Topics
Chris Downing, Sage
Topic: From Curiosity to Confidence: The Real AI Journey for Accountants
AI is no longer a future concept for accountants - but it’s also not a finished story. Most firms today sit somewhere between curiosity and confidence; aware of the opportunity, but unsure how to move forward without creating risk, pressure, or distraction from what really matters.
This opening session sets the context for the day. It cuts through the hype and grounds the AI conversation in professional reality. It explores where accountants truly are on their AI journey, what progress looks like in practice, and how firms can move forward with clarity rather than noise.
Rather than positioning AI as a race to keep up, this session reframes it as a journey of confidence - confidence in judgement, confidence in standards, and confidence in how technology should support, not redefine, the role of the accountant. It’s the starting point for a day focused not just on what AI can do, but on how the profession chooses to use it.
Clara Robinson, IFA Regulatory Case Manager
Topic: The ethical AI conundrum-where do we draw the line?
What does it look like when someone misuses AI and emerging technology?
This webinar will look at emerging cases of AI misuse across various business sectors. From law to recruitment, AI has worked its way into every process. Now we are starting to see the consequences when people use it in the wrong way.
Using the IESBA Code of Ethics and several case studies, we will learn from the mistakes of our colleagues and ask the question:
Who is responsible for AIs errors?
This session will cover:
- AI, ethics and accountancy
- AI ethics, accountancy ethics and machine morality.
- The ethical use of new technology by accountants.
- The IESBA code of ethics
- Case studies – lessons from real world AI misuse.
Stuart Pedley-Smith, Synapse Learning Solutions
Topic: Balancing Trust with Technology
AI is transforming business and the world of work. The speed of change is daunting and there are new AI models emerging literally daily. Accountants now face the challenge of not just adopting these tools, but learning how to think differently to us them well. However, we should not lose sight of the basics, the need for good data and measurement is more important than ever.
Technology will not bring success on its own, organisations must improve skills and develop flexible teams, supported by robust governance to ensure trust is not lost. Change and uncertainly lie ahead and yet we must continue to look to the future to help us navigate the present.
This session will cover:
- The AI landscape: past and present
- How did we get here and what are today’s most powerful tools
- Application and adoption
- Mental models (AI thinking), the importance of data and measurement
- Development, governance and trust
- The skills leaders and teams need, frameworks for responsible oversight, such as an AI policy and the importance of embedding trust at every stage
- Future directions and implications looking ahead five years, where AI may advance and the potential impact on your organisation and the wider society.
Gavin Spencer, Beach Accountants Ltd 
Topic: Personalisation vs automation in client relationships – how to maximise your profits
This session will cover:
- Intelligent Automation - AI handles routine accounting and workflows.
- Predictive Analytics - Real time insights for forecasting ad risk.
- AI Powered Audit - Continuous auditing and fraud detecting.
- Cloud Integration - Centralised, collaborative and financial management.
- Blockchain & Compliance - Secure, transparent, and regulatory-ready ledgers.
Dan Boyles, Hello AI Collective
Topic: How to build an AI strategy for your business that actually work
Most organisations are already using AI, but without strategy, governance, or control. This creates risk without value. This talk explores how to build an AI strategy that actually works: one that aligns leadership, establishes defensible governance, and prioritises use cases based on value and readiness, not hype.
Dan will cover the three foundations every business needs before AI delivery begins: strategic clarity (so teams stop interpreting AI differently), governance frameworks (so risk becomes managed, not hidden), and use case prioritisation (so investment follows evidence, not noise). Designed for small practitioners and businesses navigating AI adoption with limited budgets, regulatory pressure, and the need for practical, actionable outcomes.
Thiss session will cover:
- How small businesses and solo practitioners are already using AI - and the quick wins available right now
- Identifying where AI can save you time and add value in your practice: client communication, document review, research, and administrative tasks
- Setting simple boundaries: what AI tools are safe to use with client data and what to avoid
- Practical governance for small practices: creating a basic AI policy that protects you and satisfies clients in under an hour
- How to evaluate AI tools and use cases: separating genuine value from vendor hype using a simple prioritisation framework
- Common mistakes practitioners make when adopting AI (using the wrong tools, over-complicating, ignoring data risks) and how to avoid them
- Your next steps: actionable steps to start using AI safely and effectively without needing a big budget or technical expertise