The second of a 2-part series on the “CPA Firm of the Future” featuring guests Richard Francis and Jody L. Padar.

Richard Francis

Richard Francis heads up Spotlight Reporting, a software company that offers advanced reporting and dashboard reporting tools and multi-entity analysis to accountants and organizations globally. Their cloud-based tools can integrate data from a variety of sources (i.e. Xero, Quickbooks, Vend, and Google Analytics) and produce integrated data sets and generate template-driven or customized reports in minutes. From 2011 to 2014 Mr. Francis was General Manager of Workpapers for Xero which provided smart compliance technology for Xero customers. Workpapers was awarded the Xero software partner of the Year in 2011.

In addition to Spotlight Reporting, Francis is the Managing Director and Founder of Francis Consulting in Wellingtion, NZ. He is also the Director of Silverstripe, an innovative open-source content management system for building and editing websites. He is also the Director of People’s Coffee, a fair trade coffee company in NZ.

Francis graduated with a BCA/BA in Accounting and Business Management from Victoria University of Wellington in 1993.

Jody L. Padar

Jody Padar, author of the new book “The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm,” is CEO and principal of the New Vision CPA group in Chicago IL. Ms. Padar has transitioned New Vision to next generation status by adapting advanced technology practices that support web-based client services. She has transitioned New Vision into a technologically advanced, paperless work environment.

Ms. Padar is a sought after speaker in the tax and accounting profession advocating for progress and innovation in the profession and heralding a new way of thinking about the practice of accountancy. As a regular contributor to a number of industry publications and has been named “Top 100 Most Influential to the Profession” for the last four years. She received her BA from Saint Mary’s College and her MST from Northern Illinois University. Ms. Padar is also and adjunct professor at Oakton Community College and a contributing member of the Intuit Trainer Writer Network.

Ms. Padar’s new book “The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm” covers how to create a customer-centric “new” CPA firm for today’s world.

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Listen to a podcast of Richard Francis and Jody Padar’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Richard Francis’s interview!

Listen to a podcast of just Jody Padar’s interview!