CFO Series: Accounting in the Age of AI: What to Know

Overview

Artificial intelligence is showing up everywhere, from "autonomous" general ledgers to AI-powered fraud detection and tax research agents. But for many leaders, these tools are either misunderstood or overhyped. Staff are concerned about being replaced. Managers are concerned about the use of AI causing chaos. This seminar gives CFOs, controllers, and tax professionals a grounded look at how AI is impacting real-world accounting departments. We'll explore how these tools work, what they can (and can't) do, and what finance leaders should be doing now to prepare their teams and processes for the changes that will happen.

Prerequisites

None, preferably at least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience and/or at least six (6) months of professional experience in preparing or reviewing accounting processes and reports; experience working with internal clients or external clients and business leaders.

Objectives

After attending this presentation, you will be able to...

• Evaluate AI tools, the reality vs the hype.
• Recall the risks, benefits, and realistic capabilities of those tools
• Evaluate how AI may change staffing, processes, and external CPA relationships.
• Develop a practical mindset for assessing future AI-enabled solutions.

Highlights

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:

• Autonomous general ledgers: what they are and how much can you depend upon them?
• Financial statement analysis using AI.
• AI use in Budgeting and Forecasting.
• Using AI for research and planning (tax & GAAP), e.g.:
  • AI-driven fraud detection tool's capabilities and limits.
  • What to automate and what to leave alone.
• Evaluating vendor claims and setting reasonable expectations.
• AI ramification on staffing and hiring.
• The impact of self-serve AI research on your relationship with your CPA firm