In a world drowning in AI hype and LinkedIn noise, finding the right accounting voices can feel like scrolling through static. Especially when you’re running a firm where uptime, client data security, and compliance aren’t optional, they’re everything!
And in 2025, the stakes are even higher. IRS WISP enforcement is now real. AI-generated content is everywhere. And cybersecurity risks are hitting firms of all sizes, not just the Big Four.
That’s why we curated this list.
Built for CPAs and firm owners (solo to 50 staff), these are the accounting influencers actually worth your time in 2025. You won’t find celebrity names or follower counts here, just practical, proven thinkers whose content helps you secure your stack, price your services better, streamline your ops, and stay ahead of regulation churn.
Whether you’re tuning in for tech picks, pricing moves, or compliance updates, every person on this list publishes consistently and offers signal, not noise.
Table of Contents Show
How We Picked
Most influencer lists prioritize clout. We prioritized what actually moves the needle inside accounting firms: security, uptime, workflow efficiency, and pricing clarity.
This wasn’t a popularity contest. It was a litmus test.
If a voice didn’t consistently help firms operate safer, smarter, or more profitably, they didn’t make the cut.
1. Only those active and publishing in 2025
We ruled out legacy names and once-a-quarter posters. Every person on this list shares useful, time-relevant content this year, through podcasts, YouTube, newsletters, or in-depth LinkedIn posts.
2. Teaches what makes firms stronger
We looked for insight that’s immediately usable:
- SOP-ready workflows
- Security-aware app stack advice
- Pricing shifts that improve margins
- Compliance knowledge that keeps you audit-ready
3. Trusted by professionals, not just platforms
Everyone listed is a licensed CPA, seasoned advisor, or cited expert. Their advice shapes real firm decisions, not just LinkedIn impressions.
4. Helps you operationalize, not just understand
It’s not enough to explain AI, tax law, or value pricing. These voices show you how to apply it: what to test, how to implement, and where to start.
5. Focused on outcomes, not algorithms
Their content improves core metrics:
- Reduced compliance risk
- Smoother internal processes
- Higher realization rates
- Better client experiences
That’s the bar we set. These are the people who cleared it.
Top 12 Accounting Influencers You Should Follow in 2025
1. Logan Graf, CPA
Best for: Short-form tax insights, modern firm transparency, and Gen Z client communication
Why he made the list:
Because Logan is redefining what tax education looks like in a digital-first world. He blends technical accuracy with real-world humor and brutal transparency, making him one of the most watched tax professionals in the U.S.
What to expect in 2025:
Known for his viral content on TikTok and Instagram Reels, Logan simplifies complex IRS updates, audit flags, and tax myths in ways even non-CPAs understand. In 2025, he’s doubling down on compliance education, taxpayer awareness, and exposing misinformation with receipts and regulation-backed responses.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Most CPAs don’t have reach outside of LinkedIn. Logan does, and he uses it to counter misinformation that could eventually affect your clients’ expectations. He also openly shares firm-building lessons, pricing decisions, and behind-the-scenes wins and mistakes.
How this helps your firm:
If you’re training staff, modernizing your marketing, or trying to reach digital-first clients, Logan is a playbook. His content helps preempt misinformed questions and build client trust with transparency and tone that still respects compliance.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
2. Blake Oliver, CPA
Best for: AI and policy analysis, CPE through content, staying ahead of industry shifts
Why he made the list:
Because no one breaks down complex accounting trends faster and more usefully, than Blake. If your firm needs to stay policy-aware without drowning in legalese, start here.
What to expect in 2025:
Blake co-hosts The Accounting Podcast (formerly Cloud Accounting Podcast) and runs Earmark, a CPE platform where you earn credits by listening to curated podcasts. He’s an expert at tracking policy changes from the IRS, SEC, and state boards and translating them into real implications for firm owners. This year, he’s going deeper into how AI is being regulated, how app vendors are shifting data responsibility, and what firm M&A means for small practices.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
He doesn’t just talk about the what, he gives the who and why, naming specific software vendors, policy officials, and audit frameworks that matter in your risk posture. His CPE app, Earmark, is also quietly becoming a hub for top-tier compliance education at scale.
