Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting Conference (VIRTUAL)

Presented by: Kenneth Heaslip, MS, MBA, CPA, CGMA - Managing Member/Group Discussion Leader at Kenn Heaslip Seminars, LLC

Session details coming soon

Credits: 1.4 - Accounting

This session is available to registrants only.

Presented by: Maria Manasses - Partner, Deputy Chief Auditor at Grant Thornton LLP and Principal at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC

Kelly McCabe, CPA - Audit Manager at Grant Thornton LLP

Join us for an overview of AICPA SAS No. 145, "Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement." This presentation is designed for auditors and accounting professionals aiming to enhance their comprehension and application of the standard.

Key topics covered include:
• Overview of SAS 145 and its objectives
• Understanding the entity's system of internal control
• The role of information technology in risk assessment
• Identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement

Credits: 1.4 - Auditing

This session is available to registrants only.

Presented by: Suma Chander - Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies Advisory LLC

Key Topics & Talking Points
1. The AI Revolution in Accounting & Audit
• State of AI Today: Overview of how AI is disrupting industries, including finance and accounting.
• Generative AI & Large Language Models: What they can do now and their growing role in tax, audit, and advisory services.
• The Shift from Automation to Autonomy: How AI is moving beyond simple automation (RPA) to Agentive AI, which autonomously analyzes, makes decisions, and executes workflows.

2. Understanding Agentive AI & Its Role in Workflows
• What Is Agentive AI? 
   O Unlike RPA or traditional AI, Agentive AI can act with minimal human input.
   O Example: AI agents that proactively manage compliance, detect fraud, and even communicate findings to clients.
• Agentive AI vs. AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) 
   O We are still far from AGI (human-level intelligence), but agentic workflows are already transforming accounting.
   O AI can now take on multi-step processes—learning, reasoning, and adjusting based on feedback.

3. How AI Is Transforming the Accounting Workflow
• AI-Powered Audits: 
   O Continuous auditing with AI instead of periodic audits.
   O AI for fraud detection and anomaly detection in real-time.
   O AI-enhanced risk assessment—shifting from sample-based audits to full-population analysis.
• AI in Tax & Compliance: 
   O AI agents scanning regulations and preemptively alerting firms on potential compliance risks.
   O Automated preparation of tax returns with AI-generated insights.
• AI in Advisory & Decision Support: 
   O AI agents analyzing financial data and autonomously preparing reports, insights, and forecasts.
   O Client advisory services being AI-augmented, not just AI-assisted.

4. The Competitive Landscape: Who Is Leading AI in Accounting?
• Big Four AI Strategies: Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG are investing billions in AI-driven accounting tools.
• AI-First Accounting Startups: Companies like Vic.ai, Botkeeper, and MindBridge AI are pioneering AI-based bookkeeping and audits.
• How Small & Mid-Sized Firms Can Compete: Leveraging AI workflows without massive IT budgets.

5. What CPAs & Auditors Need to Do to Stay Relevant
• AI Won’t Replace CPAs—CPAs Who Use AI Will Replace Those Who Don’t.
• Develop AI Fluency: CPAs must understand how to leverage AI tools in daily work.
• Shift to an AI-Augmented Role: 
   O Less manual reconciliation, more advisory, interpretation, and risk consulting.
   O Example: AI flags financial risks, but CPAs provide the strategic context.

6. Future of AI in Accounting: What’s Next?
• Hyper-Personalized AI for Every CPA: AI agents that learn individual accounting styles and automate tasks uniquely.
• Voice-Powered Accounting Assistants: AI that responds in real-time to verbal commands and financial queries.
• AI in M&A, Forensic Accounting, and ESG Reporting: Expanding AI’s role in strategic finance & sustainability compliance.

Credits: 1.4 - Information Technology

This session is available to registrants only.

Presented by: Kenneth Heaslip, MS, MBA, CPA, CGMA - Managing Member/Group Discussion Leader at Kenn Heaslip Seminars, LLC

Session details coming soon

Credits: 1.4 - Accounting

This session is available to registrants only.