A recent survey from tax research solutions provider BlueJ, in cooperation with CPA.com, found that 54% of tax practitioners use some form of AI in their research, and 86% agree that firms that use AI have a competitive advantage over firms that do not.

Article source: https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/54-use-ai-in-tax-research-but-search-engines-remain-prominent

Auditors adopting new tech and methods, but many lag behind CPA.com's annual Audit Transformation Survey found that while audit technology is evolving and the adoption of modern audit methodologies is beginning to accelerate, firms are only just starting to embrace them, meaning a significant proportion of professionals have yet to enact dramatic changes to their practices.

Article source: https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/auditors-adopting-new-tech-and-methods-but-many-lag-behind

Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com, and Kim Blascoe, senior director of CAS professional services at CPA.com, were named Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, recognizing thought leaders and change-makers shaping the future of the profession

Article source: https://www.accountingtoday.com/report/the-2025-top-100-most-influential-people-in-accounting

Angel Zhen, CPA, recognized for efforts in automation, efficiency and advancing modern advisory model

NEW YORK, NY (Dec. 8, 2025) — CPA.com, the trusted partner in accounting and finance transformation, named Angel Zhen, CPA, as the recipient of the 2025 Digital CPA Innovative Practitioner Award. The annual award recognizes practitioners who demonstrate forward-thinking leadership and innovative approaches that inspire positive change across the accounting profession.

“As a solo practitioner, I have seen how much freedom and impact you can create when you design your firm with intention and lean into innovation,” said Zhen. “This recognition reflects the future of the profession, where CPAs combine technology, better systems and deeper advisory to serve clients at a higher level without burning out. My focus has been to show that a one-person firm can be both highly profitable and deeply human, and I am grateful that work is resonating.”

Zhen is redefining how sole practitioners can operate at scale by pairing modern technology, streamlined workflows, and intentional practice design. His approach has enabled faster delivery, greater advisory capacity, and a more sustainable model for solo firm owners seeking operational efficiency without sacrificing client experience or value.

Earlier this year, Zhen introduced The Profitable Solopreneur Playbook, which has helped more than 200 practitioners modernize processes, strengthen firm performance, and build freedom-focused practices. He was also selected to participate in the 2025 AICPA Leadership Academy, a program that identifies and supports emerging leaders within the profession.

“The DCPA Innovative Practitioner Award recognizes practitioners who are committed to finding better, smarter ways to serve their clients and strengthen their firms,” said Michael Cerami, EVP, CPA.com. “Angel has shown how a solo practitioner can use modern systems to support mundane tasks, accelerate delivery and create more opportunities for meaningful advisory conversations. His willingness to share those insights with others reflects the type of leadership and innovation this award is designed to celebrate.”

Zhen was recognized at Digital CPA, CPA.com’s annual conference for progressive practitioners focused on innovative technologies and business strategies impacting the accounting and finance landscape.

Barrett Young, CPA, marketing and tax partner, GWCPA, and Rose Araghchy, CPA, founder and principal, R2 Advisors PC, were named runners-up for the award.

Young is leading a shift within his firm toward subscription-based pricing and more transparent client engagement. He has helped implement AI-enabled processes and EOS-driven workflows that support stronger collaboration, clearer communication, and more streamlined client experiences. Young also shares insights with the profession through his firm’s YouTube channel and his podcast, The Art of Succession, where he spotlights challenges and opportunities facing small business owners navigating transition.

Araghchy developed the Financial Strategy Integration Framework (FSIF), a patent-pending model that unifies operations, tax and finance into one integrated, data-driven system. Under her leadership, R2 Advisors has embedded AI-assisted compliance layers, automation-enabled review systems and predictive financial dashboards that turn static reporting into actionable strategy. She also created the Catalyst Collective, an internal innovation lab that pilots new automation and data solutions designed to support clients’ long-term decision-making.

“What’s most powerful about all three of the practitioners recognized this year is their willingness and commitment to share their strategies with others,” Cerami noted. “It’s core to what makes this profession great.”

To learn more about this year’s recipients, as well as the other distinguished nominees shaping the future of the profession, visit the CPA.com Digital CPA Innovative Practitioner Award page.

About CPA.com

CPA.com is the trusted partner in accounting and finance transformation, enabling firms and finance teams to evolve and innovate across audit, tax and advisory services. It delivers leading-edge strategies, resources and technologies to help firms and finance teams of all sizes stay ahead of a rapidly changing marketplace, deliver more value to clients, and position for long-term success. CPA.com is an affiliate of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). For more information, visit www.CPA.com.