How this helps your firm:
Blake’s podcast lets you track IRS regulation changes, AI risk signals, and cyber liability issues while you commute or walk your dog. Use his insights to trigger WISP updates, inform your client consent language, and educate your team without sourcing new content yourself.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
3. Jason Staats, CPA
Best for: Firm automation, AI workflow design, and building calm, scalable ops
Why he made the list:
Because no one else is showing small firm owners how to blend automation, delegation, and profitability without burning out.
What to expect in 2025:
Jason publishes weekly videos breaking down real accounting firm systems, like lead-to-onboarding automations, client deliverable dashboards, and AI agent workflows. His approach is practical: he shares screen recordings, templates, and test runs that show what’s working and what’s not. In 2025, he’s also experimenting with AI-based client communication, client-sentiment triggers, and client education workflows using embedded video.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Jason’s content isn’t just about how to automate, it’s about how to make it worth it. He talks honestly about sunk costs, failed tools, and team adoption challenges. He also shares how he trains his team to work asynchronously with high trust and minimal back-and-forth, something most firms struggle with.
How this helps your firm:
Jason’s frameworks are SOP-ready. They let you document repeatable, tech-enabled processes, reduce team bandwidth drain, and improve performance without sacrificing control. They’re also perfect for solo firms trying to look bigger without increasing overhead.
4. Geni Whitehouse, CPA.CITP
Best for: Client storytelling, advisory mindset, and tech-human balance
Why she made the list:
Because she teaches firms how to deliver high-value advisory without overwhelming clients, or sacrificing trust in a tech-heavy workflow.
What to expect in 2025:
Geni’s content focuses on turning data into conversations clients actually care about. Through her books, keynotes, and Thought Leader Academy, she helps firms shift from compliance-driven services to high-trust advisory by using plain language, clean visuals, and better listening. In 2025, she’s leaning into how AI tools can support, not replace, empathy in advisory.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
She doesn’t just teach “talk to clients more.” Geni gives repeatable frameworks for advisory conversations, team training tools for EQ in reporting, and advice on pricing conversations most firms avoid. She also advocates for secure, digestible client comms, especially when handling sensitive financial data.
How this helps your firm:
Her approach helps reduce friction in advisory onboarding, improve retention, and eliminate value leakage. If you’re trying to offer CFO-style services while staying compliant and trustworthy, Geni gives you the blueprint.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
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5. Hector Garcia, CPA
Best for: QuickBooks (QBO + Desktop) mastery, firm training, and data integrity
Why he made the list:
Because he’s the gold standard for accounting software training, and your firm’s QBO mistakes cost you time, money, and security.
What to expect in 2025:
Hector continues to publish some of the most detailed, workflow-oriented YouTube tutorials on QuickBooks Online, Desktop, and integrated tools like Excel, Power BI, and Zoho. In 2025, he’s covering updated reporting tools, multi-user role permissions, and QBO Advanced features that impact data control and auditability.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Hector’s channel isn’t just about features, it’s about process. He walks through real-world setups (inventory, multi-entity consolidation, user access audits) that reduce the risk of downstream errors, client confusion, and security gaps.
How this helps your firm:
His training lets you onboard new staff faster, tighten internal controls, and reduce time spent on corrections. It’s also a must-follow for firms using hosted QuickBooks environments, where clean setups and staff compliance directly affect uptime and system integrity.
6. Kelly Phillips Erb (“TaxGirl”)
Best for: Tax law translation, IRS updates, and plain-English compliance news
Why she made the list:
Because no one distills IRS language, tax court rulings, and new regulation shifts into readable, useful content quite like Kelly.
What to expect in 2025:
A tax attorney by training, Kelly writes for Forbes, Bloomberg Tax, and her own blog, breaking down deductions, deadlines, and rulings with precision and clarity. In 2025, she’s covering the WISP rollout, IRS modernization initiatives, and state-level conformity debates, all in ways firm owners can actually use.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
While most tax content is bloated or overly legal, Kelly’s voice is both accurate and approachable. She also tracks fringe cases that later become precedent, making her feed a goldmine for identifying risk early.
