AI and Accounting
Bridging Innovation and Expertise

Tomorrow will be radically different from today. Let us help you navigate the AI landscape. We’re excited to invite you to the BDO Alliance USA’s second annual AI Summit, a virtual event exclusively for Alliance members on October 29 – 31, 2025. This year’s summit will feature a diverse lineup of presenters and sessions focused on demystifying AI and exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping the accounting profession.

Industry experts and peer firms will share practical insights, real-world applications, and strategic approaches to integrating AI into firm operations. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking to expand your capabilities, this summit will offer valuable perspectives to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Featuring Pascal Finette as our
Opening Keynote Speaker
Thank you to Blue J for sponsoring this event!

New This Year: CPA Tech Talks – Powered by the BRNs (Qualifies for CPE)
We’re thrilled to introduce a fresh format for what was previously known as Speed Solution Sessions. CPA Tech Talks are fast-paced, insight-rich client spotlights designed to showcase real-world innovation and impact. Join us to hear directly from clients about the transformative power of collaboration, innovation, and strategic problem-solving.

Also New This Year: Spooky Prompt Engineering Contest
Get into the Halloween spirit with our **AI Halloween Contest – Spooky Prompt Engineering**!

Concept: Who can craft the eeriest, funniest, or most creative prompt that generates a spooky story, image, or poem using an AI model?
Judging Criteria: Prompt creativity, output quality, and Halloween spirit.
Prizes: 1st Place - $150 Gift Card, 2nd Place - $100 Gift Card and 3rd Place - $50 Gift card
Submissions begin October 29th, stay tuned to more information!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29

11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET | Keynote Kickoff – Making Sense of the AI Revolution: Your Guide to the Future

Pascal Finette, Co-Founder of radical

Join us on an eye-opening exploration of the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models, where the pace of change is breathtaking and we’re on the cusp of a “gradually then suddenly” transformation. We’ll unpack the reasons behind this monumental shift, grounded in the powerful principle of Wright’s Law, and take a closer look at the evolving landscape of Generative AI (GenAI), where language models are redefining what’s possible. By reflecting on how we’ve adapted to past technological disruptions, we’ll challenge common myths and misunderstandings about AI. Together, we’ll explore the exciting potential and current limitations of AI, from its impact on search engines and software development to its amusing struggles with spelling “mayonnaise”. You’ll come away with practical insights and strategies to help you thrive in the AI era, with a focus on the power of affordable, rapid experimentation. Get ready to dive in, separate hype from reality, and embrace the opportunities of the AI revolution.

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm ET | Empowering the Enterprise with Microsoft Copilot: AI Adoption & Workforce Transformation

Deema Abdullah, AI Workforce Specialist, Microsoft

Join us for an engaging session with Deema Abdullah, AI Workforce Specialist at Microsoft, as she explores how Microsoft Copilot and AI Agents are transforming the modern enterprise. With a global focus on empowering organizations like BDO, Deema will share insights on how AI is reshaping workplace dynamics—moving beyond automation to unlock human potential and drive meaningful change. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking to scale impact, this session will provide actionable guidance to help your teams thrive in an AI-driven future.

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET | Think, Plan, Grow Fireside Chat

Gary Boomer of Boomer Consulting and BDO Alliance USA Executive Director, Michael Horwitz

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, accounting stands at a pivotal crossroads. Unlike past technological shifts that automated tasks, AI is transforming the very nature of decision-making, strategy, and client engagement. Whether you're a firm leader, practitioner, or tech strategist, this session will equip you with the tools to think differently, plan boldly, and grow sustainably in the age of intelligent automation.

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm ET | AI Strategy for Accounting Firms: Navigating the Future

Panel: Sarah Gallo from Harshwal & Company LLP, Francisco Colon from MGO and Nick Buccelli from Wiss & Co. Moderated by BDO Alliance USA Digistal Assets Director, Mike Mitchell

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept—it's reshaping the accounting profession today. In this dynamic panel, industry-leading CPA firm executives and AI experts will explore how firms can strategically embrace AI to drive transformation across operations, analytics, and client services. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to craft an AI roadmap that boosts efficiency, fosters innovation, and secures long-term competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30

10:00 am - 11:00 am ET | CPA Tech Talks: Powered by the BRNs

Introducing CPA Tech Talks: Powered by the BRNs—a fast-paced, insight-rich series of client spotlights designed to showcase real-world innovation and impact. Each CPA firm will participate in a 10-minute discussion, offering a concise yet powerful look into how firms are leveraging technology to solve pressing business challenges. Join us to hear directly from clients about the transformative power of collaboration, innovation, and strategic problem-solving. Whether you're seeking inspiration or practical guidance, CPA Tech Talks will deliver fresh perspectives and actionable insights.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm ET | Keynote Presentation - BDO’s AI Transformation Journey

