Episode 18: How Accountants Are Embracing AI with Confidence

Leading the Future of Finance: How Accountants Are Embracing AI with Confidence

The future of finance is here — and it’s powered by generative AI. Across the profession, Chartered Accountants are discovering how artificial intelligence is transforming everything from financial operations and tax compliance to corporate governance and strategic decision-making.

This month, three major initiatives from the Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) network highlight how finance professionals can take charge of this transformation — building new skills, driving innovation, and leading with confidence in an AI-powered world.

🚀 Transform Your Career with the ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme

The ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to equip finance professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead in the age of AI.

Through modular, practical courses, participants explore real-world applications of generative AI in accounting and finance — from automating processes to enhancing insight generation. The programme also tackles the ethical and regulatory considerations of AI use, ensuring participants are ready to implement these tools responsibly.

Special offer: As a valued member of the CAW community, you can access exclusive discounts when enrolling in the programme.

👉 Find out more and register today → ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme

💡 Lead with Confidence: The CA ANZ AI Fluency Playbook

Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing the profession — it’s redefining it. To help Chartered Accountants not just adapt, but lead, CA ANZ has launched the AI Fluency Playbook — a hands-on guide to building confidence and capability in the use of generative AI.

Inside the playbook, you’ll find:

• Real-world case studies of AI in action across client engagement, reporting, and workflow optimisation
• Toolkits and prompt guides to help you get started with GenAI tools
• Ethical frameworks to manage bias, privacy, and transparency
• Governance and risk best practices
• Learning pathways including micro-courses, readiness assessments, and an official Certificate in AI Fluency

With over 70% of Chartered Accountants already experimenting with AI tools and 76% eager to expand their use, this playbook arrives at the perfect time.

👉 Read more and download → CA ANZ Launches AI Fluency Playbook

🎙️ “AI Will Take Your Job to a Whole New Level” — A Conversation with Nicola Ellam

AI isn’t coming for your job — it’s taking it to a whole new level.

That’s the message from Nicola Ellam, who joins host Sinead Donovan, past president of Chartered Accountants Ireland, for the latest episode of Difference Makers Discuss. Broadcasting on November 6th at 12 noon and 1800 GMT, this conversation dives into one of the most ambitious technology transformations in professional services.

Ellam’s insights are a must-hear for any finance professional looking to understand how AI can elevate their role, expand their impact, and shape the next generation of accounting.

👉 Register for the event → Difference Makers Discuss - “AI Will Take Your Job to a Whole New Level”

The Bottom Line

From practical training and ethical guidance to inspiring conversations, the Chartered Accountants network is helping members future-proof their careers and lead in an AI-enabled world.

This isn’t about keeping up — it’s about leading with insight, integrity, and innovation.

Would you like me to tailor this for a specific platform (e.g. LinkedIn, your organization’s blog, or an email newsletter)? I can adjust tone, formatting, and links acco

Transcript

Hello and welcome back to the Chartered Accountants Global Update! Today we're diving into something that's not just changing our profession—it's revolutionizing it. If you've been wondering how to get ahead of the AI curve rather than just scrambling to keep up with it, you're in exactly the right place.

We're talking about generative AI and how it's transforming everything from financial operations to corporate strategy. But more importantly, we're talking about how you can actually master these tools and lead the charge in your organization.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: "Another AI course? Really? Do I need this?" And honestly? Yes. But hear me out, because what we're covering today is different. This isn't about buzzwords or theory—it's about practical skills you can use tomorrow.

So let's start with what's actually happening in finance right now. AI isn't some future disruption we need to prepare for—it's already here, and it's already changing how we work. From financial operations and tax compliance to corporate governance and business strategy, the way we make decisions, generate insights, and report data is being fundamentally transformed.

And here's the thing: you can either be someone who's reactive to this change, or you can be someone who drives it. That's where the ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme comes in.

This programme has been designed specifically for finance professionals who want to not just understand this transformation, but lead it. And that's the key word here: lead. Not follow. Not adapt. Lead.

Here's what makes this programme stand out. It's practical. It's modular. And it focuses on real-world applications that you can actually implement in your work tomorrow, not theoretical concepts you might use someday.

You'll explore how to harness the potential of generative AI in ways that directly impact your day-to-day work. Whether you're streamlining financial reporting, enhancing your analytical capabilities, or advising clients on AI implementation, this programme gives you the tools and knowledge to do it confidently.

