The Great Professional Shift: From People to Products

Today, Michael Eastwood, Gary Bisbee, CFA, and I announced our third quarter results for 2025. Solid momentum continued with total company organic revenues rising by 7%, and our 'Big 3' businesses – Legal Professionals, Tax & Accounting Professionals, and Corporates, growing by 9%. It reflects continued momentum in our AI-driven innovation strategy and the impact of our agentic AI solutions like CoCounsel Legal and CoCounsel for tax, audit, and accounting. We’re launching new products and reshaping professional workflows by combining our expertise and trusted, authoritative content with cutting-edge technology. This is how we are empowering our customers to navigate increasing complexity and stay ahead, and I wanted to thank them, and our dedicated team, for these outcomes.

The accounting profession is changing faster than it has in decades. The work is no longer defined by only accounting, but by consulting and technology. AI and automation are reshaping both firm operations and accounting education. As private equity accelerates the pace of change, firms are rethinking value. They're prioritizing AI, efficiency, scalability, and insight. It's not just compliance anymore. That shift is changing the skill set required. Technical expertise is still essential, but firms now need people who can interpret, communicate, and connect the data that AI produces. Soft skills like collaboration, judgment, and client communication are becoming harder to find, but more necessary than ever. As the line between accounting, consulting, and technology continues to blur, firms that adapt their people to match their tech investments will define what the next decade of this profession looks like. #Accounting #AI #Leadership #Advisory

The accounting profession is changing faster than it has in decades. The work is no longer defined by only accounting, but by consulting and technology. AI and automation are reshaping both firm operations and accounting education. As private equity accelerates the pace of change, firms are rethinking value. They're prioritizing AI, efficiency, scalability, and insight. It's not just compliance anymore. That shift is changing the skill set required. Technical expertise is still essential, but firms now need people who can interpret, communicate, and connect the data that AI produces. Soft skills like collaboration, judgment, and client communication are becoming harder to find, but more necessary than ever. As the line between accounting, consulting, and technology continues to blur, firms that adapt their people to match their tech investments will define what the next decade of this profession looks like. #Accounting #AI #Leadership #Advisory

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐩? I recently read about the high-profile slip from Deloitte Australia where a government-commissioned AI-enabled report contained fabricated quotes and incorrect references. t’s a stark reminder: tools don’t replace judgement—they expose where our thinking is weak. I believe the most enduring competitive advantage isn’t the technology we adopt—it’s the mindset we embrace. One grounded in curiosity, anchored in questions, and committed to proofing our assumptions. Yet too often, we delegate to consultants, experts, or even algorithms—and switch off our critical thinking. We must ask: Did we ask the right question? Did we validate the output? Did we stay in the loop? When someone declares “We have the expert solution,” I invite you to pause and reflect. Because AI doesn’t change us—it exposes us. If we let it run unsupervised, it mirrors the gaps we’ve tolerated. If instead we stay curious, ask “What if?” or “How else?”, and proof the work ourselves—we’ll not only catch the errors, we’ll build resilience. The human-in-the-loop isn’t a safety net. It’s the strategic frontier. Let’s rethink how we engage with expertise, tools and each other—so we don’t outsource our thinking, we amplify it. #HumanInTheLoop #LeadershipMindset #CuriosityFirst #AIWithJudgment #ExecutiveReflections https://lnkd.in/dE__bFk4

AI isn't here to replace CPAs. It's here to rescue them. According to Controllers Council, 75% of CPAs are at retirement age, and the number of CPA candidates dropped more than 35% over the past decade. There is a mass exodus of qualified accountants, and technology can't move fast enough to fill the void! Every finance leader knows year-end shouldn't feel like a fire drill. But manual tasks still dominate close processes for sophisticated businesses. It's no wonder CPAs are burning out. AI should change that. The firms leading the future should not be trying to replace accountants. They should be attempting to free them from the shackles of manual reconciliations. Intelligent systems catch anomalies in real-time, simplify intercompany eliminations, and turn month-end reporting into continuous insight. When we use AI to handle the grunt work, we give our people the space to do what they do best: think strategically, expand cash flows, build more accurate forecasts, and guide the business forward. CEOs and founders of accounting tech companies should not be asking, "How can I get to zero-day close" (the answer is to work exclusively with simple businesses), but rather "How can our technology give CPAs more time to focus on higher-level work?" #CPA #Controller #CFO

Big Four accounting and consulting firm Deloitte’s Australian arm has come under public scrutiny after reports that it produced a document for the Australian government that was full of artificial intelligence-generated errors. The incident involving one of the biggest names in the corporate finance world should serve as a wake-up call for anyone in the profession using AI tools without proper safeguards, experts say. “This situation underscores a critical lesson for finance professionals: AI isn’t a truth-teller; it’s a tool meant to provide answers that fit your questions,” Bryan Lapidus, FP&A Practice director for the Association for Financial Professionals, which provides training and credentials for people in the finance profession, said in an email.

