Claude & Excel — Understanding AI in Accounting & Finance Made Easy

Overview

Option 1 — AI in Accounting Foundations Focus:
This 90-minute session gives accounting and finance professionals a clear, grounded understanding of what AI actually is and how it is changing the profession in practice.
Ray opens by cutting through the noise around AI, establishing what it genuinely does in an accounting context and what it does not, before moving into how AI is reshaping financial reporting, close processes, audit sampling, anomaly detection and data accuracy.
The session then addresses AI’s role in tax preparation and compliance, routine task automation and the critical boundary between AI capability and the professional judgment that accountants must continue to apply.
Risk, ethics and governance are covered directly, giving attendees a realistic view of the compliance obligations that arise when AI is introduced into an accounting environment.
The session closes with practical examples of how accounting teams are working with AI today and how organisations can prepare their people for an AI-enabled future.
Key Benefits:
1. Understand what AI genuinely does in accounting and where its practical boundaries lie
2. Explore how AI is changing audit, reporting, tax compliance and routine task automation
3. Leave with a clear view of the risks, ethics and professional judgment considerations that apply

Option 2 — Practical AI and Accounting Workflow Focus:
This session is designed for accountants, finance professionals and audit staff who want a practical, no-jargon introduction to how AI is being used in accounting workflows today.
You work through the real capabilities of AI in financial reporting, close processes, audit and compliance, with a clear focus on where AI adds value and where human judgment remains non-negotiable.
The session covers data accuracy improvement, error detection, tax preparation support and routine task automation, giving you a realistic picture of what AI can be trusted to do and what it cannot.
Ray addresses the governance, ethical and regulatory dimensions of AI use in accounting, ensuring you understand the compliance context before relying on any AI tool in a professional environment.
A forward-looking section on team readiness and AI adoption gives you a practical framework for preparing yourself and your colleagues for the changes ahead.
Key Benefits:
1. Get a practical, clear-headed view of AI capability across audit, reporting and compliance
2. Understand where AI supports accounting workflows and where professional judgment must lead
3. Build a realistic approach to AI risk, ethics and team readiness for accounting environments

Option 3 — Applied AI Awareness and Professional Readiness Focus:
This masterclass gives accounting professionals the knowledge and perspective they need to engage confidently with AI in their organisation — whether they are evaluating tools, managing risk or preparing their team for change.
You explore what AI really is in an accounting context, how it is being applied across financial reporting, audit, tax, data accuracy and routine automation, and what the genuine limits of AI capability look like in professional practice.
The ethics, governance and compliance considerations of using AI in accounting are addressed directly, so you understand your obligations before AI tools become part of your standard workflow.
Ray demonstrates how accounting teams are working with AI in practice today and provides a framework for building team readiness and managing the transition to an AI-enabled accounting environment.
The session is grounded in real-world accounting scenarios throughout, making it directly relevant to the work you do every day.
Key Benefits:
1. Understand AI capability and limitation across the full accounting workflow from audit to tax
2. Address the ethics, governance and compliance obligations that apply when using AI in accounting
3. Build confidence and a practical readiness framework for AI adoption in your accounting team

Why you should Attend

• Understand what AI really is in an accounting context and separate genuine capability from exaggerated claims
• Explore how AI is reshaping financial reporting, period-end close processes and audit workflows
• See how AI supports continuous testing, smarter sampling and anomaly detection in audit environments
• Learn how AI improves data accuracy and flags errors in financial records before they become problems
• Understand where AI fits in tax preparation, compliance monitoring and routine accounting task automation
• Define the professional judgment boundaries that accountants must retain regardless of AI capability
• Address the ethics, governance and regulatory obligations that apply when AI is used in accounting
• Review real-world examples of how accounting teams are integrating AI into their daily workflows today
• Build a practical framework for preparing your accounting team for an AI-enabled professional future

Who Will Benefit

• This webinar is designed for accounting and finance professionals who want a clear, practical understanding of how AI is changing the profession and what it means for their daily work, their team and their organisation. It is suitable for attendees at any experience level who are looking for a grounded, no-jargon introduction to AI in an accounting context.
• Accountants
• Auditors
• Tax professionals
• Finance managers
• Controllers
• CFO support staff and anyone responsible for financial reporting, compliance or accounting team development will benefit directly from the examples, frameworks and professional guidance covered in this session.
• Accountants and bookkeepers in public practice and corporate environments
• Auditors and assurance professionals looking to understand AI’s role in audit methodology
• Tax professionals and compliance staff responsible for preparation, review and regulatory reporting
• Accounting team leaders and L&D professionals responsible for AI readiness and staff development

Areas Covered in the Session

• What AI Really Is (and Is Not) in Accounting — clarifying what AI actually does in an accounting context and separating practical capability from common misconceptions
• How AI Is Changing Financial Reporting and Close Processes — understanding how AI is reshaping period-end workflows, report generation and financial close timelines
• AI in Audit — Continuous Testing, Sampling, and Anomaly Detection — exploring how AI supports audit efficiency through continuous control testing, smarter sampling and anomaly identification
• Using AI to Improve Data Accuracy and Error Detection — applying AI tools to identify data inconsistencies, flag errors and improve the reliability of financial records
• AI’s Role in Tax Preparation and Compliance — understanding where AI fits in tax workflow automation, compliance monitoring and preparation support
• Automating Routine Accounting Tasks with AI — identifying which repetitive accounting tasks are best suited to AI automation and how to approach implementation
• Human Judgment vs AI — What Accountants Must Still Control — defining the boundaries of AI capability and the professional judgment areas that accountants must retain and apply
• Managing Risk, Ethics, and Compliance When Using AI — understanding the governance, ethical and regulatory considerations that apply when AI is used in an accounting environment
• How Accountants Work with AI Tools in Practice Today — reviewing real-world examples of how accounting professionals are currently integrating AI into their daily workflows

EXTENDED LEARNING TOPICS
In addition to the core webinar content, the following topics are included in the Learning Guide, complete with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
These topics will also be presented and demonstrated live during the webinar where time permits.

• Preparing Accounting Teams for an AI-Enabled Future — building a practical approach to team readiness, skill development and change management for AI adoption in accounting

NOTE: Topic sequence may be subject to slight variation