Join us for Amplify Nashville this September 19-21 and connect with some of the brightest minds around. Register now: https://www.workiva.com/amplify.To learn more about Robert Coplan and his work check out robertcoplan.com. And you can get his books here:The Handbook of Solitude: Psychological Perspectives on Social Isolation, Social Withdrawal, and Being Alone, 2nd EditionQuiet at SchoolThe Development of Shyness and Social Withdrawal

Show notes:Ask Steve Soter and Mark Mellen your own questions in person at Amplify. Register now.Subscribe to Off the Books! Hit the “subscribe” button on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Find every episode of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

Show notes:For a quick look at what’s in the proposed SEC climate disclosure rule and how to prepare for it, check out this infographic.Subscribe to Off the Books! Hit the “subscribe” button on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Find every episode of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

Show notes:Here’s the survey Steve mentioned that shows executives proactively planning to comply with proposed climate-related disclosure rules.See what else Josh has said about turning uncertainty into opportunities for CFOs and controllers.You can hear more from Josh at Amplify, Workiva’s annual conference, where he will speak about building a resilient accounting team.Subscribe and listen to all the episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast.

Show notes:Michelle Leder is the author of the book Financial Fine Print: Uncovering a Company’s True Value. She also runs footnoted* and the site’s subscription newsletter, Friday Night Dump, where she uncovers juicy tidbits within SEC filings. Her free newsletter is available via LinkedIn.Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

Show notes:Review which movies the crew originally considered when producer Mike Gravagno asked them to find the best accounting movie.Tell us what they got right and wrong about the movies they’ve debated so far:The Shawshank RedemptionGhostbustersMoonstruckThe UntouchablesEverything Everywhere All at OnceFind all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

Show notes:Financial reporting professionals for private, public, nonprofit, or government organizations can join the SEC Professionals Group (it’s free!) to catch all of David’s comments from the Pro Group Q1 meeting.Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

Show notes:As Mary mentioned in this episode, her office hours at Bread and Butter Ventures are open to anyone. Learn more.Find all episodes of Off the Books at workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

Jonathan Johnson, who became CEO of Overstock after founder Patrick Byrne resigned, chats with Catherine and Steve about the “G” in ESG, cryptocurrency, and setting the tone from the top. During his career at Overstock and elsewhere, Jonathan has served as a general counsel and CFO, giving him an appreciation for strong corporate governance. Tune in!

Show Notes:The draft of the Global Internal Audit Standards is now available for public comment through May 30, 2023Check out the IIA’s yearly report, the Pulse of Internal Audit, which provides insights about internal audit budgets, staff, audit plans, risks, and moreGet more internal audit tips and takeaways for 2023

Show Notes:The Netflix docuseries Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street was directed by Joe Berlinger.Jim Campbell is the author of Madoff Talks: Uncovering the Untold Story Behind the Most Notorious Ponzi Scheme in History and was co-executive producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street. He is also assistant news director at WCGH-AM.Ali Levin, a co-producer of Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street, is also a comedian, impressionist, actor, writer, singer, and film producer.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ripple effects have left us with so many questions. Catherine and Steve sit down with former auditors Ernest Anunciacion and Josh Gertsch to try to answer them all. Let’s dive in.

Show notes:Review which movies the crew originally considered when producer Mike Gravagno asked them to find the best accounting movie.Tell us what they got right and wrong about the movies they’ve debated so far:The Shawshank RedemptionGhostbustersMoonstruckThe Untouchables

Catherine and Steve sat down with Jonathan Gregory, North America Controller for The Hershey Co., to discuss how he ended up with what has to be one of the sweetest accounting and finance jobs in Pennsylvania. Sink your teeth into this episode.

Nick Mazing of AlphaSense is back to cover a whirlwind of info related to Q4 2022 earnings. The crew covers what companies are saying about crypto, interest, inflation, and more hot topics in their annual reports. Plus, we asked ChatGPT to come up with our closing question of the day. What could go wrong? Listen in!

Read some of the latest news from Robert Half on hiring trends in accounting and finance and more:Employment trends and demand for skilled talentSalary guide for finance and accountingSurvey: Nearly half of U.S. workers plan to look for a new position in the new year

This 2022 episode is too relevant not to re-air this year. Black accountants are underrepresented in the profession, which matters as companies look at candidates to promote to CFO. Levongia Carrera shares what can help Black executives feel more supported in the workplace.

Learn more about the ESG Professionals Group, and join for free.

Review which movies the crew originally considered when Mike Gravagno asked them to find the best accounting movie.Tell us what they got right and wrong about the movies they’ve debated so far:The Shawshank RedemptionGhostbustersMoonstruck

Show notes:Read the study mentioned in this episode. The study was written by Alexander Dyck, Adair Morse, and  Luigi Zingales and was mentioned in the January 14, 2023, edition of DealBook.

For more of what Curt Steinhorst said about how leaders build trust and spark organizational confidence, watch his webinar on demand.Let us know what trends you’re seeing in your workplace. Take the 2023 workplace trends survey before February 28, 2023, for a chance to win a fitness mirror.

Kelly Davis of Outdoor Industry Association returns! The podcast crew interrupts Kelly’s time with her dogs to ask how market researchers can be a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) team’s best friend.

Would you stick around an extra year for $50,000? Shashank Aurora, Chief Financial Officer of Des Moines Public Schools, takes us behind the scenes of the school district’s offer to get retiring teachers to stay one more year.

We’re celebrating 100 episodes of Off the Books! Hear how it all started, and relive some of the best clips of the accounting podcast you know and love.

Catch a glimpse of the memes along with Mike and Catherine over on YouTube!

