This month’s column shows how to produce more accurate forecasts using exponential
smoothing in Excel.
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TOPICS
Information management and technology assurance
Are CPA firms ready for the next wave of data security threats?
An author of the JofA’s Professional Liability Spotlight column explains the importance of engagement letters for CPA firms and previews the January column’s focus on client bankruptcy. Listen to the episode or read the Q&A with Sarah Ference, CPA.
Audit transformation road map: New report lays out the journey
A CPA.com and AICPA survey of more than 50 firms unearthed five key themes for audit transformation and a step-by-step approach for a smooth rebuild.
As Finance Duties Shift, CAOs Take On Strategic Role
With CFOs becoming co-pilots of the CEO, chief accounting officers emerge as essential partners in shaping the future.
Detecting anomalies with Benford’s Law in Excel
This article shows how to apply Benford’s Law to a dataset in Excel and how to interpret the results.
How multiple people can share screens simultaneously
Q. When I am working with screen sharing on most apps, the experience is lackluster for my team and me. What sort of tools are out there that can create a more productive screen-sharing session? A. Screen sharing has become an important tool in communication and effective training for our remote team
AI and the audit: Finance leaders strongly support forward-thinking firms
Nearly all CFOs and finance directors in a BDO survey say they would pay more to work with audit firms that rely on artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
Writing an effective AI prompt for an audit
Explore AI in audit, SQMS documentation strategies, and fraud prevention insights from the November 2025 A&A Focus webcast for accounting professionals.
Lurking in the shadows: The costs of unapproved AI tools
“Shadow AI” use is rampant among company leadership and employees alike, a practice that exposes businesses to significant financial and reputational risks.
A new frontier: CPAs as AI system evaluators
Artificial intelligence has a trust problem. CPAs have the credibility and skill sets to address the issue.
Creating an AI agent in ChatGPT
ChatGPT’s agent can set complex goals, create a plan to meet those goals, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Using TEXTSPLIT to dissect Excel text strings
TEXTSPLIT is a very useful function for breaking down text cells that contain different lengths of text and delimiters.
Using Excel’s TEXTBEFORE AND TEXTAFTER functions to easily tame messy data
Excel’s TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER functions allow users to quickly split up text in ways that used to require combinations of functions like LEFT, RIGHT, MID, and FIND, leading to some confusing formulas.
Reputation, security, compliance: Why AI risk disclosures are surging
Nearly three-quarters of S&P 500 companies have disclosed at least one AI-related risk in Form 10-K filings so far in 2025. Learn what types of companies are reporting risk and what exactly they’re disclosing.
AICPA releases gen AI tool: Josi
A new generative AI tool, initially focused on the auditing and accounting space, accesses information within the AICPA Online Professional Library.
Reflecting on AI’s rise in accounting, looking to what comes next
A consultant and keynote speaker shares how AI, hybrid work, and uncertainty are reshaping the accounting profession. Ahead of his sessions at the Digital CPA Conference, Pascal Finette assesses the profession’s willingness to change.
AI, succession, the talent pipeline, and defining ‘unapologetic’ ambition
A profession leader and former AICPA chair shares what’s top of mind for corporate boards and looks ahead to topics of conferences in November and December. Listen to the podcast episode or read the Q&A with Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA/CITP, CGMA.
AI-driven spreadsheet tools — what CPAs need to know
Emerging AI-enabled, automated data management tools such as Paradigm have the potential to challenge Excel’s current market dominance.
Car talk: M&A, AI and EVs changing the dealership landscape
Two speakers with vast industry knowledge preview their session at the AICPA Dealership Conference. Listen to the episode or read the Q&A.
Is spending on technology spinning out of control?
Information technology spending, driven by AI investment, is consistently rising, but a survey finds that most leaders assume that they’re spending more than other companies are.
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Accountancy in America: Meeting the moment for 250 years
As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, explore the history of the accountancy profession’s essential role in the U.S. economy.
