INTHEBLACK July 2026 - Magazine - Page 48
F E AT U R E
less abstract theory and more focus
on judgement, problem-solving and
professional confidence.”
Dr Jones says that in the educational
context, accounting assessments need to
reflect what accountants really do in practice.
“We have moved away from the idea that
assessment is about memorising content.
Instead, it is about showing how you would
use your knowledge in a real scenario.
That might mean analysing information,
weighing up options or explaining a
recommendation, just like you would with
a client, a manager or a board. The intent
is to equip learners with the confidence
to apply the knowledge they have learned to
mirror the way they work.”
Continuing professional development
that incorporates the completion of
micro-credentials (short, modular courses
that certify a specific skill or set of skills
that are designed to be work-relevant)
will become increasingly important for
accountants and finance professionals.
Dr Jones says the CPA Australia learning
model supports trust in the CPA designation
by mapping learning outcomes and assessments
directly to professional competencies.
“Employers and stakeholders know that when
someone earns or maintains their CPA they
have demonstrated real capability, not just
completed coursework. That clarity is incredibly
important for the profession, particularly with
the fast pace of change.”
READ
an article on how
skills mapping can
future-proof the
workforce
LISTEN OR WATCH
a podcast episode
on the future of
accounting in an
AI world
48 INTHEBLACK July 2026
SKILL MIX
Increasingly, some accounting firms are
hiring candidates with capabilities outside
of the traditional accounting sphere, with
expertise in areas such as data analytics,
cybersecurity or sustainability reporting.
The International Federation of
Accountants (IFAC) — of which
CPA Australia is a member — last year
finalised revisions to its International
Education Standards to embed sustainability
throughout accountants’ training. These
standards apply to all IFAC members.
“When we thought about the sustainability
challenge, it was really about how the skills
of an accountant need to shift or need to
be enhanced to make sure that they can work
in this context,” says Bruce Vivian, IFAC’s
head of education, member monitoring
and development. “We recognised how
important it is for an accountant to be able
to work effectively in a multidisciplinary
team. And that is something that is
particularly unique in the sustainability
space, because you may be working with
environmental scientists, social experts
or labour experts and various different
professionals who do not come from our
accounting world.
“We also recognised that this is not just
reflective of what is needed for sustainability,
but a broader trend of how the profession
needs to evolve to remain relevant and to
be able to move into new areas of service.”
Last year, IFAC also released
Opening Doors: 6 Principles of Best Practice
to Increase Access to Accountancy Qualifications,
which is intended to guide IFAC members
and other professional accountancy
organisations in preserving the rigour and
integrity of accountancy education while
promoting greater inclusivity.
“Opening Doors contains recommendations
to really encourage the profession to think
about how we can increase access into
professional qualifications and education
programs, and to essentially get rid of some
of the obstacles that prevent people getting
in,” Vivian says. “Qualifications remain
important, but when you follow a skills-based
approach, it provides opportunity to recognise
progress and also acknowledges that there
might be different combinations of skills that
get you to a similar place.”
While AI and automation stand out
as challenges for the accounting profession
globally, Vivian says that it is difficult to pin
down what they mean for skills development
and industry recruitment. “We do not know
exactly how AI is going to transform the
profession. We have some ideas, but it is very
early in the lifecycle of this disruption.”
He says that while technology is reshaping
accounting and auditing tasks, the demand
for higher-order human skills such as
professional judgement, strategic thinking,
ethical reasoning, digital literacy and
communication will increase.
“Many of the skills that are not what
we would call technical skills in our space
have a huge amount of applicability in this
new world,” he says. “Shift from thinking
about skills or competence in terms of what
you are able to do today, and instead think
about capabilities.” ■