• Enhancements incorporate firm-led feedback, furthering DAS’s position as the leading audit platform built by the profession for the profession
• Industry content available across all major sectors

NEW YORK, NY (Dec. 8, 2025) — The AICPA and CPA.com today announced additional standards coverage, content and functionality for the AICPA Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS). Recent product releases deliver significant enhancements that refine the user experience, optimize functionality for engagements of all sizes, and expand applicability of the tool across all major industry sectors and standards.

Shaped directly from practitioner feedback, the updates improve the audit experience through automation and redesigned risk and internal control evaluation workflows. The releases also broaden market reach by covering audits conducted in accordance with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards.

DAS, powered by a transformative methodology developed by the AICPA in partnership with audit professionals from leading firms, reimagines the audit process with a data- and risk-driven approach that enhances efficiency, promotes a higher quality audit, and deepens the use of data to strengthen value delivered to clients. It’s built on the Caseware Cloud platform and is the profession’s most advanced and only fully integrated, end-to-end, cloud-based audit solution.

Key enhancements now include:

• Coverage of both private and public company standards: The solution now supports audits of public, private, non-profit and governmental entities.
• Enhanced risk workflow: The redesigned risk workflow introduces an intuitive and flexible approach to risk assessment and response.
• Scalability for all engagement types: DAS scales across engagement types, delivering comprehensive capabilities for complex audits with multiple entities, multiple regulatory requirements and large volume of transactions, while remaining efficient and adaptable for audits of smaller, less-complex entities.
• Advanced data analytics and intelligence: DAS continues to evolve its data-driven pillars through improvements to analytic tools, optimizing data reuse and AI-powered suggestions in a single, connected workflow. Enhanced carryforward, central planning and performance optimization empower firms to perform audits with greater efficiency.

In addition to DAS’s robust capabilities, a key differentiator is the dedicated support offered through CPA.com to assist firms with adoption readiness, including comprehensive implementation consulting, training and migration services to guide firms through the entire audit transformation journey.

Firm adoption and support

DAS adoption is accelerating within an increasing number of Top 25 firms progressing toward full migration. Usage is also expanding within firms of all sizes, underscoring DAS’s significant market impact as firms transform their audit practices. As firms increasingly recognize the advantages of a unified, integrated suite of applications, adoption of the OnPoint Suite (OnPoint DAS, OnPoint EBP, OnPoint PCR and OnPoint Audit) continues to advance with more than 27,000 active seats on the platform.

Schneider Downs & Co., Inc., a Top 60 Firm, is adopting DAS to support their audit transformation journey. Jeanne Barrett, a shareholder at the firm, commented:

“We appreciate being able to work closely with the DAS team to provide real-time feedback and then see that change reflected in the solution. DAS stands out not only for its advanced and purposeful methodology, but also for its flexibility and agility. The team’s responsiveness ensures that our needs as practitioners are heard and addressed, allowing us to deliver high-quality audits with greater efficiency.”

Ready for what’s next: A future-proof foundation for audit quality

With functionality that supports firms’ entire audit practices, including Employee Benefit Plans, Preparations, Compilations and Reviews, Government, Non-Profit and Commercial Financial Statement audits and integrated audits, DAS positions firms to thrive as standards and regulatory requirements continue to evolve, and engagement teams require new skillsets. The platform’s commitment to continuous improvement ensures that DAS evolves with regulatory changes, keeping audit quality, efficiency, and usability at the forefront.

To learn more or schedule a demo, visit cpa.com/DAS.

Audit transformation survey report

As a continued commitment to providing practice strategies to CPA firms, CPA.com and AICPA are releasing an audit transformation survey report that captures insights from firms of all sizes, offering benchmarks to measure progress, identify emerging trends, and highlight strategies that are driving innovation in audit practices. The report is based on a nationwide audit benchmark survey, conducted May through August 2025, with data collected from participating firms having audit practices that complete a minimum of two or more engagements annually. Sign up to receive a copy of the report as soon as it’s released.

About Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS)

DAS is the profession’s leading co-created audit platform, delivering transformative methodology, a guided approach, and practitioner-driven innovation for firms of all sizes.

For more information, visit CPA.com for the full announcement.

About CPA.com

CPA.com is the trusted partner in accounting and finance transformation, enabling firms and finance teams to evolve and innovate across audit, tax and advisory services. It delivers leading-edge strategies, resources and technologies to help firms and finance teams of all sizes stay ahead of a rapidly changing marketplace, deliver more value to clients, and position for long-term success. CPA.com is an affiliate of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). For more information, visit www.CPA.com.