How this helps your firm:
Her updates help you avoid compliance surprises, train staff with confidence, and communicate clearly with clients on shifting rules. Use her content to align your SOPs, engagement letters, and WISP documentation with the latest interpretations, without hours of research.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
7. Jody Padar, CPA
Best for: Firm reinvention, AI-driven practice models, and modern staffing
Why she made the list:
Because she’s not afraid to challenge how firms are supposed to work, and actually shows what the next generation of accounting can look like.
What to expect in 2025:
Known as The Radical CPA, Jody continues to lead the conversation on AI-native firm design, value-focused pricing, and alternative staffing models. Her Substack newsletter and LinkedIn feed explore topics like AI agents in client workflows, building remote-first teams, and converting traditional compliance shops into subscription-based advisory firms.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Jody doesn’t romanticize disruption, she operationalizes it. She shares how firm owners can test new models without burning their books down, and how to rebuild team culture in a hybrid or AI-assisted environment.
How this helps your firm:
Her insights can help you restructure legacy workflows, reduce your dependence on seasonal crunch, and realign your service model around recurring, profitable, and secure delivery, even with a leaner headcount.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
8. Ron Baker
Best for: Pricing strategy, subscription model adoption, and killing the billable hour
Why he made the list:
Because if your firm still bills hourly in 2025, you’re probably leaking value, and no one has mapped a better alternative than Ron.
What to expect in 2025:
Ron is the original voice behind the value pricing movement in accounting. Through The Soul of Enterprise podcast, CPA Trendlines articles, and firm consulting, he continues to push firms toward subscription models that prioritize outcomes, not inputs. In 2025, he’s highlighting how pricing impacts trust, client retention, and service capacity, all tied to firm performance metrics.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Ron goes beyond “price higher.” He explains the psychology behind pricing conversations, how to scope for value, and how to position packages that improve realization and client experience, without exposing your team to burnout or legal exposure.
How this helps your firm:
Shifting away from hourly billing can reduce disputes, increase forecasting accuracy, and lower delivery risk. Ron’s frameworks let you protect revenue while building a more resilient firm, especially when tech makes effort less visible.
9. Ryan Lazanis, CPA
Best for: Scalable systems, firm packaging, and automation-as-a-service
Why he made the list:
Because he actually built and sold a cloud accounting firm, and now teaches others how to scale without sacrificing service or sanity.
What to expect in 2025:
Through the Future Firm Weekly Top 5 newsletter and podcast, Ryan curates what firm owners need to know to grow sustainably. He focuses on client onboarding automation, workflow design, pricing packages, and team capacity planning. His frameworks are light on theory and heavy on execution, ideal for ops-minded owners.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Ryan’s gift is translating firm vision into clean, operational design. He doesn’t overhype tools, he shows where automation makes sense, how to test before rollout, and how to staff around system constraints.
How this helps your firm:
His content helps eliminate client bottlenecks, reduce dependency on high-touch workflows, and design service delivery that scales, without exposing your data, uptime, or client experience to risk.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
10. David Leary
Best for: App ecosystem picks, vendor-level insights, and tech signals
Why he made the list:
Because he doesn’t just follow apps, he’s helped build the ecosystem. David brings unmatched context to how accounting tech is evolving behind the scenes.
What to expect in 2025:
David co-hosts The Accounting Podcast with Blake Oliver and often brings in app founders, industry analysts, and insiders to break down what’s changing in the small business tech space. This year, he’s tracking how AI is changing accounting software roadmaps, which vendors are investing in compliance controls, and which platforms may be sunsetting quietly.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
David speaks from the vantage point of a former Intuit insider. He understands how platform strategy decisions affect your firm’s long-term toolset, support SLAs, and client experience downstream. Most influencers don’t.
