Cloud Foundations Out, AI-Powered Growth In.
By CPA Trendlines Research
Tax and accounting firms appear poised in 2026 to double down on AI-driven services, accelerate developments in blockchain accounting, add new automations to CAS platforms, pursue transformative audits, and reimagine talent pipelines.
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If this year’s Digital CPA Conference in Washington, D.C., is any indication, then 2026 will be characterized by AI ubiquity, CAS at the core, and strategic boldness.
Comparing the 2024 and 2025 events back-to-back reveals a dramatic evolution in themes, speakers, and firm strategies — effectively a “what’s out vs. what’s in” for the profession.
If 2024 began a shift from the cloud to artificial intelligence, then 2025’s meeting will usher in AI agents, audit intelligence platforms, and designed growth. CAS is transforming from an emerging practice line to the centerpiece of firm business models, and talent discussions are shifting from plugging shortages to workforce restructuring. Leadership forums are shifting from exploring ideas to executing firm-wide transformation through mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and governance experimentation.
At DCPA 2024 in Denver, many firms laid the groundwork for future growth. Sessions emphasized cloud, cybersecurity, and basic automation. Artificial intelligence was experimental — with CPA.com’s AI toolkit and GenAI initiative guiding early adopters. “AI is no longer theoretical—it’s driving real change,” said CPA.com CEO Erik Asgeirsson. The event promoted CAS growth, citing a 17% median increase, and encouraged firms to develop structured advisory services. On the audit side, the Top 100 firms began adopting the AICPA’s Dynamic Audit Solution.
Talent was a pain point in 2024. The AICPA Town Hall often focused on the shrinking pipeline. U.S. accounting graduates decreased to 55,152 in 2023–24, representing a 6.6% decline. Despite two semesters of 12% enrollment growth, firms addressed shortages with outsourcing and automation. “In a time where technology and strategic foresight are reshaping accounting and finance,” Asgeirsson said, “the progressive firms of the Digital CPA community are forging the future through innovation and adaptability.”
As Digital CPA 2025 opens in Washington, D.C., the tone shifts from exploration to execution. The agenda includes over 50 speakers and sessions across CAS, audit, tax, and practice management. AI is transitioning from theory to infrastructure: “agentic AI” — systems that autonomously complete tasks — is taking center stage. “AI is accelerating change across every area of the profession,” Asgeirsson says. Keynotes by OpenAI’s Zack Kass and futurist Pascal Finette emphasize AI-orchestrated business models. A new Audit Innovation track highlights practical tech for continuous assurance and risk analysis.
CAS is no longer a service line; it is the strategy. The 11-session CAS track is the largest at the conference. CAS divisions at mid-sized firms now use platform models and automated CFO tools. Maus software, for example, pitches its ability to transform traditional practices into “CAS powerhouses.”
Talent strategy is maturing in 2025. Firms are adopting distributed workforce models that incorporate remote, offshore, and automated teams. PE funding is helping drive this evolution. By year’s end, CPA Trendlines Research estimates over 120 PE-backed deals in the last six years will have raised firm valuations by at least $30 billion.
Leadership and firm structure are being reframed under the 2025 theme “Growth by Design.” Asgeirsson and AICPA CEO Mark Koziel will lead sessions on execution, including integrating technology, updating ownership models, and preserving quality with outside investors. Unlike 2024’s exploratory mood, 2025 emphasizes choice, action, and scaling. Alternative structures, non-CPA ownership, and cross-entity governance are on display. The AICPA Town Hall is expected to cover regulatory, legislative, and technical updates. “Firms have to be intentional,” says advisor Will Hill.
Looking ahead, 2026 will amplify these shifts:
- AI will be embedded across services. Mid-market firms will deploy orchestrated AI agents for processing, audit analytics, and client interactions. Continuous audit dashboards may replace traditional reviews.
- Blockchain will go mainstream. Crypto asset advisory, stablecoin standards, and blockchain-based audit trails will emerge.
- CAS automation will intensify. Expect fully integrated portals, industry-specific platforms, and AI-enhanced forecasting.
- Audit transformation will accelerate. New CPA exam disciplines and AI-enhanced audit techniques will define the audit of the future.
- Talent models will diversify. Apprenticeships, 120-credit pathways, and non-CPA roles will expand. Gen Z-friendly policies and PE-backed compensation packages will reshape recruitment.
From incremental adoption to intentional redesign, the 2024 and 2025 conferences chart a profession on offense. In 2026, the accounting industry may finally leave behind its legacy systems for a digitally engineered future.