Balancing Technological Advancements with Ethical Responsibility to Enhance the Accounting Profession
In the rapidly evolving landscape of accounting, generative AI presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant ethical challenges. This comprehensive course delves into the integration of AI technologies within accounting practices, emphasizing the critical balance between innovation and ethical responsibility. Participants will explore the foundational principles of AI, its current and potential applications in accounting, and the transformative effects it can have on efficiency and accuracy.
The course will provide an in-depth analysis of ethical frameworks essential for responsible AI usage, including strategies to tackle bias, ensure fairness, and uphold data privacy and security. Through a series of expert-led discussions, real-world case studies, and interactive sessions, attendees will learn how to implement AI tools effectively while maintaining the core values and professional standards of the CPA profession.
Additionally, the course will address the importance of human oversight in AI-driven processes, highlighting the role of CPAs in verifying and validating AI outputs to prevent errors and unethical practices. Participants will gain practical knowledge on integrating AI into their workflows, navigating regulatory landscapes, and communicating AI processes transparently to clients.
By the end of the course, CPAs will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to harness the benefits of AI, mitigate its risks, and lead their firms into a future where technology and ethics coexist harmoniously, ensuring continued trust and excellence in the accounting profession.
MBA, FCPA, FCA, CFF
With more than 35 years of international experience, I am recognized as a trusted strategic advisor on a wide variety of complex governance, ethics, compliance, and reputational risk challenges. My consulting work has taken me around the world, helping corporations and organizations investigate suspicions or allegations of corruption, and working as a litigation consultant, in complex court cases involving improper financial reporting and economic crimes. I have also acted as an independent expert in different matters involving misappropriation of confidential information, fraudulent financial transactions, and international tracing and recovery of stolen funds. My success stems from my willingness to unravel the facts and circumstances of my clients’ issues and provide clarity to them so that they can make informed and confident decisions. Holder of various academic certificates of completion such as “ESG Risks and Opportunities” and “Indigenous Canada”, I have helped organizations overcome different uncertain situations and crises related to corporate moral responsibility. Involved with prestigious initiatives such as the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network, where I participate as an expert in corporate ethics, I am a strong advocate against pervasive racist, sexist, and heterosexist attitudes. I believe that reconciliation, inclusivity, equity, and diversity, as well as representativity of black, indigenous, and people of color, should be top of mind for savvy directors on forward-thinking boards. As an independent director, I am able to advise on appropriate risk mitigation strategies related to ESG issues and opportunities, such as climate change and carbon emissions, social activism, supply chain considerations, and cybersecurity. Furthermore, my professional and academic expertise allows me to sit on governance and ethics committees, audit committees, finance committees, and Boards of Trustees with fiduciary responsibilities. An award-winning lecturer at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law and at the Executive MBA program, I have delivered presentations on corporate ethics and financial crimes, at some of the world’s premier universities such as Harvard University. Recognized internationally by the media, as well as by professional organizations, I am frequently asked to fuel and enrich several reflections on corporate compliance, ethical issues, and reputational risk. Over the last 10 years, I led conferences, webinars, and training sessions for many publicly-traded companies and also for various organizations and associations.
Founder and CEO at Numu Technologies
Mitchal Derksen is the founder and CEO of Numu Consulting. Mitchal has over 8 years of experience in financial analysis and accounting. Prior to Numu Consulting, Mitchal worked as a senior financial analyst at The University of British Columbia and as a supervisor/analyst - finance services at the University of Calgary in Qatar. Mitchal also worked as an intermediate accountant at KalTire and as an experienced associate at PwC. Mitchal Derksen is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and has their designation from the CA School of Business. Mitchal also has a Bachelor of Management from The University of British Columbia in the field of Accounting. Mitchal is also certified from CPA Canada (Chartered Professional Accountants Canada) in CPA, CA.
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.
