S4E02 — Why I'm Choosing Accounting in the Age of AI - Davis Starling

Davis Starling grew up in a South Carolina town of about 290 people, kept bees, raised frogs, and earned the nickname Coach Barkley on a high school basketball court. At 12, a YouTube channel about failing companies had him reading balance sheets for fun. Today, Davis is based in New York, has spent five years working in accounting, and is pursuing his CPA license while staying deeply involved in AI and technology. In this episode of Humans in Accounting, Davis joins Alex Roman to talk about choosing accounting at a time when the profession is facing a talent shortage and AI is changing how the work gets done. They discuss how Davis found his way into the profession, what tax and startup environments taught him, how he used AI to run cold outreach to recruiters during his job search, whether AI will make accounting more or less attractive to the next generation, and why he believes the CPA license will stay relevant for a long time. Topics covered: • From beekeeper and basketball coach to accounting • The YouTube channel that sparked his interest at 12 • Seeing how a global company's tax function fits together • Building accounting functions in PE- and VC-backed startups • How the accountant shortage shaped his career choice • Why firms still need to develop junior talent • The power of cold outreach • Using AI to reach recruiters during a job search • Why you should always take the call • Outsourcing your thinking vs. outsourcing your understanding • Will AI make accounting more attractive to young people? • Is the CPA license still worth it? Humans in Accounting is brought to you by South Offices, connecting accounting firms with skilled professionals across Latin America. 🎧 South Offices Home https://southoffices.com/ 🌎 Nearshore Accounting Company https://southoffices.com/nearshore-ac... 📞 Talk to a CPA-led Nearshore Team Specialist https://calendly.com/alex-southoffices Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:31 Meet Davis Starling 02:31 From beekeeper and basketball coach to accounting 04:25 The YouTube channel that started it all 07:39 When Davis knew accounting was his path 10:21 How the accountant shortage shaped his choice 11:40 Why firms still need junior talent 12:03 Davis's favorite food 13:19 The power of cold outreach 15:01 Using AI to reach recruiters 17:22 Always take the call 19:02 What AI can and can't replace 21:21 Will AI make accounting more attractive? 23:44 Is the CPA license still worth it? 25:55 Is Davis happy with his career choice? 26:51 How to connect with Davis