Mike Gerhard, Chief Data and AI Officer at BDO

Start day two of your summit experience with a keynote from Mike Gerhard, BDO Chief Data and AI Officer at BDO as he shares BDO vision for the future and a candid look at the firm’s AI transformation over the past 365 days. In this session, Mike will highlight the strategic shifts and innovations that are redefining how BDO delivers value. Learn about the firm’s approach to technology modernization, the guiding principles behind key decisions, and the priorities driving BDO’s ongoing transformation. Discover how these strategies are impacting clients and teams and get a glimpse of what’s next on the horizon.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET | Tax - AI vs Tax Automation – What’s the Difference and Why it Matters

Ellen Choi from Edgefield and Levi Morehouse from Aiwyn

The future of tax will be focused on the most effective use of technology in tax. This involves combining AI and automation. Automation handles the repetitive, lower-value tasks, freeing up tax professionals to apply their expertise to the complex challenges that require human judgment. The panel will discuss the key differences and overlapping capabilities of AI and automation in the tax field.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET | A&A - AI in Audit: Innovations from BRN Providers

AI is reshaping the audit landscape—and BRN providers are leading the charge. In this session, we’ll spotlight seven audit solution providers—AuditFile, Caseware, Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS), Fieldguide, Inflo, Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting, and Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting—as they share how AI is being embedded into their platforms to drive smarter, faster, and more insightful audits. From automating routine tasks to enhancing risk assessment and data analysis, these providers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI is being applied today, what’s on the horizon, and how firms can prepare to take advantage of these advancements.

From automating routine tasks to enhancing risk assessment and data analysis, these providers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI is being applied today, what’s on the horizon, and how firms can prepare to take advantage of these advancements.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET | CAS - The Future of AI in Accounting and Advisory Services

Matthew May, Sorren

We all know that AI is already beginning to reshape the landscape of client accounting and advisory services. In this session, we’ll start by looking at the latest AI advancements and their practical applications in day-to-day client service that help to automate routine tasks, enhance data accuracy, deliver deeper insights, and enable more proactive advisory support. Then we’ll push ahead into the future setting our sites on where AI is taking the industry, from predictive analytics and intelligent automation to more personalized client service. Join us to find out what skills will matter most and how you can get ready for the next wave of innovation. Our goal is for you to walk away with thoughts on where to invest time and money – and blazing a trail to help your team work smarter, serve clients better, and stay ahead in a fast-changing world.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET | Operations - Driving Growth Through AI: Real-World Strategies for Business Development and Marketing Teams

Panel: Adam Klein, Head of Industry, Accounting & Advisory at Introhive, Mark Burnette, Chief Growth Officer, LBMC, and BDO USA

This panel will explore how CPA and professional services firms are leveraging AI tools and platforms to accelerate business development and marketing outcomes. With real-world examples from firms using platforms like Introhive, panelists will share how AI is shaping client engagement, opportunity identification, and firm-wide growth strategies. The discussion will also cover how AI adoption is influencing team structures, responsibilities, and skill sets in BD and marketing departments.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm ET | Tax - How AI is Transforming Tax Practice Growth and Efficiency

Panel: Madeline James from Tax Plan IQ, Adrian Anderson from BDO USA, and Sona Akmakjian from Avalara

This session explores how AI and automation are not just helping firms operate more efficiently—but how they’re fundamentally changing how CPA firms grow. Strategic growth isn’t only about delivery anymore; it’s about positioning, marketing, and differentiation.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm ET | A&A - AI Risk Readiness for CPA Firms: Security, Compliance, and Beyond

Doug Davidson, GBQ

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the accounting profession (and our clients), much of our attention naturally centers on data and cybersecurity—especially the confidentiality of firm and client information. However, effective risk management requires a broader lens. This session offers a thorough overview of AI-driven risks, not only addressing traditional cybersecurity concerns but also issues such as labor impacts, compliance obligations, and the ethical challenges of AI governance including data quality and accuracy related-issues. Attendees will gain practical tools and insights to proactively safeguard their firms and clients, and to confidently navigate the evolving technological and regulatory environment that all CPAs now face.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm ET | CAS - Growing CAS in the AI Era: Move from Fishing to a Targeted Approach

