuggets of accounting gold.
Follow her on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Follow him on: LinkedIn, Twitter
Check out: To Outsource or Not to Outsource
15. Jason Staats
Not only is Jason a qualified CPA, he’s also a serial entrepreneur. He runs his own accounting firm, builds SaaS products, and sells startups. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also active across social channels, where he shares wisdom and experience in a uniquely humorous way.
Check out his popular Youtube channel, where he talks about accounting technology, automation, and how to build modern, forward-thinking accounting firms.
Follow him on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube
Check out: New Tech For Accountants