And just as importantly—because let's be honest, this matters—you'll learn how to navigate the ethical and regulatory considerations that come with AI. Because it's one thing to know how to use a powerful tool, and it's another thing entirely to know when, how, and why to use it responsibly. In our profession, trust is everything. This programme helps you maintain that trust while embracing innovation.

Now, here's where it gets even better for you. As a member of the Chartered Accountants Worldwide community, you get access to exclusive discounts when you enroll. Think of it as a thank you for being part of this global network of professionals who are committed to excellence.

This is a chance to future-proof your career. To position yourself not just as someone who's keeping up, but as someone who's ahead of the curve. Someone who can innovate within their organization, advise with confidence, and lead their team through this transformation.

Because the reality is, your clients are already asking about AI. Your colleagues are experimenting with it. Your competitors are investing in it. The question isn't whether AI will impact your work—it already is. The question is: are you equipped to lead that change?

The future of finance is here, and it's powered by AI. The question is: are you going to watch it happen, or are you going to be part of shaping it?

If you want to find out more and register, head over to charteredaccountantsworldwide.com—we'll have the link in the show notes. Just search for "ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme."

Now, speaking of AI taking things to a whole new level—and I mean that literally—we recently had an absolutely incredible episode of Difference Makers Discuss that perfectly complements everything we've been talking about.

Host Sinead Donovan sat down with Nicola Ellam, who is the Managing Principal at CLA—that's the eighth-largest accounting firm in the United States. And let me tell you, if you want to see what leading with AI actually looks like in practice, this conversation is essential listening.

Here's what really grabbed me about Nicola's story. Her firm is investing—wait for it—half a billion dollars in their AI journey over the next several years. But here's what's fascinating: it's not just about buying technology and implementing systems. When they launched this initiative, one of the first roles they created was a Chief People Officer.

Think about that for a second. A massive technology transformation, and they lead with people. Because as Nicola says so beautifully, "We're not a technology firm. We're technology-enabled, but we'll never be a technology-only firm. We're still a people firm."

And she shared something that really captures the spirit of what we're all navigating right now. At CLA, they have this saying: "AI will take your job to a whole new level." Not take your job away—take it to a whole new level.

Your role in five years won't look the same as it does today. You're not going to be doing data entry. You're not going to be buried in spreadsheets. You're going to be advising, strategizing, building relationships, solving complex problems. The mundane work? That's what AI handles. The meaningful work? That's all you.

Nicola talks about some really practical examples from their firm. They're training junior staff using sandboxes and simulations rather than just throwing them into live client work. They're building connection centers—physical spaces where colleagues can come together for intensive learning and collaboration. They're thinking about increasing CPD from 40 hours to potentially 120 hours, because when AI gives you time back, you can invest it in becoming even better at what you do.

And they're democratizing AI for their clients too. They recognize that small and medium-sized businesses don't have the capital to invest in these tools themselves, so CLA is bringing AI capabilities to them as part of their service offering.

One more thing Nicola said that I thought was brilliant: when the internet came along, if you were willing to learn and adapt, you didn't get left behind. AI is the same. It's not something to fear—it's something to embrace. And the firms and professionals who are willing to learn, to experiment, to invest in their skills? They're going to thrive.

The whole conversation with Nicola is about 20 minutes, and honestly, every minute is packed with insights. Whether you're worried about AI, excited about it, or somewhere in between, her perspective will give you a fresh, grounded way of thinking about what's possible for our profession.

You can find the full episode on the Chartered Accountants Worldwide website—just search for "Difference Makers Discuss Nicola Ellam." I promise you, it's worth the listen.

So that's what we have for you today—two powerful resources to help you not just navigate, but truly lead in this AI-powered future.

The ICAEW GenAI Accelerator Programme gives you the structured learning, the practical skills, and the confidence to implement AI in your work. And the Difference Makers Discuss episode with Nicola Ellam shows you what it looks like when a firm fully commits to this transformation with people at the center.

Both are available right now on charteredaccountantsworldwide.com. We'll have all the links in the show notes.

The future of finance is here, and it's powered by AI. But more than that, it's powered by skilled, thoughtful professionals who understand how to use these tools to create value, build trust, and make better decisions.

You have the opportunity to be one of those leaders. The only question is: will you take it?

Thanks for listening to the Chartered Accountants Global Update. Until next time, keep learning, keep innovating, and keep leading the way forward.