Beyond Accounting: AI & Accountants 2025
Please RSVP
September 10th 2025 at 12.00pm Eastern / 9.00am Pacific / 5.00pm UK
CAW Network USA invites you to join us for Beyond Accounting: AI & Accountants 2025 — an exciting 90 minute event which includes two 90-minute webinars run back to back, with polling questions / audience CPE. (over 3 CPE credits available).
This webinar follows on from last year’s look at AI and Accountants. Some 15 months later, we continue that discussion with our focus on accountants and the future of our profession – what is changing and what we need to prepare for in embracing the opportunities that are changing the way we work. We will discuss specific concerns for accountants and give relatable examples.
Our first session runs for about 90 minutes. It will start with Ian Browne and John Munnelly from Chartered Accountants Ireland presenting their institute’s perspective. Chris Easton will then give a short presentation of AI solutions he is working on and implementing. Jannie Wentzel will then moderate a discussion with our presenters and share some examples of his own.
For our second session we will switch to a panel discussion for 90 minutes. Ryan Clacher (SAICA) will moderate a discussion with a mix of CFO’s and Practice based leaders about how AI is impacting them and how they expect it to impact their companies, clients and customers.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the session, attendees will have achieved the following objectives:
- Understand Chartered Accountants Ireland’s perspective on AI & Accountants.
- Be aware of real world example and use cases for AI.
- Understand the potential and practical uses and opportunities for generative AI in Accounting.
- Be aware of the main changes that have happened since our last AI webinar 15 months ago.
- Hear from a panel of CFO / Practice Leads / Recruiter on how AI is changing their focus.
CPE CREDITS AVAILABLE: 3 +
FIELD OF STUDY: Information Technology
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite provided attendees are qualified CAs and/or CPAs.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Open to members and associates of CAW Network USA and their guests.
ADVANCE PREPARATION: Not required.
PROGRAM LEVEL: Basic
DELIVERY METHOD: Group Internet
REFUND / CANCELLATION POLICY: No fee for members or guests.
COMPLAINT RESOLUTION POLICY: For more information regarding refund, complaint and/or program cancellation policies (as relevant), please contact chiefexecutive@cawnetworkusa.com
To get more information please email: chiefexecutive@cawnetworkusa.com
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MEET THE SPEAKERS
Session 1
Ian Browne ACMA, CGMA, MSc, BBS – Ian is the Director of Education at Chartered Accountants Ireland, where he leads the strategic transformation of professional education for over 7,000 students across the island of Ireland. Since joining the Institute in 2015, Ian has been instrumental in modernising the education framework, overseeing a major syllabus re-launch, and pioneering the shift to digital assessment.
Through Project Athena, Ian has championed the integration of AI driven adaptive learning technologies into the Institute’s curriculum. Under his leadership, Chartered Accountants Ireland partnered with global edtech leader Area9 to launch a bespoke, AI data-driven learning platform. This platform personalises the educational journey for students, using real-time analytics to tailor content delivery and enhance mastery of complex topics. The adaptive model represents a significant leap forward in professional education, aligning learning outcomes with the evolving needs of the profession.
Ian’s background spans both academia and industry. Prior to his current role, he served as Academic Course Leader at Dublin Business School and lectured at UCD Smurfit School and Trinity College Dublin. His earlier career includes senior finance roles in sectors ranging from entertainment to consulting, with a focus on turnaround and growth strategies.
Ian holds an MSc in Strategic Management from UCD Smurfit, a BBS in Accounting and Finance, and is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant. He is a passionate advocate for innovation in education and continues to drive initiatives that ensure future chartered accountants are equipped with the skills and agility to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
John Munnelly ACMA, CGMA – John joined Chartered Accountants Ireland in 2016 and is responsible for Developing the Final Admitting Examinations for the Irish Chartered Accounting qualification. John also is responsible for providing thought leadership in future syllabus development and has been to the fore introducing new topic areas and content that has kept abreast of the dynamic lived work experience of the Chartered Accountant in practice and Industry.
