I’ve seen general ledgers at perfectly legitimate, above-board businesses that would make Pablo Escobar’s CFO beam with pride. And this is exactly why I’m not convinced AI is going to replace all accountants anytime soon. Accounting data is created by humans behaving badly, unpredictably, creatively, and sometimes stupidly. Here's why AI still needs an accountant—and why the best bean-counters are going to thrive in an AI world.

Think of sales tax compliance like investing in a hidden asset. It won’t dazzle anyone today, but it’ll quietly compound value and help you avoid landmines when it really matters—like during due diligence or an exit.

Every election cycle, there’s a familiar buzz about moving abroad to escape the U.S. and embracing a sense of “not my circus, not my...