We’re now just a couple of months out from DCPA26, and I’m struck by how much has changed in the marketplace since we started planning the conference back in January. What’s becoming clear is that the profession of the future is going to look very different than it does today. AI is proving to be a generational catalyst.
But the deeper story is transformation. Firms are rethinking how they deliver value, how they bill for services, how they’re structured, and how they deploy talent. Real change is never just about technology. It reaches into the operating model itself, including people and process. This is the focus of DCPA26.
This year’s theme, “Vision to Velocity,” is about operationalizing transformation at scale and closing the gap between what’s possible and what’s actually working inside firms.
Here’s a quick look at what you can expect:
Separating AI hype from reality
AI has crossed a threshold. It’s evolved from a smart assistant to a tool that can handle more complex, multi-step work. And the platforms that firms already rely on are putting it to work inside their products, delivering real value. We’ll get specific about where AI is delivering today and how leading firms are using it to drive growth, not just efficiency.
The next phase of CAS
As firms apply more automation to routing accounting tasks, you’ll learn how the top CAS practices are redesigning their workflows and processes, pushing deeper into industry specialization, and developing their talent to do higher-value advisory.
Audit evolution
The auditor's job hasn't changed, but the urgency has — AI is moving faster than most firms can track, and new quality standards demand continuous discipline, not an annual checkbox. We’ll tackle this head-on, from cutting through AI guidance to moving teams beyond ad-hoc prompts into real workflows.
An expanded tax transformation track
Tax may wind up being the practice area where transformation hits the hardest as it moves beyond deadline-driven compliance toward proactive, year-round advisory. Expect real-world examples of how firms are successfully transitioning to this model.
Speakers who will stretch your thinking
Our keynote lineup brings subject matter experts who understand accounting and finance. Erik Brynjolfsson on the economics of AI and what it does to productivity and jobs, Rachel Wilson on the security threats every firm now has to take seriously, and Nitin Mittal and Barry Melancon on scaling AI across an enterprise and where the profession goes from here.
Community and connections
DCPA brings together the most progressive thinkers from across the profession at a time when it’s changing fast. It’s a chance to compare approaches with peers who are pushing on the same challenges, learn from those a few steps ahead, and build relationships with providers shaping where the profession goes next.
Join us at DCPA26
For a preview of DCPA26, tune in to our Sept. 24 pre-conference webcast with Pascal Finette on how firms can adapt and stay competitive amid rapid change.
I hope you’ll join us at DCPA26, Dec. 6–9 at the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in San Diego or online.
For more details and to register, visit cpa.com/digital-cpa.