How this helps your firm:
Knowing which vendors are quietly pivoting (or cutting features) helps you make smarter tech decisions. That directly impacts data integrity, staff efficiency, and cybersecurity exposure, especially in a hosted or hybrid environment.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
11. Randy Johnston
Best for: Cybersecurity, compliance frameworks, and strategic tech adoption
Why he made the list:
Because most accounting influencers avoid talking about IT risk, and Randy has spent decades teaching firms how to manage it.
What to expect in 2025:
As an executive at K2 Enterprises and a leading voice on accounting tech strategy, Randy speaks on everything from multi-factor authentication and device management to vendor due diligence and disaster recovery. This year, he’s focusing on how firms should interpret FTC Safeguards rules, optimize remote access, and harden their overall IT environment.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Randy is often one of the only educators connecting tech stack decisions to actual compliance requirements. While others recommend apps, he breaks down how those tools impact SOC 2, IRS WISP, and client trust.
How this helps your firm:
His advice protects your uptime, your audit trail, and your reputation. If you’re running a remote or hybrid firm, or storing any client data in the cloud, Randy is a must-follow.
12. Amanda Aguillard, CPA
Best for: Cloud practice strategy, modern firm training, and education-first tech enablement
Why she made the list:
Because Amanda was advocating for cloud accounting, remote teams, and standardized tech stacks before it became the norm—and she’s still leading from the front.
What to expect in 2025:
Amanda is the founder of Padgett’s advisory wing and co-founder of Elefant, a cloud accounting education platform. She’s regularly speaking at conferences and building programs that help firms adopt the cloud—not just as tech, but as a mindset shift. In 2025, she’s focusing on client collaboration, data security across SaaS, and leveraging standardization for both compliance and efficiency.
What others miss (but you shouldn’t):
Amanda doesn’t just teach tech—she teaches implementation. She’s also one of the few leaders openly talking about how to train and upskill teams in remote-first environments, with controls that align with SOC 2 and IRS expectations.
How this helps your firm:
Her frameworks reduce rework, improve team onboarding, and help firms comply with security and workflow requirements—without adding tools that no one uses. If you’re scaling cloud delivery or launching remote teams, Amanda’s insights save you years of trial and error.
Follow on: Website | LinkedIn | X
How to Use This List
This isn’t a list to passively follow. It’s a toolkit, one you can use weekly to strengthen your firm from the inside out.
Start by setting aside one hour each week to learn. Think of it as your firm’s weekly upgrade window. Choose one podcast from Blake Oliver, Ron Baker, or David Leary. Add one practical video or teardown from Jason Staats or Ryan Lazanis. Then round it out with a compliance or tax update from someone like Kelly Phillips Erb or Randy Johnston. You don’t need to binge everything. Just build a recurring “learning stack” you can actually stick with.
From there, pick one idea to implement each week. Not five. Just one. Maybe it’s a better way to scope fixed-fee work. Or a QuickBooks role permission setting you hadn’t considered. Or a clearer way to explain IRS WISP compliance to a nervous client. Whatever it is, document it. Add it to your SOPs. Build the habit of turning insight into internal change.
When you come across something that impacts security, access controls, or regulatory posture, treat it as a trigger. That means updating your WISP, your team checklists, or your client data handling protocols. If your firm doesn’t have a WISP yet, or it’s outdated, Verito’s IRS WISP template is the best place to start. The template gives you a secure baseline, but the insights from this list will help you evolve it over time.
Don’t keep what you learn to yourself. Share one takeaway each week in your team Slack, firm newsletter, or weekly stand-up. Assign someone to act on it. When the entire team builds the habit of implementing small changes weekly, your operations get tighter without ever needing to “pause” client work.
Finally, revisit your follow list every quarter. Unfollow the voices that have gone quiet or stopped delivering signal. Stay close to the ones who consistently challenge how you operate, for the better. That’s how you avoid overwhelm and build a system that works.
Conclusion
The accounting profession doesn’t reward speed. It rewards sound judgment. And sound judgment depends on what and who you listen to.
In 2025, the noise has never been louder. AI-generated advice floods your feed. Vendor marketing blurs the line between education and sales. And half the content online is written by people who’ve never run a firm, hired a staff accountant, or faced a data breach.
