Stop thinking chatbot and start building an integrated AI operating system for your accounting practice.
Course Description:
This course provides a concise overview of Claude and its growing role as an AI-powered productivity, analysis, and workflow platform for accounting professionals. Participants will learn how Claude differs from traditional search engines, spreadsheets, and chatbots, and how it can be used to accelerate drafting, research, document review, data analysis, and client communications while maintaining professional skepticism and accountability. The course explores practical prompting techniques, document and spreadsheet analysis, projects, artifacts, connectors, Microsoft 365 integrations, automation capabilities, and emerging AI workflows. Special emphasis is placed on confidentiality, privacy, ethics, verification, and professional judgment. By the end of the course, participants will understand how to integrate Claude into their daily accounting workflows to improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and support higher-value advisory services. The course is based on the Claude platform ecosystem, including Chat, Projects, Artifacts, Connectors, Microsoft Office integrations, Voice Mode, Design, Code, and Cowork capabilities.
Topics Covered:
Understanding Claude and Large Language Models
Prompt Engineering Fundamentals for Accountants
Working with Documents, Contracts, and Spreadsheets
Projects, Artifacts, and Reusable AI Workspaces
Claude Connectors and Business System Integration
Microsoft 365 Add-ins and Workflow Automation
Professional Skepticism, Ethics, Privacy, and Verification
Learning Objectives:
Explain how Claude generates responses and supports accounting workflows.
Identify accounting tasks that are well-suited for AI augmentation.
Apply effective prompting techniques to improve AI-generated outputs.
Analyze contracts, financial documents, and datasets using Claude.
Evaluate the appropriate use of Projects, Artifacts, Connectors, and Office integrations.
Assess risks related to hallucinations, confidentiality, and data governance.
Develop AI-assisted workflows that enhance productivity while maintaining professional judgment.
Prerequisite Knowledge:
No prior experience with Claude is required; however, a basic understanding of accounting processes, Microsoft Office applications, and professional business communication will be beneficial.
MA, CMC, CITP/FITP
GARRETT WASNY, MA, CMC, CITP/FITP, is an artificial intelligence (AI) skills advisor to accountants, tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and tax preparers worldwide. His courses focus on the new intersection of accounting and technology, and provide guidance to practitioners on how to prosper in this dynamic age. His sessions demystify emerging cloud, mobile, and social applications, and explain in plain language how financial professionals can use these online tools to build trust, solve problems, and create new value. He’s also an award-winning Internet speaker, author, app developer, professional development specialist, and former management consultant for Price Waterhouse. He's published 50+ ebooks on computing and ethical issues related to accounting, written hundreds of articles and columns on Internet strategy, and delivered thousands of seminars and webinars to CPAs and accounting organizations around the globe.
This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.
If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.
