INTHEBLACK September/October 2025 - Magazine - Page 5
“What is needed now is independent,
verifiable financial information,
provided by ethical professionals.
There’s never been a more
important time for accountants.”
CHRIS FREELAND AM, CPA AUSTRALIA
To truly take advantage of AI, accountants need to
understand what it means and how to use it. That is
critical for the profession, and we are supporting our
members with training.
4. What accounting and finance skills are
central to how the business world evolves over
the next decade?
There are new sectors emerging, but core skills are
still key. An example is environmental accounting,
which makes use of accountants’ core reporting and
analytical skills. As a new stream of accounting, it plays
to the interests of younger people who, in general,
are much more concerned about climate change.
Something that combines a broader societal
purpose with a profession is a great opportunity
for the next generation.
5. Since becoming CEO, you have engaged
with members in different parts of the world.
What has surprised you most?
What I love about the role is meeting with members
and hearing their stories. I was surprised by the
breadth of roles that our members have — whether
it is in public practice, the public service or in
commerce, where I’ve met CFOs and finance
directors from every industry imaginable.
I have connected with members who are entrepreneurs
that have started small and built extensive businesses.
Then there are the CPAs who work in not-for-profits.
In London, I met a member working for a charity
serving women’s health in Africa, who told me stories
about crossing borders in quite hazardous situations.
The diversity of roles in this industry is incredible. ●
GLOBAL GAME CHANGERS intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 5
