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
• (21:48) - Outcomes Based Pricing
• (25:00) - AI Like Excel Era
• (28:05) - What AI Does Next
• (29:21) - Fear Traps and Controls
• (32:39) - Who United Fits Best
• (33:25) - Wrap Up and Contact

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Connect with Our Guest, Karl Paadam

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/karl-paadam-39730214

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaketoliver/