NEWS

Kenji Kuramoto: Basis Moves to Close AI’s Biggest Gap

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When accountants and AI agents work side-by-side

“The future of the profession is accountants and agents working together,” Kuramoto says.


By Seth Fineberg
For CPA Trendlines

“Managing partner-in-residence” is not a standard role in accounting, and that was the first point of friction when Kenji Kuramoto was asked to explain his new job at Basis, the accounting AI agent company. What does that actually mean?

The answer goes beyond one hire. It points to a shift now underway in accounting: artificial intelligence is moving out of experimentation and into operations, and firms are not yet prepared for what that requires.

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Basis, at getbasis.ai, says that Kuramoto, founder of cloud pioneer Acuity, joined full-time to help firms transition to AI-enabled operations, working directly with customers and shaping the product. The company made clear this was not a symbolic role. “Kenji isn’t here to advise from the margins,” CEO Matthew Harpe says. “He’s a full-time member of this team… creating the product with us.” Kuramoto is embedded with the company, not observing from the outside.

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From Deloitte Spinout to Market Disruptor: Streamworks Targets the Mid-Tier Audit and Assurance Software Gap

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Sharma

Rebranded from Auvenir, the independent platform doubles down on AI, quality management, and underserved firms.

By CPA Trendlines

Auvenir, the audit and compliance technology platform originally developed within Deloitte, has officially spun out as an independent company under a new name: Streamworks Tech.

The move marks a strategic shift—not just in ownership, but in market focus, product direction, and long-term vision.

“Ultimately, both sides agreed that… the customers are in the best hands, and the technology is in the best hands, with us continuing forward [as an independent company],” said Neeraj Sharma, chief operating officer of Streamworks Tech. READ MORE →

Leadership Starts Earlier: Students Help Shape Accounting’s Future

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Center for Accounting Transformation expands Student Ambassador Program nationwide with nonprofit fiscal sponsorship. 

Support future accounting leaders! Make tax-deductible contributions through FSA, with funds restricted to support the Center’s student initiatives

By Center for Accounting Transformation

The Center for Accounting Transformation announced today that its student initiatives are now fiscally sponsored by Fiscal Sponsorship Allies (FSA), a 501(c)(3) public charity. The milestone provides the nonprofit governance, financial stewardship, and fundraising infrastructure needed to expand the Center’s student-led programs nationwide. 

The Center is currently inviting educators, firms, professional organizations, and individuals to participate through partnership, mentorship, and philanthropic support.
Organizations and individuals can now make tax-deductible contributions through FSA, with funds restricted to support the Center’s student initiatives.
To learn more and hear directly from one of the student leaders, visit https://www.fundraisegenius.com/ca3677. 

While the fiscal sponsorship establishes operational support, the announcement represents something larger: an investment in a new, student-driven model for professional engagement and career readiness.  READ MORE →

With Apax Sale, CohnReznick Starts Building a National Platform

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First rollup: Smith Schafer & Associates.

By CPA Trendlines Research

CohnReznick has closed its funding deal with Apax Partners, formally planting one of the world’s largest private equity firms inside the upper tier of the U.S. accounting profession.

MORE Private Equity

The transaction, three years in the making, positions Apax as the majority owner of CohnReznick’s non-attest business, while the firm’s audit and attest services remain separate.

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Regulators Put PE Under the Microscope

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Private equity meets public trust.

By CPA Trendlines Research

The nation’s accounting regulators are signaling that private equity’s rapid expansion into CPA firms has reached a point that demands closer scrutiny.

MORE Private Equity

In a new white paper, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy lays out a framework of questions that could shape the next phase of regulation for firms backed by private equity or operating under alternative practice structures. At the same time, senior officials at the Securities and Exchange Commission are warning CPA firms to remain focused on “the basics.” The AICPA is also considering revising its independence regime.

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