John is the co-creator of Project Athena, a transformative research project that seeks not only to transform what is taught to students but also the medium through which the qualification is taught; in order reenergise the Irish Chartered Accounting qualification for the future needs of the profession. John led the research in Project Athena and has focussed on developing the new teaching content outputs from the project.
Prior to Academia John worked in a variety of Finance Industry roles from management accountant to managing director, spanning a 20-year career in fields as diverse as Construction, Food Manufacturing, Logistics, Food and Fashion Retail and technology. John has previously lectured in Dublin Business School and Trinity College Dublin.
John is a Chartered Management Accountant by qualification and is curious enough to welcome the advances in technology in how they can serve the needs of the finance professional in the future.
Chris Easton – Chris is a global business leader and game changer. He has been a pioneer and early adopter of enterprise software technologies and platforms including AI, Blockchain, RPA, IoT, SaaS, ERP, BPM, Cloud, and Mobile. He is both a CPA and a Chartered Accountant and covers many industries and geo’s.
Jannie Wentzel – Jannie is partner and principal consultant with Cential. He is a Chartered Accountant CA (SA), and a thought leader in Risk Transformation and Integrated Risk Management technologies. Jannie advises clients on the use of technologies to reduce the complexities, manage risk and minimize the compliance cost.
Jannie specializes in enterprise and integrated risk services which include teaming with many of the top analyst rated GRC vendors.
Session 2
Ryan Clacher, Moderator – Ryan is a Director at The Siegfried Group, where he works to create compelling relationships with leading financial executives, serving as a Leadership Advisor, to help them become more successful leaders in their organizations. He is also responsible for partnering with clients on important accounting and finance projects.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Cape Town and Honors in Accounting from the University of South Africa. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Before taking on this role in July 2020 he was co-chapter head of the CAW Network USA New York Metro chapter.
Nicola Bain – Nicola is a Strategic Pursuits Leader in the Consulting and Accounting Solutions Team (CAST) at CLA. CLA focuses on creating opportunities for our clients, for our CLA family, and for our communities. Her role entails developing relationships with financial management, chief executives, and officeholders across a wealth of industries, both in New York and nationally, and being a trusted advisor in times of change. In addition, Nicola serves as a technical expert for CLA LLP and CLA Global on ISQM 1 implementation. Nicola’s previous positions include Senior Vice President within Internal Audit at Citigroup, and Senior Manager within the Global Assurance Quality group, and Assurance Banking & Capital Markets group at PwC.
Nicola is a graduate from Lancaster University, UK (BSc Business Studies) and spent one year at City University of Hong Kong. She is an Associate Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a Certified Internal Auditor with the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Errol Finkelstein – Errol is Chartered Accountant (SA) and founder of Corporate Solutions.ai based in Wales – focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing. Digital assistants and chatbots – with 100+ enterprise clients globally and over 1,000 million successful conversations. Hundreds of problems resolved through data analytics. Primary client base are large banks, insurers, healthcare providers, telcos, IT companies, retail, engineering, universities and other large, complex often regulated enterprises.
Bill Perry – Bill is managing partner with Valiant Executive Search, focused of the Office of the CFO / CAO, covering the northeast. Bill previously spent over 22 years with Siegfried group and was Managing Director for New York and Philadelphia. Having worked closely with many Chartered Accountants, he understands the value of our qualification.
Nikita Klassen – Ms. Klassen currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Mount Logan Capital (CBOE: MLC, soon to be NSDQ: MLCI). She previously served as Senior Controller of BC Partners and has over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry, including roles as Director, Accounting Policy at Silicon Valley Bank; Vice President, SEC Reporting and Accounting Policy at Galaxy Digital (TSX: GLXY); and Director, Global Accounting Policy and Advisory at American Express (NYSE: AXP). Ms. Klassen has also previously provided audit and consulting services in various roles over a 6 year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Ms. Klassen holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada).