Are you auditing at the speed of risk? Richard Chambers—50-year internal audit veteran and AuditBoard advisor—joins Blake to map the path forward. Hear why AI now ranks as risk #1, how to build continuous risk monitoring, and what “independence, not isolation” means for the three-lines model. Learn where CAEs should start with AI (risk assessment, analysis, reporting), how to audit culture and AI governance, and how to earn audit committee trust with no surprises.

Chapters

• (01:37) - Richard Chambers' Career Journey
• (03:15) - Evolution of Internal Audit
• (05:34) - Emerging Risks in Internal Audit
• (08:13) - AI and Cybersecurity Challenges
• (10:51) - Continuous Risk Monitoring
• (25:30) - Connected Risk and AI Integration
• (27:42) - Introduction to the Three Lines of Defense
• (30:01) - Evolution to the Three Lines Model
• (31:18) - Connected Risk and Collaboration
• (32:08) - AI's Impact on Risk Management
• (35:20) - AI in Internal Audit: Opportunities and Challenges
• (40:32) - The Human Element in Internal Audit
• (44:40) - The Future of Internal Audit and AI
• (54:00) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Download the Earmark CPE App

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Connect with Our Guest, Richard Chambers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-chambers-a5108914/
Twitter: https://x.com/rfchambers
Website: https://auditboard.com/

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

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

Live from Boston on the final stop of the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with James Erving from Fathom and Chris Macksey from Prix Fixe Accounting to explore what advisory services really mean beyond bookkeeping and compliance. Chris shares how his firm requires advisory for all restaurant clients, using industry expertise and operational metrics to guide decisions on everything from menu pricing to expansion timing. The conversation covers the difference between delivering information versus being integral to decision-making, with insights on forecasting, benchmarking, and why visual KPIs help clients with low financial literacy understand their business performance.

Chapters

• (00:22) - Welcome to the Earmark Podcast
• (01:15) - Prix Fixe Accounting: A Niche in Hospitality
• (02:25) - Advisory Services in the Restaurant Industry
• (06:20) - Forecasting and Budgeting for Restaurants
• (06:59) - Getting Started with Advisory Services
• (13:40) - Defining Advisory Services
• (17:35) - The Value of Metrics and Visuals
• (25:24) - Advice for Firms Starting Advisory Services
• (27:40) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Download the Earmark CPE App

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Connect with Our Guests:

James Erving

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameserving/

Learn more about Fathom

Official website: http://fathomhq.com

Chris Macksey

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmacksey/

Learn more about Prix Fixe Accounting

Official website: https://prixfixe.accountants/

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

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

On the fifth stop of the Advisory Amplified tour in Atlanta, Blake sits down with Lisa Gilreath of Acuity and Valerie Heckman of OnPay to discuss what empathetic leadership actually looks like in an industry notorious for long hours and tight deadlines. The conversation covers everything from recognizing when team members are struggling to handling toxic high performers, with real talk about building slack into capacity planning and why unused PTO is a red flag. Lisa and Valerie share concrete steps for creating a culture where people feel supported enough to lean in when it matters most.

Chapters

• (01:17) - Defining Empathy in Accounting
• (02:24) - Implementing Processes to Reduce Stress
• (03:26) - Balancing Workloads and Mental Health
• (10:15) - Client Relationships and Empathy
• (16:42) - Adapting to Change and Hiring for the Future
• (19:07) - Using Data to Spot Problems Early
• (24:35) - Handling Toxic High Performers
• (26:22) - Practical Tips for Leading with Empathy
• (30:55) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Download the Earmark CPE App

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

Connect with Our Guests:

Valerie Heckman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieheckman/

Learn more about OnPay

Official website: https://onpay.com

Lisa Gilreath

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-gilreath-2ba506a/

Learn more about Sorren

Official website: https://sorren.com/

Connect with Blake Oliver, CPA

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