Why Audit Firms Are Rewriting the Role of the Modern Accountant
Artificial intelligence is reshaping audit firms, with KPMG, PwC, EY and Deloitte piloting AI agents to handle routine testing such as payroll and expense vouching. The technology will automate data collection, risk assessment and contract verification, allowing human auditors to focus on oversight, judgment and interpretation of AI‑generated findings. KPMG expects a pilot this summer and full deployment of orchestration agents within two years, while the Big Four forecast AI will perform 20‑30% of audit work by 2029. Regulators are beginning to issue guidance, emphasizing that ultimate accountability remains with human auditors.
From Manual to Strategic: How AI Is Transforming Finance and Accounting Operations
In a Controllers Council webinar co‑hosted by Zip, finance leaders discussed how AI is reshaping finance and accounting operations. The panel, featuring Zip’s chief accounting officer Sameer Syed and Huntress’s director of accounting operations Ken Liu, highlighted the shift from automating isolated...
How States Are Rethinking CPA Licensure to Address the Accountant Shortage
As of April 2026, a wave of state‑level reforms is reshaping CPA licensure across the United States. Colorado, California, Texas and more than two dozen jurisdictions have enacted or are set to adopt alternative pathways that replace the traditional 150‑credit...
The Least Glamorous Side of Accounting That Still Can’t Be Automated
Even as AI and drones reshape many audit tasks, accountants still must leave the office to physically verify inventory in grain bins, freezers, livestock pens and remote sites. The work is dirty, hazardous and typically assigned to junior staff, but...
PCAOB Defines Its Next Chapter in Audit Oversight
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has unveiled a refreshed strategic agenda aimed at tightening audit quality, modernizing standards, and expanding its inspection and enforcement reach. Chair Erica Y. Williams emphasized the need to keep oversight in step with...
From COA Chaos to AI Confidence: A Finance Data Playbook
Finance leaders are racing to embed AI, but a recent Controllers Council webinar warned that weak data foundations can magnify errors rather than fix them. Panelists from Citrin Cooperman and Vena emphasized that AI acts as an output multiplier, learning and...
Operationalizing AI in Finance: Driving Efficiency, Accuracy, and Audit Confidence Through Governance
Finance leaders are moving AI from isolated pilots to core processes, driven by daily reliance on large‑language models for reporting, forecasting, and audit preparation. The Controllers Council webinar highlighted that disciplined governance—especially around SOX controls—distinguishes experimental use from production‑grade output....
Top 12 Accounting CPA Programs in 2026
In 2026 the premier accounting schools are aligning curricula with evolving regulations, technology, and employer expectations while preserving deep technical training. Universities such as Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, Texas‑Austin, BYU, and Michigan rank highest for CPA readiness, offering integrated undergraduate‑master tracks, robust...
The $100K Audit Is Not Underpriced. It’s Overbuilt.
Audit firms blame low fees for squeezed margins, but the real issue is execution inefficiency. The 2025 IPA report shows industry personnel costs at 49% of revenue, while high‑growth firms operate near 43.5% by streamlining execution. Up to 90% of...
What New Tax Disclosures Reveal About Corporate Strategy
The SEC’s new tax‑disclosure rules have compelled roughly 1,100 public companies to break out cash tax payments by jurisdiction, revealing stark differences in how firms meet U.S. obligations and exploit foreign incentives. Nvidia emerged as the largest U.S. cash taxpayer...
Regulatory and Risk Outlook 2026: Controllers Playbook – Webinar Highlights
Finance leaders entering 2026 face expanding regulatory expectations and more intricate operational risks. A Controllers Council webinar highlighted that compliance now spans tax, data governance, AI‑driven processes, and industry‑specific rules. Panelists urged finance teams to shift from reactive checklists to...
Building the ROI Case for AP Automation – Webinar Highlights
Controllers Council hosted a webinar, sponsored by AvidXchange, on building a data‑driven ROI case for accounts‑payable (AP) automation. Speakers highlighted the hidden costs of paper‑based AP, from lost invoices to error‑driven delays, and outlined six ROI categories such as labor...
2026 Lease Management Trends: Strategic Evolution in the Office of the CFO
In 2026 lease management is shifting from compliance‑only tools to strategic platforms that combine AI, automation, and deep integration across the CFO office. Vendors are delivering AI‑enhanced onboarding, multi‑standard reporting for IFRS 16, ASC 842 and FRS 102, and unified data flows linking...
New Nacha Rules, New Risks: Key Takeaways for Controllers Focused on Supplier Bank Verification
Recent Nacha rule updates now require repeatable, provable verification of supplier bank accounts, shifting the focus from intent to defensibility. Controllers relying on email confirmations, phone callbacks, and ad‑hoc checks face heightened exposure as fraudsters employ AI‑generated communications. The webinar...