Mid-Career CPAs and the need to embrace technology

This first episode of the second season zeroes in on the need for CPAs to develop a growth mindset.  Someone with a growth mindset loves to innovate; is quick to embrace new technologies, and seeks out new ways of doing traditional activities. 

This growth mindset is especially important for mid-career CPAs as they begin rubbing shoulders with new entrants to the profession who have moved through the updated CPA Competency Map. 

In this episode host, David McGuffin speaks with Irene Wiecek. Irene is a professor of accounting at the University of Toronto and she was part of the team that created the new Competency Map. 

Irene says CPA’s of the future will “Get up every day thirsty to say, ‘What can I make better?’, ‘How can I improve performance today?’, and that to me is going to be the big change.’’

That definitely describes how Andrew Morgan approaches his role at EY. Andrew is a partner in charge of data analytics for the financial services audit practice. He’s also a member of EY's audit innovation lab. 

Andrew speaks to David about the ways he has brought innovation to the audit process. Just one example, he now has a pilot’s license to fly drones over parking lots and through warehouses to conduct audits. 

He tells David, “You always want to be curious about new technology and emerging methods. It keeps the audit interesting, keeps your professional life interesting, you don’t want to repeat the same procedures again and again for 30 or 40 years.’'

Highlights:

1:32 Irene describes the CPA of the future

3:40 Not having a growth mindset is the real danger to CPAs

5:02 How mid-career CPAs need to think about supporting staff to be curious

6:50 How Andrew came up with the idea to use a drone to conduct audits

10:13 Using the drone for warehouse audits

16:15 How Andrew fosters an ‘evergreen mindset’ that stays curious about new approaches to traditional practices.

17:07 It will be critical for CPAs to have this innovator’s mindset over the next decade

18:00 Ashley Alvarez gives her top tips for CPAs looking for resources to nurture the evergreen mindset.

Mastering data: A series of articles for CPAs

Advanced Data Management Certificate Program

CPA Canada Learning Portal

CPA's Foresight Initiative

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• Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect that of CPA Canada.
• Avertissement : Les opinions et les points de vue exprimés dans cette série de balados sont ceux de l’invité et ne représentent pas nécessairement ceux de CPA Canada.