Beyond Accounting Bitesize

Nicola Bain (CLA) outlines her firm’s half-billion-dollar AI transformation plan, with insights on digital scaling, workforce development, and client enablement. Ariel Finkelstein follows with a strategic “reality check,” stressing that AI should be grounded in your business mission — not adopted for novelty’s sake. He discusses optimal workforce design, AI skill gaps, and the evolving future of tools like Excel. If you’re shaping AI strategy at any level, this is your starting point.

In this thought-provoking panel, the speakers tackle the complex human dimensions of AI adoption: ethics, trust, regulatory concerns, and change management. How can accountants be sure AI is safe and accurate? What’s the role of regulators, and when will they catch up? The panel shares perspectives on human-in-the-loop systems, education reform, and the future role of the accountant as both tech user and ethical steward. There’s a clear call to action: don’t wait — the AI wave is already here.

Chris Easton walks us through the development of a vertical AI solution for the airline industry — a domain-specific, reasoning AI that transforms how flight networks are planned and optimized. While not accounting-specific, this case study offers crucial insights into how similar models can be applied to audit, tax, and financial reporting. Chris demystifies the architecture behind multi-agent AI, orchestration tools, and MCP servers — and explains why accuracy, trust, and privacy are critical. A must-listen for accountants curious about the “how” of AI systems.

Ian Browne shares how Chartered Accountants Ireland is using adaptive learning and generative AI to personalise and scale accountancy education. We learn about their partnership with Area9 and how AI helps maintain optimal learning “flow,” increase retention, and provide real-time insights to both students and training firms. Ian also discusses the role of subject matter experts in this new AI-enhanced ecosystem, and how administrative burdens are being reduced to focus more on high-value learning.

In this opening episode, John Munnelly from Chartered Accountants Ireland takes us on a journey through the technological revolutions that have shaped accountancy — from spreadsheets and ERP systems to RPA and blockchain. We hear how the profession has always adapted, and why AI presents a unique moment of transformation. John outlines the Institute’s research and educational approach to future-proofing accountants, spotlighting “transversal skills” like ethical thinking and professional skepticism.

Era of Energy Disruption Ep 5 feat Barbara Porco, Gerard Reid & Shane Rodgers .wav

Resilience is more than a buzzword — it's a financial imperative. This episode explores how risk and opportunity are two sides of the same coin, and why proactive finance leaders are key to navigating disruption. From ESG evolution to systems thinking, discover the strategic role accountants must play in driving sustainable value.

Energy is no longer just a commodity — it’s a geopolitical tool. This episode examines how conflict, sanctions, and energy dependencies are influencing markets, spiking inflation, and redrawing the map for supply chains and corporate resilience. Discover why accountants and finance professionals need to think like risk strategists.

Global ambitions for decarbonization face a reality check. In this episode, we take a close look at the structural barriers to phasing out fossil fuels, the gap between policy and implementation, and the unintended consequences of moving too fast or too slow on climate action. It’s a candid conversation that cuts through idealism to focus on real-world economics and transitions.

This first episode in the series 'The Era of Energy Disruption'  introduces the concept of the “polycrisis” — the interlocking challenges of climate change, inflation, energy disruption, and geopolitical instability. Learn how CPAs can interpret this moment of change and why risk literacy is becoming essential in the boardroom and beyond.