How is raising capital for a startup like having a pool party? Rich Maloy of SpringTime Ventures (and host of the VC Minute podcast) swings by Off the Books to make a splash! Watch now.

Part 2 of the conversation with Nicola White of Bloomberg and Alan Wilson of the law firm WilmerHale! Last week there were so many insights on the SEC, FASB, and crypto accounting that we had to keep the convo going. Catch the rest of the chat now.

Is it hot in here, or is it just the FASB? Nicola White of Bloomberg and Alan Wilson, CPA and securities attorney from WilmerHale, swing by to discuss the backstory and ramifications on a move to protect the Financial Standards Accounting Board from political interference—and get it to act a wee bit faster. Learn more.

YouTubers, drop a comment on what the crew got right and wrong:Want more movie episodes? Check them out here: The Super-Duper Best Accounting Movies of All Time: https://youtu.be/c_6GZnu3-gs Off the Books vs. The Shawshank Redemption: https://youtu.be/5WMPeAP-SSI Off the Books vs. Ghostbusters: https://youtu.be/GVNc9EREnnw

Here’s the attorney generals letter to BlackRock: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/executive-management/BlackRock%20Letter.pdfHere’s a response from BlackRock: https://thetexan.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BlackRock-Response-to-AGs-09062022_Final.pdfAnd this is what the New York City Comptroller sent BlackRock: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/comptroller-lander-sends-letter-to-blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-demanding-stronger-action-toward-net-zero-emissions-reduction-across-portfolio/Hear the Off the Books crew chatter on other accounting topics: https://www.workiva.com/off-the-books-podcast

On this between-seasons bonus episode, ESG Talk’s Mandi McReynolds joins Steve and Catherine to recap Workiva Amplify, the annual conference for ESG, finance, and risk folks. Hear how Amplify 2022 went all in on the bold future of transparency, plus listen to a clip from two keynote speakers: professional rock climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell!

A proposal to tax companies based on book income instead of their tax income was tucked into the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and that sure got Steve Soter and Josh Gertsch talking. Catherine soaks in why it’s such a big deal for accounting teams.

After a couple of years off, are you ready to mix and mingle at in-person industry events? Robert Coplan, developmental psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Carleton University, offers tips on how to ease back into real life gatherings so you can get the most out of conferences like Workiva Amplify this fall.

Recent headlines motivated Steve and Catherine to think about considerations organizations have when revealing not-so-great news. Brandon Ziegler returns to field their serious (and not-so-serious) questions about SEC investigations, disclosures, and more!

Mike Coke of Wilson Sonsini returns! This time Mike’s here to break down the state of capital markets and the SEC’s proposed rule around SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies)—plus new rules for everyday life.

It's not often that an audit firm walks away from a client, but there's always a story when it happens. Mike Disabato, host of the MSCI podcast ESG Now, breaks down auditor resignations with the Off the Books crew. Tune in:

If there’s something strange on your movie screen, who you gonna call? Off the Books! It’s time for another edition of the accounting movie bracket. Mike pits Catherine and Steve against the OG Ghostbusters! Does the film show the EPA as unfairly evil? How does it handle relationships? Is it even an accounting movie!?

Off the Books takes on the news! The Securities and Exchange Commission has received thousands of comments on its climate risk disclosure proposal. Catherine and Steve break down what stands out from the feedback on the proposed SEC climate disclosure rule. Tune in:

Camping season is upon us! The crew asks Kelly Davis, Director of Research for the Outdoor Industry Association, how she works with the office of finance and what outdoor trends she’s seeing. Then Steve and Catherine sneak in questions about skiing, and it’s all downhill from there. Listen in:

ESG Talk’s Mandi McReynolds joins Off the Books to give an ESG director’s point of view on the SEC’s climate disclosure proposal, while Steve offers the perspective of an SEC reporting director. Will they see eye to eye? Will Catherine have to give them a timeout? Will the Workiva podiverse ever be the same? Tune in:

Mike pits Catherine and Steve up against fan favorite The Shawshank Redemption. Does this Stephen King adaptation count as an accounting movie? Does its beloved reputation make sense? Is there ever such thing as TOO much Morgan Freeman narration? Tune in for the answers to all of the questions and more!

Wouldn't it be nice if crypto accounting were less ... cryptic? FASB, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, has finally said it will think about setting rules around accounting for certain digital assets like bitcoin. Ben Taylor of SoftLedger, whose accounting software can help automate cryptocurrency transactions, breaks it all down. Listen in.

The first part of season 3 is in the books (errr, off the books?), and it’s time to listen back to our deep conversations about career paths, what to disclose, and even the best accounting movies before we head out for spring break. Plus, a teaser for the new podcast from Mandi McReynolds!

As companies work to protect employees in Ukraine, they’re also making related adjustments in accounting and risk management. This week, Steve and Catherine are joined by Mike Ruble, an audit partner at PwC, to dig into issues from asset impairment to materiality to the risk of nationalization.

Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame recently spoke about ESG investing, so Catherine decided to make Steve share his unfiltered reactions to what Mr. Wonderful said.

The office loudmouth isn’t the only one swearing at work. A few executives have let an expletive—or eight—fly in public, according to transcripts analyzed by the AI-powered financial search engine Sentieo. Nick Mazing returns to give us the real shi—er, scoop.

Researchers say audit experience can influence a chief financial officer’s behavior—but not forever. Returning guest Josh Gertsch has worked with CFOs in a variety of ways and unleashes his expertise on the topic. Listen in:

Mike Whitmire wasn’t even a decade out from graduating with an accounting degree when he co-founded FloQast, a software company created by accountants for accountants in 2013. Mike shares how he became CEO of a startup, how he keeps blazing his own path, and why he wanted to make a web series for accountants.