Accounting 1.0 to 3.0 (with Dan Hood)

What does it even mean to be an accountant in 2024? In this episode, Doug and Emily sit down with Dan Hood—Editor-in-Chief of Accounting Today—to explore how the definition of an accountant has changed and where the profession is headed.

They revisit Dan’s recent article, Accountants by Any Other Name, and talk through the evolution from Accountant 1.0 (classic audit and tax) to Accountant 3.0 (tech-savvy, multidisciplinary, and strategy-driven).

Dan shares how firms are expanding into new areas like ESG reporting, HR services, and even executive search. The profession has changed—and it’s not slowing down.

If you’re rethinking your own firm’s identity, service offerings, or hiring strategy, this conversation is a must-listen. It’s also a solid continuation of the “who are we now?” thread from Episode 1.

CHAPTERS

Listen to learn more about

• (00:00) – Welcome to the Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:33) – Meet Dan Hood: Editor in Chief of Accounting Today
• (01:47) – The Evolution of the Accounting Profession
• (08:11) – Accountant 1.0: The Traditional Accountant
• (14:55) – Technological Shifts in Accounting
• (18:25) – Accountant 2.0: The Modern Accountant
• (22:30) – The Future of Accounting Technology
• (28:38) – Challenges in Accounting Education
• (28:57) – The Talent Shortage in Accounting
• (29:15) – Accounting Education and the Pipeline Problem
• (30:21) – Impact of Technology and Finance on Accounting
• (35:44) – Accountant 3.0
• (40:59) – The Role of ESG in Accounting
• (46:34) – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Related Industries

• Public Accounting
  
• Consulting
  
• ESG & Sustainability
  
• Professional Services
  

Related Resources

• Episode Page
• Transcript
• LWI: Scaling Accounting Firms

If you work in the Sage Intacct ecosystem and have a story worth telling, a lesson learned the hard way or a strong opinion on where finance is heading, we’d like to hear from you.