ATL230
ATL230 Interview with Mary Delaney – Accounting Technology (Part 1 of 2)
Podcast Title: Interview with Mary Delaney – Accounting Technology (Part 1 of 2)
Series: Accounting Technology Lab Podcast
Hosts: Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Guest: Mary Delaney, CEO of Karbon
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Episode Length: 20:31 minutes
Summary
In this episode of the Accounting Technology Lab, hosts Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA, welcome Mary Delaney, CEO of Karbon, to discuss the company’s growth, leadership philosophy, and commitment to open innovation. Delaney highlights Karbon’s API-first ecosystem, integrations with Xero and Stanford Tax, and the recent acquisition of Aider to enhance AI-driven advisory capabilities. The conversation explores workflow automation, client experience, private equity’s influence, and leadership traits shaping the modern firm. Delaney emphasizes that unified portals, converged document management, and advisory-focused innovation are key to advancing the accounting profession.
Key Quotes
- (02:48) Mary Delaney: "We believe in choice. Our customers can choose their stack — we’re an API-first, open ecosystem."
- (04:49) Mary Delaney: "We want to transform accounting by automating what we can, so we can elevate the profession."
- (09:55) Mary Delaney: "Clients deserve a single pane of glass experience — one portal, one place, one workflow."
- (12:19) Mary Delaney: "Private equity brings capital that accelerates innovation — and accounting will be a key beneficiary."
- (17:18) Mary Delaney: "Workflow and document management are converging — they should feel like one seamless experience.
Mentioned Products and Companies
| Product / Company | Description | X (Twitter) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karbon | Workflow, communication, and client management platform for accounting firms | @KarbonHQ | Karbon | Karbon | @karbonhq |
| Aider | AI-powered advisory platform acquired by Karbon in 2025 | @AiderAI | — | Aider | — |
| Xero | Cloud accounting software with deep Karbon workflow integration | @Xero | Xero | Xero | @xero |
| Stanford Tax | Integrated tax platform for client organizers and workflow automation | — | — | Stanford Tax | — |
| CPA Practice Advisor | Publisher of the Accounting Technology Lab podcast | @CPAPracticeAdv | CPA Practice Advisor | CPA Practice Advisor | @cpapracticeadvisor |
| Accounting Technology Lab Podcast | Hosted by Randy Johnston & Brian F. Tankersley; covers innovation in accounting tech | @AcctTechLab | — | Accounting Technology Lab | — |
| Private Equity Firms | Investors accelerating accounting technology innovation | — | — | — | — |
Related Episodes
- Interview with Mary Delaney – Accounting Technology (Part 2 of 2) – AI, automation, and leadership in accounting
- Tech Innovation Awards 2025 (Part 1 of 2) – Tax Tools and AI-driven research solutions
- Tech Innovation Awards 2025 (Part 2 of 2) – Accounting and Audit Technology Highlights
