Insight in Indian Country Podcast
Trusted Expertise to Serve Tribal Nations
Are you on track for GASB 96 implementation and meeting compliance?
If you’re a tribal government entity using subscription-based software, your financial statements will soon be held to a whole new accounting standard: GASB 96 – Subscription-Based IT Arrangements (SBITAs). Are you ready to comply with the new accounting rules? Do you know what you need to do, and by when?
Join hosts Wes Benally and Mike Dierlam as they answer top questions they received during their October 18 webinar covering the new software subscription accounting standard, GASB 96. Wes and Mike are unpacking some complexities in the new standard so you can comply with confidence.
- Haven’t watched the webinar yet? View it on-demand here before tuning into this Q&A companion episode.
- Questions on implementation? Contact us. We’re standing by to help make implementing GASB 96 easier.
Have a question or want to request a topic for our podcast? Connect with Wes.
REDW LLC is proud to bring you the Insight in Indian Country Podcast, covering important advisory, accounting, and finance topics that impact Tribal Nations and business affairs. Thanks for listening!
Meet Your Hosts
Wesley Ryan Benally, CPA
REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader
As the leader of REDW’s National Tribal Practice, Wes is committed to improving financial literacy throughout Indian Country and hosts the Insight in Indian Country Podcast. He oversees audits of a wide range for Native American communities, state and local government agencies, and non-profits, nationwide, is a member of the Arizona State Board of Accountancy’s Peer Review Oversight Advisory Committee and serves as an instructor with Arizona State University’s American Indian Policy Institute. In addition, as a Board member for a tribal gaming entity that operates in two states, Wes keeps up with regulatory issues important to tribal gaming operations. Wes is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
Michael A. Dierlam, CPA
REDW Principal, Audit & Assurance
Mike has served tribal governments as an auditor and consultant for nearly a decade, managing financial statement audits and Uniform Guidance audits for both tribal governments and a wide range of tribal enterprises. An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mike is passionate about providing guidance that helps tribes achieve enduring financial success. His greatest satisfaction comes from working collaboratively with clients and colleagues and bringing together a variety of perspectives to solve problems. Mike is a member of both the AICPA, Arizona Society of CPAs, and is a popular speaker at NAFOA conferences and meetings of the Oklahoma Tribal Finance Consortium.
Compensation Studies—Your Key to Hiring & Retaining Top Talent.
It’s important to attract—and retain—the best employees to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your tribal organization. And given an exceptionally competitive labor market and the usual budget constraints, this means basing your employee compensation and benefits programs on relevant and reliable data.
The 2023 results are in! Learn more about REDW’s 2023 Tribal Compensation Survey Reports for Tribal Governments and Tribal Gaming.
More from Insight in Indian Country
- “We’re all fighting for our people.” Economic Growth, Diversification, and the Future of Indian Country with Chris JamesChris speaks candidly about the role gaming has played as a transformational economic driver — and why Tribes are increasingly looking beyond it to federal contracting, technology, agriculture, tourism, and citizen entrepreneurship.
- Spring 2026 Single Audit ReadinessIf your organization receives federal funding — whether you’re a Tribal government, local government, or nonprofit — 2026 is a year to pay close attention to your Single Audit readiness.
- NAFOA 44th Annual ConferenceREDW is proud to return as a Gold Sponsor of NAFOA’s Spring Conference, taking place April 27–28 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV. Join us as we connect with tribal leaders and industry experts to discuss the economic issues shaping Indian Country — and don’t miss REDW Principal and Cybersecurity expert John W. Graham’s session, “What Could Go Wrong? Cybersecurity Essentials for Tribal Governments,” on April 28.
- “We’ve got to generate revenue for the nation.” How DDC Is Winning in Federal IT for the Navajo Nation with Austin TsosieWhat does it look like when a Tribally-owned enterprise deliberately goes off the reservation to generate economic returns for its Nation? Austin Tsosie, CEO of Diné Development Corporation (DDC) — the Navajo Nation’s 8A federal contracting arm — joins host Wes Benally to answer exactly that.
- REDW Advisors & CPAs Welcomes Soaring Bird Solutions, Expanding Advisory Services to Tribal Nations and EnterprisesSoaring Bird Solutions, LLC has joined the firm through a strategic acquisition, integrating its operations into REDW’s national advisory platform. Through this partnership, REDW will expand its capabilities in supporting Tribal Nations and Tribal enterprises, particularly in the areas of human resources strategy, leadership development, and organizational consulting.
