Talent pipeline worries have been prominent within the profession this year, but according to Accounting Today’s The 2025 Top 100 People: Critical concerns in accounting, there appears to be a more nuanced set of forces at play.

At the AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments, Acting Chair George Botic gave a measured view of how artificial intelligence is changing the audit landscape.

A new study suggests that audit teams with more women, particularly in leadership positions, are more apt to produce higher-quality audits at less cost. 

As CFOs continue to operate as strategic partners to the CEO, chief accounting officers are taking on a broader set of responsibilities that extend far beyond historical governance and compliance work.