This list cuts through all of that.
The 10 voices we’ve included aren’t here because they’re famous. They’re here because they consistently teach firm owners how to think clearly, act decisively, and operate securely. They help you read policy before it becomes penalty. Spot risk before it becomes fallout. And implement processes before your team burns out.
But influence only matters if you use it.
Follow these experts. Subscribe to the content that fits your firm’s needs. Then take what you learn and feed it back into your operations, whether that’s updating a security protocol, tweaking your pricing model, or replacing a clunky client onboarding flow.
Make this list part of your firm’s weekly operating system. Build a learning loop your team can count on. And when you hear something that touches compliance, update your WISP, not next month, not next year, but now. Your risk posture won’t improve on its own.
Because in the world of modern accounting, staying compliant, secure, and operationally lean isn’t a competitive edge, it’s the baseline.
Secure, compliant, and fast IT shouldn’t be a wish list.
Use Verito’s free IRS WISP template to get your foundation right. Then explore VeritSpace and VeritGuard to see how modern firms scale without compromise.
FAQs
What makes someone an accounting influencer in 2025?
An accounting influencer today needs to do more than go viral or post hot takes. They must consistently publish content that helps firm owners make better decisions, whether that’s around security, compliance, pricing, or operations. In 2025, real influence looks like showing your work, naming your sources, and teaching things that actually change how firms operate. If they’re not helping you run your firm better or reduce risk, they’re just noise.
Should smaller firms focus more on tax, tech, or pricing voices?
That depends on what your current bottleneck is. If you’re struggling with deadlines, outdated processes, or overworked staff, tech and workflow voices will help you unlock capacity. If you’re billing inconsistently or feel like you’re undercharging, focus on pricing and packaging. Tax voices are essential when you’re scaling client complexity or updating planning strategy. Most firms will need a blend, but the best ROI usually starts where you’re losing the most time or revenue.
How do I avoid wasting time on hype or shallow content?
The best filter is simple: if you can’t apply it, ignore it. Too much content in 2025 is performative, built for engagement, not education. Look for influencers who post implementation details, not just opinions. If they’re walking through real tools, sharing policy interpretations, or showing the before-and-after of a system they built, that’s a green flag. The moment you realize you’re reading advice that was written for clicks instead of firms, move on.
Where does compliance content fit into my learning stack?
Right at the core. Security and compliance aren’t a department, they’re embedded in every client engagement, every tool you use, every pricing model you launch. Influencers like Randy Johnston and Kelly Phillips Erb give you the practical, timely updates you need to keep your IRS WISP current, your firm policies defensible, and your client data protected. Ignoring compliance content is like skipping insurance because nothing’s broken today.
How often should I clean up who I follow?
Once every quarter is a healthy rhythm. If someone hasn’t taught you something new or usable in 90 days, they’re not helping you move forward. You don’t need 50 influencers in your feed, you need 5 who consistently make your firm better. Overfollowing leads to noise fatigue, indecision, and wasted time. Keep your learning stack lean, relevant, and based on the areas your firm is actively improving.
Are paid newsletters or CPE podcasts worth the investment?
In most cases, yes, if they offer specificity, templates, or implementation guidance. Blake Oliver’s Earmark, for example, turns passive listening into CPE credits, which makes it both time-efficient and compliance-relevant. Ryan Lazanis’ newsletter is another example: it filters out junk and sends you high-quality, weekly improvements you can apply immediately. If a paid resource saves you hours, protects your data, or raises your pricing confidence, it’s not a cost, it’s leverage.
Is LinkedIn still the best place to engage with accounting influencers?
LinkedIn is still useful for following commentary, initiating conversations, and keeping up with surface-level trends. But most of the influencers who made this list publish their most actionable content elsewhere, on Substack, YouTube, newsletters, or dedicated podcasts. Use LinkedIn as your discovery tool, but subscribe where the depth lives. That’s where the real operational value is.
Note: This list is independently curated by Verito’s editorial team. We do not accept payment for inclusion. We prioritized practicality, consistency, and credibility over raw follower counts.
