The School of Accounting Sciences at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently brought together representatives from major accounting and audit firms and students to talk about the future of the accountancy profession in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
The event, led by senior lecturer and chartered accountant Kurt Naicker, was attended by more than 500 students in their second and third year of studies in chartered and financial accountancy.
Various industry leaders shared their insight on the future of the accounting profession. They included Liron Leiboff from PayCurve, Steven Donzella and Grant Greeff CA(SA) from SearchKings Africa, Jan-Pierre Botes from Moore Johannesburg Inc., Dale Russell from Moore Blockchain & Digital Assets JHB, Brad Strauss from Adapt IT, and Estelle Landsburg from the NWU, to name but a few.
During their presentations, the speakers covered various topics pertinent to the accounting profession. They spoke about the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data and blockchain on the accounting industry, and discussed the new skills and competencies that entry-level chartered and professional accountants need to succeed.
The speakers elaborated on the changing landscape of the audit industry and how it has been transformed by the 4IR. They also stressed the importance of digital acumen and data analytics, as outlined in the CA 2025 competency framework. Additionally, they shared their insights on career opportunities available for accountants in the 4IR era, and emphasised the need for accountants to be adaptable and willing to learn new things.
Kurt says the event was a great success, and that the students appreciated the chance to gain insights from industry leaders regarding the future of their profession.
“The School of Accounting Sciences is dedicated to preparing its students for the challenges and opportunities of the 4IR, and by exposing them to the industry, we help them to position themselves at the forefront of this revolution," he adds.
Kurt Naicker, senior lecturer and chartered accountant.
