Foresight: The CPA Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode, Simon Dermarkar, associate professor of accounting at HEC Montreal, discusses the evolving role of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and data governance. Simon emphasizes the critical importance of data as the fuel of AI. He argues that it is natural for CPAs to apply their expertise in assurance and internal controls to the vast domains of digital data and AI-driven processes. By ensuring the quality of data that feeds into AI models, CPAs can play a pivotal role in enhancing the reliability and integrity of technological systems across various sectors.

Simon has poured these insights into his popular course, Audit and Big Data. He encourages students to go beyond the AI tools that simply speed up traditional accounting tasks by understanding how to audit and govern digital data. Through this course, accounting students learn to see themselves as key players in shaping the future of business and information management.

This episode is a must-listen for accounting professionals, students and anyone interested in the intersection of AI, data governance and the future of the accounting profession. Simon Dermarkar shares a compelling vision of how CPAs can become strategic partners in the digital revolution, contributing to a more sustainable and trustworthy information economy.

• Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.
• Avertissement : Les opinions et les points de vue exprimés dans cette série de balados sont ceux de l’invité et ne représentent pas nécessairement ceux de CPA Canada.

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

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On this episode with Benjamin Alarie, CEO of Blue J and a tax law professor at the University of Toronto, we explore another case study of an AI-driven platform penetrating traditional CPA competencies. Blue J's “Ask Blue J” platform allows professionals to input complex tax queries and receive detailed, sourced responses in conversational language. This shift signifies a move from manual research to a streamlined, AI-enhanced approach.

Tax professionals may feel anxiety towards the incursion of this powerful AI tool into their field, but Alarie argues that Ask Blue J complements rather than replaces human expertise. By automating early research stages, AI frees advisors to focus on strategic tasks like analysis and client advice, thus bolstering their role in the advisory process.

The conversation explores serious issues in AI integration into tax practices, such as data privacy, security, and ensuring the accuracy of AI advice. Additionally, the episode digs into the thorny ethical and legal questions of who is ultimately accountable for the advice this AI offers. Is it the AI company or the CPA who relies on it?

Listen now for insights on AI’s transformative potential and the need for CPAs and tax professionals to grasp AI's opportunities and challenges in tax advisory, emphasizing the necessity for adaptability and continuous learning.

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

Jan Taylor, CPA, PhD, addresses a growing movement in the United States to have accounting considered as a STEM field and its potential impact on attracting new talent into the profession.

On this episode, Jan Taylor, CPA, PhD, academic in residence and senior director of academic and student engagement at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), passionately advocates for the inclusion of accounting within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. She underscores how the profession has evolved from its traditional number-crunching origins into a field where technology and innovation hold centre stage.

Jan outlines the multifaceted benefits that would accompany the recognition of accounting as a STEM discipline. This transition, she explains, could render accounting more attractive to a wider array of prospective students. "We are not counting beans anymore," Jan asserts, underlining how this acknowledgment would help dispel enduring stereotypes about the profession.

She also reveals that contemporary accounting programs are already deeply immersed in areas such as data analytics, IT auditing, blockchain and cybersecurity. Jan convincingly argues that the move to formally recognize accounting as a STEM field is not so much about instigating change, but rather aligning with the already transformed reality of the profession.

7 Reasons why accounting should join other tech professions as a STEM field

AICPA

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

• Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.
• Avertissement : Les opinions et les points de vue exprimés dans cette série de balados sont ceux de l’invité et ne représentent pas nécessairement ceux de CPA Canada.

We’re kicking off season five with Kevin Kolliniatis, CPA, the national technology leader for KPMG in Canada’s audit and assurance practice. Kevin has been instrumental in KPMG’s transition towards continuous auditing. This emerging aspect of accounting can be described as a transformative shift from traditional practices. It’s characterized by a continuous flow of client information that is analyzed, monitored and flagged for exceptions in real time.

Kevin highlights numerous benefits of continuous auditing, including:

· Real-time transaction monitoring: instant data analysis, detecting potential issues as they emerge rather than adhering to a set audit timeline

· Proactive response to anomalies: swift responses to irregularities, such as transactions exceeding set tolerance limits, and can potentially prevent fraudulent activities

· Impact on business operations and customer relations: enhance customer trust and satisfaction by streamlining overall operations helping to prevent issues like double billing

· Comprehensive transaction coverage: covering 100 per cent of transactions, leading to more detailed audits and facilitating improved client communication

Listen in as we unpack the developing concept of continuous auditing.

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

• Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.
• Avertissement : Les opinions et les points de vue exprimés dans cette série de balados sont ceux de l’invité et ne représentent pas nécessairement ceux de CPA Canada.

On this episode, we speak with Jerome Dwight, CPA, the co-founder and CEO of BoomerangFX, a tech company aimed at private health-care providers. Instead of discussing what keeps him up at night during times of uncertainty, Jerome shared his perspective on the possibilities that can arise with an unsettled economy. He believes CPAs are well-positioned to identify hidden opportunities and manage the risks in a volatile economy.

