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The Fun CPA Podcast
It is no secret that the accounting profession needs a fresh perspective after years of status quo.
The Fun CPA podcast aims to bring exactly that. Fun, refreshing and unique perspective on a profession that needs it the most.
The conversations I will bring to you will bring you and your firm value. We discuss pricing, firm management, technology, social media and mental health. The guests on the show range from small accounting firm owners to big firm partners to incredible mental health coaches to our profession and much much more.
Give it a listen, the fresh perspective you been waiting on is here!
The Fun CPA Podcast
From Family Business To A Modern Firm
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Mike Libbey joined his father’s accounting firm straight out of college, becoming its first employee and working alongside him from the family living room. Today, Mike is a partner and COO at YBL, a modern virtual firm with approximately 30 employees and $3.75 million in annual revenue.
Mike shares how the firm grew, why hiring an operations manager changed what he believed was possible, and how he gradually removed himself from client work to focus on strategy, technology, and growth. He also explains why firm owners should document their processes before they need to hire, even if that means simply turning on Loom and talking through the work as they do it.
The conversation also looks at AI’s rapidly expanding role in accounting. After building roughly 40 internal and client-facing apps, Mike believes the profession’s future is not simply about producing tax returns faster. It is about using technology to become a more deeply integrated financial partner while continuing to provide the judgment and peace of mind clients actually value.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction
0:44 - Meet Mike Libbey
2:16 - Joining his father’s accounting firm
5:16 - Growing up around the accounting grind
10:50 - From two people to a 30-person firm
13:13 - Building a modern firm without the traditional CPA path
18:17 - Early hiring mistakes and the importance of operations
24:01 - How to document, delegate, and escape client work
31:11 - Knowing when the firm can afford its next hire
35:05 - Revenue, profit, and defining the firm you actually want
39:25 - Creating space to experiment with AI
41:43 - Building useful apps without knowing how to code
46:38 - What AI means for the future of accounting
52:02 - The changing role of entry-level accountants
55:12 - Protecting work-life balance while running the firm
58:15 - Building a public presence through YouTube and social media
1:02:05 - Final thoughts on making accounting more fun
ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH
Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.
Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.
CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/
CONNECT WITH MIKE LIBBEY
LinkedIn: Mike Libbey | LinkedIn
Website: https://mikelibbey.ybl.ca/
