Artificial Intelligence

Imagine an accountant who never sleeps, never makes mistakes, and tirelessly processes mountains of data in seconds. This is the power of artificial intelligence and, beyond mere automation, it is beginning to reshape how accountants strategise, predict, and advise. Are you ready?

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AI is transforming our world. In many areas, the accounting sector is already embracing it. But how else is it going to affect what we do, and what challenges does that bring?

This pathway prepares you for the AI road ahead. It looks at where we are now and what is around the corner. How are you going to integrate AI into your accounting function? What is generative AI and how is it going to help you? And, perhaps most importantly how to manage the risks, governance and ethical challenges that we will face?

Those who embrace AI and understand how to deal with the challenges, will be an essential asset to their organisations to help drive growth in business, provide new services for clients and build a sustainable financial future.

The pathway takes into account and demystifies the vast array of research conducted in this area and gives you the skills highlighted as necessary in these reports. It draws on reports including:

ACCA�s report, The Smart Alliance: Accounting expertise meets machine intelligence
ICAEW�s Artificial intelligence and the future of accountancy
ACCA's "AI in the Finance Profession" which emphasises that effective accountability requires a level of AI literacy
A study from EY that found that almost 75% of finance leaders surveyed believed that AI will positively impact the accounting and finance sector
The "Going for Growth: Creating an AI-first Future in Accounting� report created by ACCA and leading think-tank Demos, that reveals that 63% of accountants and bookkeepers are worried that skill gaps will restrict their effective use of AI

In this pathway

Learning

Supporting your journey to the next stage of your career

AI skills

The tools, techniques, and skills you need to use AI effectively and ethically as a finance professional

Flexibility

Learn where you want, when you want

Certificate

21 verifiable hours of CPD, an assessment and a Certificate of Achievement

Learning resources

Immerse yourself in the rich variety of articles, videos, activities, quizzes, discussions, and more.

Expert interviews

Find out what real finance professionals think about the potential benefits and issues involved in using AI in accounting, from governance, risk management and ethical considerations, to practical applications that will support and develop organisations.

Action plan

Build up a practical plan of how you will put your new skills into action, and download a convenient summary of all the learning to take away.

Assessment

Achieving 75% on the multiple choice assessment is required to complete the career progression pathway. The assessment features two questions on each topic that has been covered.

Secure certification

Once you've finished the programme, you will receive a unique and secure Certificate of Achievement as evidence of your new understanding and capabilities.

This Career Progression Pathway is divided into five sections corresponding to the key areas of AI that you will need to be aware of to use AI effectively and ethically. Complete all five to unlock the end of pathway assessment and access your Certificate of Achievement.

Imagine an accountant who never sleeps, never makes mistakes, and tirelessly processes mountains of data in seconds. This is the power of AI and it is beginning to reshape how accountants strategise, predict, and advise.

Importance of AI
Automation
AI and audit
Preparing for the future

Well-developed AI systems should always be under the control of humans and prevented from doing harm. However, current controls are not always effective, so there is work for organisations to do in the essential areas of risk and governance.

Exploring AI technology
Governance framework
Business uncertainties
Managing AI risks

How do we ensure AI operates fairly, transparently, and in alignment with professional accounting standards? We must harness AI�s power responsibly while upholding the integrity and trust central to our profession.

Ethics of AI
Using AI ethically
Fit for purpose AI
Hybrid intelligence

Generative AI is a groundbreaking technology that's reshaping how we approach accounting. We must equip ourselves with the skills to harness these tools, transforming traditional accounting into a dynamic, forward-thinking profession.

Exploring generative AI
Strengths and limitations
Generative AI at work
Adopting generative AI

Integrating AI into the finance function or your firm is necessary to effectively and safely harness the opportunities that these new tools offer. This final section offers practical advice and strategies.

Impact of AI on the sector
AI applications in finance
AI and your finance function
Future trends and innovations

Once you have completed all the elements of the pathway, you can take the assessment to access your Certificate of Achievement.

Lead Consultant

Andy Davis

Andy Davis is a writer on investment, finance and business. He spent 15 years as a journalist on the Financial Times where he held a series of senior roles including editor of FT Weekend. Andy writes for a range of financial publications and is a columnist for Review. He has been named Personal Financial Journalist of the year in the Wincott Awards.

Andy has been researching and writing about machine learning for his corporate clients for several years now, particularly in areas such as fraud detection and data analysis applications in banking and asset management. And as a specialist writer on financial services and fintech, he naturally takes a close interest in the development of generative AI and its business use cases - particularly editorial content production.

Other contributing faculty

Alan Nelson

Alan Nelson is the Founder and Managing Director of accountingcpd. He presents accountingcpd's webinars, is the face of its You Tube channel, and the resident expert on management and leadership in the accountancy profession. He has been Chair of ICAEW's Practice Assurance Committee, and a member of ACCA's SME Committee and of IFA's Regulatory Committee. He is currently a member of the Bank of England's Decision Making Panel.

Jeremy Swinfen Green

Jeremy Swinfen Green is a director at Obidos Consulting, a digital strategy, transformation, and innovation agency. With over 25 years of experience, he has advised both public and private organisations on the effective, safe, and responsible use of digital technology. Jeremy also serves as a committee member of the BSI�s ART/1 artificial intelligence committee.

Julia Penny

Julia Penny is the Immediate Past President of ICAEW, having been a non-executive ICAEW Board member since 2017 and Chair of the Board during her year as President. Julia is a well-known speaker and writer on audit, financial reporting, anti-money laundering and wider issues impacting the profession.

Marie Speakman

Marie Speakman has over 30 years experience spanning roles from credit controller to European CFO, and having built her own accountancy practice, Marie is now focused on helping finance professionals embrace AI solutions. Marie�s journey into AI started in 2020 when she collaborated with experts to integrate AI into debt collection processes while maintaining regulatory compliance. Today, she partners with businesses to streamline operations and unlock growth through AI.