Zoya Malik, Editor-in Chief, International Accounting Bulletin spoke to Tony Sacre, CEO, Allinial Global about his talk at IAFA 2025, on the challenges posed by AI and automation that is reshaping the way in which accountants and firms are delivering services and how he reimagines the role of accounting professionals in the future

Zoya Malik: Kindly describe your talk at IAFA 2025 and how this will impact your clients’ and firms’ business growth.

Tony Sacre: The accounting profession stands at a crossroads. As AI and automation reshape the way firms deliver services, the real challenge isn’t the technology itself; it’s reimagining the role of the accountant.

In my talk, Future-Proofing Accounting Firms, I’ll explore how firms can move beyond compliance to become strategic enablers of progress. Allinial Global supports independent firms around the world in this transition, providing guidance, peer collaboration, and tested strategies to help them unlock capacity, upskill teams, and rethink how value is created.

This is more than a technical evolution. It’s a leadership imperative. When accountants fully embrace emerging technologies, they’re not only improving margins but also helping clients navigate uncertainty, build resilient businesses, and make smarter decisions that ripple across communities and economies. So it’s not just about staying relevant. It’s about becoming the steady hand that guides real progress. And the world could use more accountants who think like that.

ZM: What practice trends do you foresee in the market over the next 24 months?

TS: Over the next two years, firms that fail to modernize will struggle to retain talent, serve clients efficiently, and compete in high-growth areas such as advisory services. The conversation is shifting from “What tools should we adopt?” to “How do we build a future-ready business model?”

We’re seeing an explosive interest in client accounting and advisory services, cybersecurity, and technology and digital transformation advisory—all of which require different skills and mindsets than traditional tax and audit services. The rise of generative AI will accelerate this shift, enabling automation of lower-value tasks while placing a premium on judgment, insight, and collaboration.

At Allinial Global, we’re focused on helping our members lead this change. That means fostering innovation, investing in leadership development, and creating real-time feedback loops between firms to scale what works. When firms share not just knowledge, but transformation strategies, the entire profession benefits. Ultimately, it’s about creating a culture within the association that drives this collaborative evolution.

ZM: What is the objective and value of speaking at IAFA 2025?

SC: Events like IAFA 2025 matter deeply to us because they challenge siloed thinking. As a global association, we thrive on cross-border dialogue and the opportunity to shape the narrative about what’s next for the profession.

Our goal at IAFA 2025 is twofold: to represent the voice of independent firms and to help define what leadership looks like in the age of AI. This is the best time to be in the accounting profession. It’s exciting to see the wonderful changes that are occurring in the industry—change is opportunity! We value our relationship with IAB and The Accountant as partners in elevating those stories—not just of disruption, but of reinvention, resilience, and relevance.

For us, it’s not about showcasing a product. It’s about galvanising a movement where accountants aren’t just reacting to change, but leading it. Accountants are changing the world!