ENG26SS101. From GenAI to AI Agents: What’s Next for Tax, Audit, and Advisory, presented by Wolters Kluwer

As the accounting profession moves beyond early experimentation with generative AI, a new capability is beginning to reshape how work gets done: AI agents. Unlike traditional AI tools that respond to prompts, AI agents can plan, execute, and complete multi step workflows—working proactively across systems while keeping professionals firmly in control.

In this session, you will explore what AI agents are, how they differ from today’s AI enabled tools, and why they represent the next major shift in tax, audit, and client service. Through practical examples, you’ll see how agent powered workflows can streamline document intake, accelerate review cycles, improve accuracy, and create capacity for higher value advisory work.

Attendees will gain insight into:
• The market reality: Why analysts predict agent powered capabilities will be embedded in a significant share of enterprise software over the next few years—and what that means for accounting firms.
• The technology foundation: How AI agents operate, including levels of autonomy, human in the loop oversight, and the guardrails required for trusted use with sensitive financial data.
• A practical path forward: How firms can identify high impact use cases, pilot agentic workflows safely, and scale adoption without disrupting quality or compliance.

Attendees will leave with a clear framework for evaluating readiness, prioritizing opportunities, and confidently navigating the shift from AI that answers questions to AI that helps get the work done—while preserving professional judgment and trust.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify characteristics of high‑value, low‑risk first use cases for agents in a CPA firm (e.g., intake, extraction, follow‑ups, exception flagging).
• Apply a simple pilot approach (baseline → pilot → decision) to evaluate value and readiness for scaling agents.
• Recognize where human review and oversight are required in agent-enabled workflows to maintain professional accountability