As Canada was navigating the global economic crisis in 2008, Jerome consulted with the federal finance minister regarding a plan to help Canada successfully navigate the turmoil. This experience led him to believe that periods of recession and economic uncertainty offer unique opportunities to grow or even launch a new business.

• Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.
• Avertissement : Les opinions et les points de vue exprimés dans cette série de balados sont ceux de l’invité et ne représentent pas nécessairement ceux de CPA Canada.

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

On this episode, Chris Dulny, CPA, chief digital data and innovation Officer at PWC Canada, discusses his deep concern that in tough economic times, Canadian businesses will prioritize short-term goals over long-term innovation strategies and potentially stifle their ability to adapt and thrive in the long run.

Chris argues that innovation should not be viewed as a peripheral activity that can be put on hold until the economy stabilizes, but rather as a fundamental aspect of an organization's long-term viability. He says that in this disruptive world, innovation is really about creating the next evolution of your organization.

As an expert in helping companies transform their business practices through innovation, Chris brings decades of experience as a CPA to the table. Whether it's leveraging data analytics, adopting cutting-edge technologies or redesigning workforce culture, Chris is passionate about driving innovation and helping companies stay ahead of the curve.

On this episode, Priyanka Lloyd, Executive Director of Green Economy Canada, discusses how taking meaningful steps to reduce emissions can make businesses stronger and better equipped to navigate an unpredictable future. When times are uncertain, it's natural to become risk-averse and cling to familiar processes and approaches. However, she argues that this is the ideal time to rethink spending on energy.

Despite global uncertainty, many organizations continue the shift to sustainability, but not all. What keeps Priyanka up at night is the challenge of encouraging the 1.2 million businesses in Canada to take meaningful steps to reduce emissions. She believes that this will make them stronger and better equipped to navigate an unpredictable future.

Through her work, Priyanka helps companies implement sustainable practices, and in this episode, she cites a specific example of a small manufacturer that dramatically reduced costs by making slight adjustments to their infrastructure.

• Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.
• Avertissement : Les opinions et les points de vue exprimés dans cette série de balados sont ceux de l’invité et ne représentent pas nécessairement ceux de CPA Canada.

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

On this episode, we speak with Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group’s president and CEO Stéphane Lefebvre about his experience facing what seemed to be the worst-case scenario for the entertainment giant. In March 2020, Cirque du Soleil had six shows in Las Vegas with another 10 shows touring around the world. Then suddenly, within just six days, their revenue plummeted from over a billion dollars per year to zero.

In his previous role as CFO, Stéphane helped identify new sources of funding for the company, and now, as CEO, he is leading the company's renewal efforts. Lefebvre recounts how he and his team were able to navigate this period of extreme uncertainty. Not only did his team need to manage to keep the company afloat, they also had to contend with the challenge of getting hundreds of performers and employees, located all around the world, back to their respective homes safely.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative

CPA Canada English

CPA Canada (Français)

Our guest in this episode, Anish Chopra, FCPA, shares his approach when it comes to managing investments during times of macroeconomic uncertainty, and how being a CPA has helped him manage his emotions during high-stress periods. Anish Chopra is the managing director and portfolio manager at Portfolio Management Corporation. Prior to this, he oversaw over $100 billion dollars in investment management mandates as managing director of the Innovative Solutions Group at TD Asset Management.

Season 4 looks at what keeps CPAs up at night. When asked this question, Chopra points out that once you start losing sleep, it probably means you've structured your investments in such a way that you're unable to handle the economic uncertainty that you're facing, and it's best to make adjustments now. He explains how his training to become a CPA has helped him manage emotions when making difficult business decisions. As it turns out, what helps him get a good night’s sleep is asking himself, “How much of a decline can I handle?”

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect those of CPA Canada

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA's Foresight Initiative

Devenir CPA

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We’re kicking off season four with Obed Maurice. Obed is a partner at Avail, a mid-sized business advisory and accounting firm in southern Alberta. He's a CPA and he leads the firm's cloud accounting service. It's a specialty he developed on his own as the founder of Maxim Management, one of Canada's earliest cloud accounting firms. Avail acquired Maxim in 2019.

What keeps him up at night is not the future of cloud accounting or digital services or the uncertain future of any of the industries Avail serves. Instead, Obed focused on something much closer to home for CPAs. What keeps him up at night is the uncertainty of how he can continue to attract top talent in the accounting industry. Listen to how he uses technology to attract top talent from across the country to help keep his business competitive.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect those of CPA Canada

To learn more about Foresight: The CPA podcast or CPA Canada's Foresight Initiative visit:

Foresight: The CPA Podcast

CPA's Foresight Initiative

Devenir CPA

CPA English

CPA French