The Strategic Mirror Facing Accounting Firms IN 2026

In this episode of Accounting Voices, we continue our Reflections 2025 series with a different kind of question:

What moment actually changed how leaders think about the accounting profession?

Across 48 conversations, a clear pattern emerged.

2025 became the year the profession was forced to look in the mirror — and many leaders didn’t like what they saw.

This episode explores the assumptions that quietly collapsed:

1. The idea that technical excellence alone is enough to survive
2. The belief that only accountants can run accounting firms
3. The illusion that private equity is a guaranteed exit
4. The comfort of reactive advisory instead of proactive leadership
5. And the dangerous gap between AI experimentation and governance

From the Deloitte Australia AI scandal, to the rise of non-accountant COOs, to push-button data migrations eliminating long-accepted friction, this conversation maps the strategic fault lines now defining the profession.

You’ll hear insights from leaders including:

1. Alice Grey Harrison on the irony of firms failing to give themselves strategic advice
2. Sagar Ahuja on the quiet death of partner consensus
3. Becky Livingston on governance failures masquerading as AI failures
4. Trow Trowbridge on the cost of being reactive
5. Ira Rosenbloom on the myths surrounding private equity
6. Ben Taylor on why long-held technology assumptions finally broke

At its core, this episode asks a confronting question:

If your firm were your own client, would you still be hired?

2025 wasn’t about better tools.

It was about better thinking.

And once the mirror is held up, you can’t unsee what’s reflected.

You can watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/3NKN3q3dfsY

Come and join our Accounting Voices Collective on Linkedin to find out more about our shows and virtual networking events: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accounting-voices

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The Accounting Voices Podcast serves accounting firm leaders, managers and partners looking to build their executive presence, influence and credibility both internally and externally. Host Rob Brown delivers insights to help professionals strengthen their personal brand, stay informed about industry changes and navigate disruptive forces affecting accounting business models and trends. Check out the show on your preferred podcast app or platform, or go to the Accounting Voices YouTube channel for all of the episodes in video format. https://www.youtube.com/@accountingvoices

Rob works with consultants/experts in the accounting space via personal interviews to create video snippets and thought leadership pieces. If you have success stories, valued expertise or a brand that needs amplifying, but lack the time to create thought leadership or video content, chat with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

If you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Rob Brown on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore.