The automotive retail industry is evolving rapidly, and dealership financial leaders are being asked to navigate more complexity than ever before. From profitability pressures and compliance changes to consolidation activity and emerging technologies, today’s CFOs, controllers, and dealership advisers face a growing list of responsibilities with limited resources.
That’s exactly why the AICPA Dealership Conference has become one of the industry’s most valuable events. Unlike broader automotive conferences, it is designed specifically for accounting and finance professionals who support dealerships, delivering practical education, technical expertise, and peer-to-peer networking tailored to the unique challenges of dealership operations.
Addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges
According to Kevin Gilbreath, CPA, tax partner within the retail dealership tax specialty group at Crowe, dealership finance professionals are being asked to manage an unprecedented level of complexity.
“They’re managing the financial implications of an EV transition that’s still highly uncertain, recalibrating after several years of unusually strong profits, dealing with evolving tax regulations, rising floor plan costs, and often navigating buy-sell activity, all while working with very lean finance teams,” he explained.
Tara Thomas, CPA, tax partner at Forvis Mazars, agrees that profitability has become a central concern.
“We’re no longer in the COVID and post-COVID environment when dealerships were basically printing money,” she said. “Now leaders are focused on maintaining strong financial results while navigating compliance changes, cash flow challenges, and strategic decisions around acquisitions and growth.”
The conference helps attendees tackle these issues by providing highly focused, dealership-specific education. Rather than offering general accounting or business content, sessions are built around the real-world challenges dealership finance professionals face every day.
A conference built for dealership finance professionals
One of the defining characteristics of the AICPA Dealership Conference is its specialized focus.
“Dealership accounting is genuinely unique,” says Gilbreath. “The dealer financial statement structure, manufacturer relationships, floor plan accounting, [finance and insurance] income recognition, and dealership-specific tax strategies are unlike anything you see in most other industries.”
Many finance professionals learn these complexities on the job, making industry-specific education especially valuable. The conference agenda addresses topics such as:
Dealership financial statement reviews
Internal controls and risk management
Tax planning strategies
State and local tax developments
Buy-sell transactions and growth strategies
Self-funded healthcare plans
Accounting talent development
Thomas notes that most attendees are dealership CFOs, controllers, and CPAs who work directly with dealerships, creating an environment where discussions are immediately relevant.
“The content is role-specific, and the landscape is always changing,” she says. “That’s why people continue to come back year after year.”
Practical takeaways that drive results
One reason the conference resonates with attendees is its emphasis on actionable insights rather than theoretical concepts.
Gilbreath hopes participants return to their organizations with three key outcomes: performance improvement ideas, practical strategies they can implement immediately, and renewed confidence in their role.
“It might be a tax planning strategy they hadn’t considered before or a new approach to talent development,” he says. “The conference is built to deliver concrete takeaways that professionals can apply right away.”
Thomas shares a similar perspective.
“Our goal is always that attendees leave with an actionable item,” she says. “Not just a good idea, but something they can actually implement in their dealership or group.”
In an environment where margins are tightening and operational efficiency is increasingly important, even a single insight can create meaningful value for a dealership.
The power of peer connections
Beyond the educational content, both speakers emphasize the importance of networking.
Dealership financial leaders, particularly those in smaller organizations, often work in relative isolation. The conference provides a rare opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges.
Gilbreath believes this sense of community is one of the event’s greatest strengths.
“Sometimes controllers and CFOs feel like they’re the only ones dealing with certain issues,” he says. “Coming to the conference and hearing how others are solving those same challenges can be incredibly energizing.”
Thomas highlights the lasting professional relationships that often emerge from the event.
“Participants may meet a CFO from across the country who’s dealing with many of the same issues they are,” she says. “Those relationships often continue long after the conference ends and become valuable resources throughout their careers.”
How it differs from other industry events
The AICPA Dealership Conference is frequently compared to larger industry gatherings such as the National Automobile Dealers Association Show, but its purpose is fundamentally different.
While broader dealership conferences serve a wide range of audiences across sales, operations, technology, and leadership, the AICPA Dealership Conference focuses exclusively on accounting and finance professionals.
“NADA is a fantastic event, but it’s very broad,” says Gilbreath. “The AICPA Dealership Conference is purpose-built for the people behind the scenes who make sure the numbers work.”
Rather than offering a broad overview of industry trends, the conference delivers deep dives into dealership-specific accounting, tax, audit, compliance, and financial management topics. The result is a more focused learning environment where attendees spend time with peers who share similar responsibilities and challenges.
Who should attend?
The conference offers value for a wide range of professionals, including:
Dealership CFOs
Controllers and office managers
Accounting and finance leaders
CPAs serving dealership clients
Non-CPA financial professionals working within dealerships
According to Thomas, anyone with financial responsibility in a dealership environment can benefit.
“To be in one place with so many decision-makers across the industry is a tremendous opportunity,” she says.
Gilbreath adds that first-time attendees often experience the greatest impact, particularly non-CPAs who may be looking to strengthen their technical accounting and tax knowledge.
“The content is practical, accessible, and taught by professionals who live and breathe this industry,” he says.
An investment that pays dividends
For professionals considering whether the conference is worth the investment, both speakers point to the value of a single breakthrough idea.
Whether it’s identifying a new tax strategy, improving compliance processes, strengthening profitability, or building a new professional relationship, the return can far exceed the cost of attendance.
“You only really need to bring back one meaningful idea to make the math work,” Gilbreath said.
In a rapidly changing dealership environment, the AICPA Dealership Conference offers something increasingly rare: focused expertise, actionable insights, and a community of professionals committed to helping one another succeed. For dealership finance leaders, that combination makes it one of the most unique and valuable industry events. Register today for the AICPA Dealership Conference, scheduled for October 19–20, 2026, in Nashville, and live online.