AI, Hiring & the Modern Accounting Firm - Anderson Petergeorge
Episode notes
Meet Anderson!
What does the accounting firm of the future actually look like?
In this episode of Protea Conversations, I sit down with Anderson Petergeorge, co-founder of Quanto, to talk about accounting, entrepreneurship, AI, marketing, niching, and what it really takes to build a modern accounting firm.
Anderson started his career at KPMG before moving into finance and eventually entrepreneurship. What began as an attempt to build an AI-native accounting firm evolved into something very different: a business helping accounting firms grow through sales, marketing, technology, and content.
We talk about why understanding the fundamentals of bookkeeping still matters, even when AI promises to automate more of the work, and why firms need to be careful about adopting technology simply because everyone else is doing it.
Anderson also shares his perspective on hiring in an AI-driven world, why AI should make people more effective rather than simply replace them, and the danger of using new technology to do more of the same work you already dislike.
We also dive into niching, identifying your ideal client, building a personal brand, creating valuable content, and why accountants have a unique opportunity to turn their experience and client knowledge into genuine thought leadership.
Along the way, Anderson shares lessons from entrepreneurship, building alongside a co-founder, learning from customers, the influence of his family, and why having the right people around you matters.
In this episode:
00:00 – Welcome to Protea Conversations
03:30 – From accounting to entrepreneurship
05:55 – Anderson and Zane’s shared KPMG experience
10:00 – Why accountants should understand bookkeeping
13:45 – Becoming an entrepreneur
22:35 – How Quanto evolved from its original idea
30:25 – Turning expertise into valuable content
34:40 – Finding your niche and ideal customer
42:20 – How accounting firms should approach hiring in the AI era
46:25 – Are accountants using AI to do more work they already hate?
49:00 – Why leaders need to start with “why”
49:50 – The best advice Anderson has received
If you are an accountant, firm owner, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to understand how AI and technology are changing professional services, there is plenty to take away from this conversation.
Connect with Anderson