Future Ready Academy – Building Future-Ready Accountants and a Culture of Confidence in an AI-Driven World (full day)

AI and automation are reshaping the pace of work; that is a given. In our recent focus group, what stood out was the challenges the profession faces in how we prepare our people to adapt with confidence. Future-ready accounting skills are essential, but it’s not enough to hire talent. Growing capability from within, backing our leaders to lead visibly, and creating a culture that can hold the weight of change will be the differentiator.

Join CCH Learning for an exclusive full-day online workshop: Building Future-Ready Accountants and a Culture of Confidence in an AI-Driven World. Designed for senior accounting partners and leaders, this workshop delivers strategic insights and practical tools to lead confidently through rapid change. Explore the human and leadership capabilities essential for building resilient teams, and dive into the real-world impact of AI—from ethical considerations to policy innovation—all within a culture that supports transformation.

Morning - Building Capability from Within: Empowering Accountants and Leaders to Thrive Amid Accelerating Change: Exploring the human and leadership skills needed to navigate complexity, build resilience, and foster a culture ready for change
Presented by Adie Dawes-Birch and Jo Smyth, Twiga Group

• Defining the future-ready accountant, beyond the technical  Ever wondered what it takes to be a future-ready accountant in today's fast-paced world? It's not just about technical skills anymore. This session dives into the essential capabilities that will keep you ahead of the curve and ensure your professional value for years to come. Ready to redefine your role?
• Developing leaders for future-ready careers  How do we prepare leaders for a future that's constantly evolving? In a world where traditional career norms are being turned upside down, this session explores the skills and capabilities needed to lead through change, make smart technology decisions, and balance talent with client satisfaction. Are you ready to lead the future?
• Traditional hierarchy versus sophisticated operating model and organisation design. Which prevails? In times of constant change, what kind of organisational design helps firms thrive? This session tackles the choice between traditional hierarchy and sophisticated operating models. Discover how great organisation design can be the key to sustainable success. Which model do you think will prevail?

Afternoon - AI in Action: Navigating Ethics, Policy, and Practical Innovation in the Accounting Profession: Unpack AI’s real-world impact—from implementation to ethical leadership—while building frameworks to lead through change.
Presented by Nick Beaugeard, Released Group

• Overview of AI for accounting sector 2026 AI isn’t a buzzword anymore—it’s the new baseline. Future-ready accountants will need to be as skilled in AI as they currently are in Excel. This session gives you a no-nonsense rundown of how AI is shaping the accounting sector in 2026. We’ll unpack what’s real, what’s useful, and what’s still smoke and mirrors. From automated compliance and advisory tools to AI-powered audit and fraud detection, you'll see where the tech is making a difference. Whether you’re a partner, manager, or just trying to keep up, this webinar will help you understand how to harness AI to improve efficiency, add value for clients, and stay competitive.
• Accuracy, Ethics and AI AI makes decisions fast—but is it right, fair, or even legal? This session tackles the sharp edge of AI in accounting: the tension between accuracy, ethics, and automation. We’ll explore how AI tools can go off the rails, the risks of relying on biassed or unverified models, and where accountability lands when things go wrong. More importantly, we’ll give you clear steps to evaluate tools before you adopt them and implement safeguards to protect your firm and your clients. This is about using AI with integrity—not just efficiency. We call it human in the loop and there is more scope for accounting professionals to shine in this new environment than ever!
• Developing an AI Policy for your firm If your team is using AI—even just a little—you needed a policy yesterday. This practical session walks you through how to write and implement an AI policy that actually works for your accounting firm. We’ll cover what to include, how to balance innovation with control, and how to manage risks around data privacy, IP, and client confidentiality. You’ll leave with a draft framework you can customise for your firm and advice on how to get your team on board. No fluff—just actionable guidance.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and shape the future of your firm. Whether you join us for the full day or just half, you'll gain valuable insights and actionable strategies to lead with confidence in an AI-driven world.

Attendees will be provided with: 

• Access to attend the live session 
• Opportunities to ask questions
• CPD Certificate 
• Access to the Recording
• PowerPoint Presentation and searchable transcript
• The latest Wolters Kluwer APAC 2025-26 Future Ready Accountant Report 

Please note: These workshops are not covered under a CCH Learning subscription.

Links to the sessions will be sent the week prior to the workshop.

Group Discounts available:
2+ attendees from the same firm, 20% discount, please type the promo code FRA20
4+ attendees from the same firm, 30% discount, please type the promo code FRA30

Contact NZ-learning@wolterskluwer.com for more details.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Gain the insights and strategies needed to lead with confidence and ensure your firm remains competitive and future-ready.

• Understand the evolving role of accountants in an AI-driven world.
• Develop leadership skills to navigate constant change and technological advancements.
• Learn strategies for effective organisation design to ensure sustainable success.
• Understand the role of AI in accounting and its influence on the profession.
• Foster ethical considerations and compliance in AI usage.
• Be ready to deliver a robust firm-wide AI policy now and take advantage of the benefits as they arrive to market.

SUITED TO

• Senior Accounting Partners and Leaders
• C-Suite Executives
• Department Heads and Managers
• HR and Talent Development Professionals
• Technology and Innovation Officers

PRESENTERS

Jo Smyth, Partner, Twiga Group
Focusing on culture, change and communication, with significant leadership experience, Jo’s expertise includes organisational design and change, stakeholder engagement and communications, human resource and employee relations management, transformation program leadership and project management.

Adie Dawes-Birch, Partner, Twiga Group
With extensive experience in executive leadership roles across multiple sectors and industries globally, Adie brings expertise in organisational design and change, executive and transformation leadership, stakeholder engagement, marketing and communications.

Nick Beaugeard, Managing Director, Released Group
Nick is a seasoned technologist, entrepreneur, and AI strategist with over three decades of experience in transforming how businesses work. With a background spanning managed services, government, and enterprise IT, Nick is known for his practical approach to automation and business process design. He regularly speaks at conferences and delivers hands-on workshops that demystify AI for professionals in accounting, legal, and other sectors.