The Future of Accounting is Human

Karl Paadam made partner at PwC Estonia at 26, spent a decade in tech, and came back to build United Accountants on a contrarian thesis: the future of accounting is human. He joins Blake to explain how a firm can hand bookkeeping, categorization, and reconciliation to an AI operating system that layers on top of whatever software a firm already runs, freeing CPAs to keep their local brand and focus on judgment and advisory work. They also get into outcomes-based pricing, what it means to build "the first big small firm," and why the accountant who ignores AI is the one who gets replaced.

Chapters

(00:00) - Welcome Karl Paadam to the Earmark Podcast

(01:51) - Building a Practice

(02:40) - Leaving PwC for Tech

(03:29) - Accounting Is Human

(05:17) - Advisory Skills Shift

(06:35) - AI Productivity in Practice

(09:25) - United OS Walkthrough

(10:34) - Partner Model Keep Brand

(14:50) - Integrations No Rip Replace

(18:44) - First Big Small Firm