INTHEBLACK April 2026 - Magazine - Page 21
The accountant’s role is evolving,
but empathy and human connection
will always be in demand.
O
Technology has and will continue
to transform accounting processes,
but not its core principles.
n 12 April 1886, a group of accountants
met in Melbourne to discuss the future
of the profession. What challenges were
on the horizon? How could they bring
more rigour to accounting? How could a new
accounting body make a difference?
Fast forward 140 years and CPA Australia’s founding
membership of 45 has grown to more than 176,000
people in over 100 countries. And, while those
original questions remain as relevant today, the
answers have changed across the decades.
The accounting profession continues to evolve.
While some members witnessed the personal
computer revolution of the early 1980s, others are
Ethics, judgement and guidance
remain a timeless foundation
for the profession.
experiencing the transformative impact of artificial
intelligence (AI) today. Financial performance
measurement has moved beyond traditional
profit-and-loss metrics to include factors such as
environmental impact. The role of accounting has
also become less transactional, with accountants now
instrumental in shaping an organisation’s strategy,
growth and financial health.
Understanding where the profession is heading
requires knowledge of where it has been. The following
Q&As with members ranging in age from their 20s
to their 80s provide an opportunity to highlight the
evolving nature of accounting as both a technical
discipline and a human-centred profession.
BOLD SIGNALS intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 21