Beyond the Hype: Building AI-Resilient CPA Firms for 2025 and Beyond The conversation around AI in accounting often focuses on threats and disruption. But for forward-thinking CPA firms in Kenya and globally, the real opportunity lies in strategic resilience. The firms that will lead aren't those fearing change, but those proactively building organizations that adapt, evolve, and thrive alongside intelligent technology. The convergence of a shrinking CPA pipeline and rapid AI advancement isn't a crisis—it's an inflection point . The question is no longer if AI will change our profession, but how we can architect our firms to be more agile, insightful, and client-focused than ever before. 💡 Your 5-Point Blueprint for an AI-Resilient Firm 1.Embrace Hybrid Teams : Combine AI tools with human expertise for audit, tax, and advisory . Have augmented capacity that allows CPAs to focus on high-value strategy and complex judgment . 2.Upskill for Advisory : Invest in training that builds soft skills and the ability to interpret AI-driven insights . Shift from compliance-focused work to becoming strategic client partners, deepening client relationships . 3.Fortify Your Foundation : Implement robust data security protocols and validate AI outputs to manage risks . Enhanced trust, reduced error, and protection of client confidentiality in an automated environment. 4. Build Adaptive Talent Pipelines : Look beyond traditional accounting majors to include talent from finance, data analytics, and tech . A more innovative, flexible workforce capable of managing new tools and navigating change . 5.Normalize Strategic Reflection: Dedicate time for teams to review workflows and discuss what's changing .Have a culture of continuous improvement that reduces burnout and builds long-term resilience . The future won't be built by AI alone, but by CPAs who master the blend of technological power and irreplaceable human expertise—critical thinking, ethical judgment, and strategic empathy . What's the first step your firm is taking to build AI resilience? Share your experience or the biggest challenge you see in the comments below—let's learn from each other. #CPA #FutureOfAccounting #AIinAccounting #FirmResilience #DigitalTransformation #CPAK #EastAfricaFinance #AccountingProfession #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessAdvisory

Picture this: 75% of today's accountants will retire in the next 15 years. CPA exam participation is plummeting. Yet demand for accounting services is exploding. 🤔   📊 #PortCoDeepDive: The Truewind Story When AI Meets the Accounting Crisis   🔍 What We Saw That Others Missed   While everyone's talking about AI replacing jobs, Truewind's founders Alex L. and Tennison C. saw something different: AI as the ultimate accounting sidekick.   💡Their platform automates bookkeeping while thinking like an experienced accountant: → Automatically categorizes transactions with scary-good accuracy → Handles complex accruals that usually take hours → Creates audit trails that make compliance teams smile → Saves senior accountants 15+ hours per month (yes, really)   The kicker? Instead of replacing accountants, they're turning them into strategic advisors.   🚀 The Bigger Picture   We're betting on a future where:  • Month-end close happens in hours, not days  • Accountants focus on strategy, not data entry • AI agents handle the tedious stuff with superhuman accuracy  • Small businesses get enterprise-level financial insights Truewind isn't just riding the AI wave, they're creating the infrastructure for how accounting will work in 2030.   🤝 And if you're passionate about building the future of accounting automation, Truewind is actively hiring across engineering, accounting, and product roles. Check out their careers page, this amazing team is going places! #PortCoDeepDive #Truewind #AccountingTech #AIInnovation #Automation #Fintech CC: Tamara Steffens, Joseph Dormani, Jack Benedict, Josef Najm, Alexander Carvalho, Anushka Khetawat

𝗔𝗜 & 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! The most dominant trend reshaping accounting and bookkeeping isn't a new regulation or tax code—it's 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗔𝗜) and 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. For years, accountants have been burdened with handling repetitive tasks such as manual data entry, bank reconciliation, and routine transaction processing. AI is stepping in to handle these repetitive, high-volume tasks with speed and accuracy far exceeding human capability. This isn't a threat to accountants; it’s the greatest opportunity to elevate our roles. 🚀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:  • From Bookkeeper to Strategic Advisor: With automation handling the transactional work, accountants can focus on high-value advisory services. We can pivot to deeper data analysis, financial forecasting, strategic tax planning, and genuine business consulting.  • Enhanced Accuracy and Speed: AI detects anomalies and flags potential fraud faster and more reliably, leading to cleaner books and quicker month-end closes.  • The Skills Gap is Shifting: The most valuable skills today are data storytelling, critical thinking, and technological fluency. Knowing how to use AI tools and interpret their output is becoming as crucial as knowing debits and credits. The future of accounting is less about recording history and more about shaping the future. Firms that embrace this technological shift and upskill their teams will not just survive, but thrive as indispensable strategic partners. ❔What is the one AI tool or concept you believe will have the biggest impact on small business bookkeeping in the next 12 months? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #AccountingTech #AIinAccounting #Bookkeeping #FutureofFinance #Automation #CPA #AdvisoryServices #DigitalTransformation

Deloitte’s latest Finance Trends 2026 report highlights how CFOs are shifting from cost management to growth leadership. Finance is no longer just about reporting the numbers. It’s driving strategy, agility, and innovation. AI, data, and digital fluency are now the real differentiators. The future-ready CFO isn’t reacting to change. They’re architecting it. #FinanceTransformation #DigitalFinance #AIinFinance #FinanceLeadership https://lnkd.in/gG2_fRrF