Eric Eager, 4ImpactData

Many firms know they need to grow CAS—but growth is often slow, reactive, and based on guesswork. This session introduces a smarter, AI-driven approach to identifying and prioritizing growth opportunities across your client base. Rather than relying on manual discovery or waiting for clients to ask for help, firms can now use AI to pinpoint which clients need what services, when, and deliver strategic value at scale. Whether you’re just beginning to build out your advisory practice or trying to grow more efficiently, this session will show how AI can unlock smarter, more scalable growth.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm ET | Operations - AI and Automation in CPA Firm Operations: Recruiting, Workflow, and Efficiency

Shelly Carmichael, Smith + Howard

While most discussions of AI in accounting focus on tax and audit, the biggest opportunities for many firms lie in operations. This session shows managing partners, COOs, and firm leaders how to apply AI to the business side of the practice, recruiting, project management, billing, engagement tracking, and client development. We’ll highlight practical tools firms can use today to reduce administrative burden, improve efficiency, and surface new cross-serving opportunities. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and resources to streamline operations, strengthen recruiting, and free up capacity for higher-value work.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET | Tax - AI in Tax: Innovations from BRN Providers

Claire Tsukuda from Kipsi, Benjamin Alarie from Blue J, and Cosmin Nicolaescu from Accrual

Generative AI, including large language models like GPT-4.1, is reshaping the landscape of tax research and professional practice. This session will explore the ethical challenges involved in adopting AI tools in tax work, covering areas such as accuracy, bias, and data privacy. Attendees will gain practical insights into mitigating these risks while using AI tools to improve efficiency and maintain compliance with evolving ethical standards.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET | A&A - Agentic AI in Accounting: Hype or Real Transformation

Eli Gill, Paro

Agentic AI is emerging as a transformative model in the world of automation—but what does that really mean for CPA firms? This session cuts through the buzz to explore how agentic AI differs from traditional automation and where it can deliver real value in accounting workflows. From reporting and reconciliation to client communications and decision support, agentic AI introduces a new level of autonomy and adaptability. Join us as we demystify the concept and examine practical applications already reshaping firm operations. Whether you're exploring AI for the first time or refining your firm’s digital strategy, this session will help you separate hype from meaningful transformation.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET | CAS - Scaling Talent and Impact with AI Agents

Matthew Harpe, Basis

The accounting profession’s persistent talent shortage, mounting service complexity, and “do-more-with-less” pressure demand new leverage. This session shows how AI agents become the scaffolding that lifts staff out of rote, repetitive work and into strategic, client-focused roles—preserving firm identity while restoring dignity, control, and confidence to the profession. Through a panel of Top 100 firms already deploying agents, attendees will hear exactly how they start, what they assign, how they train teams to work with AI (not fear it), and the results they’re seeing.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET | Operations - Beyond the Buzzwords: Getting Real About AI vs Automation

Amanda Frye, Talentcrowd

Everyone’s talking about AI, but most firms are still duct-taping ChatGPT onto broken workflows and calling it innovation. This session cuts through the noise to break down the real differences between AI and automation, how to know which you actually need, and what it takes to make either one deliver results in a professional services environment. We’ll walk through a proven framework for assessing your tech stack, identifying automation opportunities, and mapping out realistic AI use cases.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31

10:00 am - 11:00 am ET | CPA Tech Talks: Powered by the BRNs

11:30 am - 12:30 pm ET | Reimagining CPA Firm Operations: Leveraging AI, Automation, and Innovation for Streamlined Processes

Roman Kepczyk with Rightworks, AnneMarie DuFault with Anthem Strategists, David Brown with BMSS

We often turn to technology as a way to enhance client services, but we would be remiss if we didn’t look inward at our own operational processes. Discover how AI, automation, and innovative technologies are transforming the operational landscape of CPA firms as we explore practical strategies and real-world examples for optimizing key business processes. We’ll discuss how to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and unlock new efficiencies across your firm, empowering your teams to focus on higher-value activities, improve cash flow and provide timely information to help you run your business.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET | Wrap-up Keynote - Unlock AI Success: BDO Digital’s Integration Strategies & Resources

Joanna Weststrate and Tyler Cahill from BDO USA

Discover how the BDO Digital team is driving AI adoption and transformation—and how their strategies can benefit your organization. In this session, BDO experts will share the integration and training approaches they’re using to embed AI into business processes, overcome implementation challenges, and foster a culture of innovation. You’ll gain insight into the practical resources, toolkits, and learning paths available through BDO, and learn how these can be adapted to support your own AI initiatives. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, this session offers actionable strategies and direct access to BDO’s expertise, designed to help Alliance members accelerate their AI success. Join us to connect, learn, and take away proven methods to enhance your organization’s AI journey.

For questions, please contact your Alliance Relationship Principal/Director.