How do you go from graduating into a recession to becoming CFO of a publicly traded retailer? John Szczepanski shares the real story: the 200-resume grind, pivoting from audit to finance, building a toolkit across treasury, FP&A, M&A, and an 18-year run at Ralph Lauren. Now CFO of The Children's Place, he breaks down leading through transformation, tariffs, investor pressure, liquidity management, and where AI is already boosting productivity in finance. This interview is practical, candid, and packed with career lessons. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

In this episode of the Tax News Now Podcast, Mark Gallegos and his returning guest, Kasey Pittman, Managing Director of Tax Policy at Cherry Bekaert, break down what Congress can realistically accomplish on tax policy before the midterm elections, including the fate of "Reconciliation 3.0" and the odds of a bipartisan tax package emerging in the lame-duck session. They also dig into a year's worth of Treasury and IRS guidance implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, covering Section 174, Section 1202, Qualified Opportunity Zones, Trump Accounts, and a new automatic penalty relief program. The conversation turns to litigation developments affecting COVID-era penalty and interest refunds, and closes with a deep dive into the shifting landscape of U.S. tariffs and what practitioners should be telling clients as trade policy increasingly becomes a tax planning issue. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

Joe Echevarria went from a South Bronx childhood to the CEO of Deloitte—and now President of the University of Miami. In this candid interview, he shares the two chance moments that changed everything, how mentors "adopted" him and taught him the rules of the game, and why relentless effort beats trying to be the smartest person in the room. He also breaks down what AI will really mean for accounting and why finance remains the "book of truth." This interview is practical, inspiring, and packed with hard-earned leadership lessons you can use right away. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

What happens when internal audit has to move at corporate speed—and stay credible across third-party risk, compliance, and cybersecurity in the same day? Justin Van Beek shares a candid, practical look at how internal audit teams are evolving: higher tech expectations for "non-IT" auditors, smarter use of co-sourcing for high-risk or fast-changing areas, and the biggest downside of outsourcing—losing institutional context. He also explains why AI is now central to audit transformation and ROI conversations. If you want a clear view of where internal audit is headed and how to stay relevant, listen in. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

What does it take to build an accounting or finance career in one of the most volatile industries in the world? CFO Rayna Kordonowy shares how she went from small-town Montana roots to leading finance at United Energy Corporation—spanning oil and gas production, power and gas marketing, and large-scale commodity trading. Hear how her team navigates commodity swings, hedging, complex consolidations, and fast-changing ESG rules, plus why she believes AI won't replace accountants—but will reshape how they work. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

In this episode of the Tax News Now Podcast, Mark Gallegos and his guest, Damien Martin, Partner at Ernst & Young, mark the one-year anniversary of HR1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) reflecting on what the landmark tax legislation has actually meant for high-net-worth clients in practice. They dig into estate planning under the federal exemption, the nuances of state-level estate taxes, and key changes to charitable giving deductions that took effect in 2026. The conversation wraps up with a discussion on AI's growing role in tax advisory work and how practitioners can embrace it as a tool while maintaining the human, consultative edge that clients genuinely need. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

AI isn't just changing accounting workflows—it's changing what clients need most from their advisors. As part of a five-part series, Heather Esposito joins us to reframe the fear of "being replaced" into a powerful question: what makes you irreplaceably human? She shares why anxiety shuts down good decision-making, how accountants can shift from having all the answers to navigating uncertainty with clients, and why real growth takes practice, feedback, and vulnerability. If you want to feel more confident—and more valuable—in an AI-driven profession, this conversation will change how you think about your future. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

In this episode of a five-part series, Chris Mitchell and leadership coach Heather Esposito unpack why technical excellence alone isn't enough—and how "relationship is the container for the product." They explore the difference between being likable and being trusted, why professional distance can be fear-based, and how real advisory work requires psychological safety, vulnerability, and strong boundaries. You'll also hear practical ways to build trust without becoming performative, and why deeper relationships can increase efficiency and impact. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

Heather Esposito, founder of Movora Strategies, joins us as part of a five-part series to explain why accountants are wired for a "compliance mindset"—certainty, patterns, fast answers—and why today's uncertainty demands an "advisory mindset" rooted in curiosity, presence, and better questions. She and host Chris Mitchell explore how identity, stress, and workplace rewards keep us stuck, and how human "power skills" like psychological safety and brain-friendly communication will differentiate professionals in the age of AI. Practical, candid, and timely—this episode will change how you show up with clients. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts

Most firms train their people to be trusted advisors — and then wonder why nothing changes. Heather Esposito joins us as part of a five-part series to unpack the gap between learning in a room and doing in the real world. She dives into the neuroscience of habit, why your environment controls your behavior more than any training ever will, and how to finally measure ROI on development. If you're serious about leveling up your team, don't skip this one. Earn CPE by listening to this podcast through a Becker Prime CPE subscription. Listen to this episode through your Becker LMS platform to complete practice questions, pass the final exam, and earn CPE credit. Already a Becker Prime CPE customer?  Login here. [https://cpelearning.becker.com/] Have access to Becker CPE through your employer? Earn CPE credit for this podcast however you consume Becker CPE, either through your company's LMS or via the Becker platform. Not sure where to log in? Check with your CPE admin. Learn more about CPE Podcasts from Becker: https://www.becker.com/cpe/becker-podcasts