Episode #609 - Zero Entry: Interview with Jeff Seibert and Rob Hamilton

What happens to the accounting profession when the data entry disappears? Ron and Ed welcome Rob Hamilton and Jeff Seibert, authors of the new book Zero Entry: The Unstoppable Forces Reshaping the Accounting Profession—and the Opportunity of a Lifetime. They explore the technological, economic, and demographic forces converging on accounting, why AI represents far more than another efficiency tool, and what firms must do to thrive as routine work is increasingly automated.

Rather than predicting the demise of the accountant, Rob and Jeff make the case for something much more interesting: technology can free professionals from tedious work and elevate the distinctly human capabilities of judgment, trust, ethics, and strategic guidance. The conversation examines what the next few years could mean for firm business models, talent, technology, pricing, and the changing relationship between accountants and their customers. Is AI a threat to the profession—or the opportunity accountants have been waiting for?

About Jeff Seibert
Jeff Seibert is co-founder and CEO of Digits, an AI-native accounting platform. Previously Twitter's Head of Consumer Product, Jeff co-founded Crashlytics, acquired by Twitter in 2013, and Increo, acquired by Box. A Stanford computer science graduate and longtime entrepreneur and investor, he also appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. His experience building technology companies gives him a distinctive perspective on how AI will reshape accounting. Digits

About Rob Hamilton
Rob Hamilton is Head of Partnerships & Business Development at Digits. His career spans technology, finance, and strategic partnerships, with previous roles at Amazon, Twitch, Alexa, Twitter/Gnip, FactSet, and Apple. His years working at the intersection of technology, partnerships, and the accounting profession inform Zero Entry's examination of how AI and automation are changing firms—and the opportunities those changes create.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

  • Here is a link to the NEW BOOK from Jeff and Rob, “Zero Entry: The unstoppable forces reshaping the accounting profession—and the opportunity of a lifetime” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H294XZBT?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

  • Rob and Jeff explained today that Zero Entry (their book) is intended to help accountants navigate the shift from software changing where work happens to AI changing how work happens. The book is NOT a software sales pitch. It focuses on the forces reshaping the profession. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H294XZBT?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

  • “I’ve never hired an accountant because I wanted data entry. Right? You hire an accountant because I want to better understand my business.” —Jeff Seibert of Digits

  • “[Transactional work is] not what you’re selling anymore. You’re selling the outcome. […] The value doesn’t change, but it does change how you describe yourself and your value to that client.” —Rob Hamilton of Digits

Segment two

  • In 2018, Jeff asked, “What would the modern data architecture of accounting software want to look like in order for machine learning to act on it?” The answer…..Digits

  • I love the POV from Jeff and Rob today: Previous technology shifts, from desktop software to cloud accounting, for example, primarily changed where accountants worked. AI can eliminate entire categories of manual work, including transaction entry and other repeatable processes.

  • Digits has a transparent pricing page on their website. They are assuming the AI token risk so you, the customer, just need to focus on the fixed price. https://digits.com/pricing/ 

Segment three

  • “Banking is necessary. Banks are not.” —Ed Kless on the show today

  • Rob Hamilton of Digits talked today about how accountants were never fundamentally hired just to categorize transactions or complete the monthly close. Their deeper purpose is to interpret financial information and help business owners make better decisions.

  • The Jevons Paradox received a shout out in Jeff and Rob’s book, Zero Entry! More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox

  • “The business owner doesn’t trust the output of AI when you’re talking about accrual basis, and they really do want an accountant at that point.” —Jeff Seibert of Digits

Segment four

  • “We are about a month and a half in to the age of computer use agents. […] Literally day by day, week by week, you’re seeing just incredible new capabilities emerge.” —Jeff Seibert of Digits

  • “I am broadly optimistic and what I’ve found is that [AI] does make a lot more [in life and business] naturally and innately human, and, the value of human connection is only going to continue to go up.” —Rob Hamilton of Digits

  • A big THANK YOU to Rob and Jeff for joining us today. Check out their book, Zero Entry, at this link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H294XZBT?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

Bonus Content is Available As Well

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