--- title: "Leading the shift to AI-first accounting with Jody Padar" description: "Building a successful firm requires more than just number-crunching; it demands foresight, adaptability, and a willingness to innovate." url: "https://www.decimal.com/resources/leading-the-shift-to-ai-first-accounting-with-jody-padar" --- Episode 27 # Leading the shift to AI-first accounting with Jody Padar April 9, 2025 53 min listen [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hs1ejDIq1kdywk8J2tcC9?si=81dd66a3635f47af) [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-the-shift-to-ai-first-accounting-with-jody-padar/id1739009037?i=1000702841198) [YouTube](https://youtu.be/64TN7APRZE4) For the Radical CPA, [Jody Padar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jody-padar-18a9711/), embracing the ever-changing landscape of accounting has been crucial. From pioneering cloud accounting to mentoring others in adopting technology, Jody’s career is a testament to transformative leadership. She has discovered that accounting is about more than transactions, and that they’re more about making meaningful impacts in clients’ lives through strategic, outcome-based approaches. In this episode, Jody explores her journey from launching her firm to becoming a leader in AI integration for accounting. Her passion for technology has been her driving motivation, and believes aligning technology with business problems is essential. Whether you’re an accounting professional or an entrepreneur in any field, you’ll find her expertise on growth, technology adoption, and redefining business models invaluable. **In this episode, you’ll learn:** - **Why adopting a growth mindset is crucial:** Adaptability is key for accountants facing rapid technological change. Embracing unknowns can lead to growth. - **The importance of aligning technology with business needs:** Successful firm transformation starts by identifying business problems before choosing technology solutions. - **How AI can elevate strategic advisory roles:** AI is not replacing accountants, rather freeing them to become the strategic advisors clients need. **Jump into the conversation**: (00:00) Meet Jody Padar (02:13) Pioneering the cloud business model in accounting (05:10) Defining the AI-first firm and preparing for 2030 (08:59) The necessity of a growth mindset for navigating change (12:06) Leveraging personal agency in career development (17:38) Intentional work-life balance design in accounting (26:11) Productization and business model shifts in firms (36:33) Enhancing advisory roles through AI-driven insights (44:59) The evolving role of accountants with AI integration (47:29) Embracing change, applying tech, and the future of accounting Decimal’s franchise model gives accountants AI-first infrastructure on day one, so owners can focus on advisory work instead of stitching the stack together. Learn more at [franchise.decimal.com](https://franchise.decimal.com/). Share this post [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.decimal.com%2Fresources%2Fleading-the-shift-to-ai-first-accounting-with-jody-padar.html "Share on LinkedIn")[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.decimal.com%2Fresources%2Fleading-the-shift-to-ai-first-accounting-with-jody-padar.html&text=Leading%20the%20shift%20to%20AI-first%20accounting%20with%20Jody%20Padar "Share on X")[](mailto:?subject=Leading%20the%20shift%20to%20AI-first%20accounting%20with%20Jody%20Padar&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.decimal.com%2Fresources%2Fleading-the-shift-to-ai-first-accounting-with-jody-padar.html "Share via email") ## More Resources [ ![Bookkeeping Firms Don't Have a Tool Problem. They Have a Too Many Tools Problem.](https://www.decimal.com/images/uploads/BLOG%20IMAGES.png) Blog ### Bookkeeping Firms Don't Have a Tool Problem. They Have a Too Many Tools Problem. Financial Cents surveyed 261 bookkeeping firms and the clearest thing that came back was that firms don't want more tools. They want fewer. This blog breaks down what the 2026 Tech Stack Report actually found, what tool sprawl is costing firms in real and specific terms, why most AI products are pointing at the wrong problem, and what Decimal is building to address everything that happens around the books, not just in them. Sep 23, 2026 ](https://www.decimal.com/resources/bookkeeping-firms-don-t-have-a-tool-problem-they-have-a-too-many-tools-problem)[ ![Is Your Small Business Ready for Its First Hire: Here Is How to Tell](https://www.decimal.com/images/uploads/275.png) Blog ### Is Your Small Business Ready for Its First Hire: Here Is How to Tell Hiring a first employee is one of the most significant decisions a small business owner makes and affordability is only part of the equation. This blog walks through the five questions every owner should be able to answer before making the hire, covering whether revenue is consistent enough to sustain a salary through slow periods, whether the workload genuinely requires more capacity, whether cash flow holds up under a stress test, whether the compliance infrastructure is ready, and whether the role is specific enough to set the hire up for success. The core message is that good timing on a first hire isn't just about being able to afford it. It's about being ready for everything that comes with it. Sep 21, 2026 ](https://www.decimal.com/resources/is-your-small-business-ready-for-its-first-hire-here-is-how-to-tell)[ ![The Case for Owning a Decimal Franchise Over Starting Your Own Accounting Firm](https://www.decimal.com/images/uploads/274.png) Blog ### The Case for Owning a Decimal Franchise Over Starting Your Own Accounting Firm Starting an accounting firm from scratch is a legitimate path but the honest conversation about what it actually requires, years of infrastructure building, brand development, and costly wrong turns, doesn't get had often enough. This blog makes the case for the Decimal franchise model as a smarter alternative, covering what independent firm founders actually spend their first years doing, what a Decimal franchise starts with instead, the specific market it was built to serve, the trade-offs worth understanding going in, and who the model is actually the right fit for. The tone is honest rather than promotional, written for someone seriously weighing their options. Sep 18, 2026 ](https://www.decimal.com/resources/the-case-for-owning-a-decimal-franchise-over-starting-your-own-accounting-firm) [All Resources](https://www.decimal.com/resources) ## Stay up to date Stay up to date with Decimal and get our monthly newsletter to stay informed on industry trends, financial best practices, and Decimal news. Thanks! We'll be in touch. Oops! Something went wrong, please try again. ← Try again