The future-ready accountant: building tech and data skills as an ACA

Craig Stirk, Chief Data Officer, Sprift 
Craig is the CDO at Sprift Technologies, the leading source for UK residential property information. He is an information exploitation leader with a background in change, BI/MI/analytics, process management and corporate finance who likes nothing better at work than using data to make people happier.

Dudley Gould, VP Business Development, Circit
Dudley Gould is a Chartered Accountant and ICAEW member, currently serving as VP of Business Development at Circit. Dudley began his career in audit with KPMG and Moore Kingston Smith before founding Audapio, an analytics solution designed to enhance audit quality and efficiency. At Circit, he helps audit firms drive their digital strategies forward by providing the most secure and efficient platform for verifying financial information. Dudley is also an active member of the ICAEW Data Analytics Community, passionate about the future of audit and innovation in financial services.

Franki Hackett, Associate Director, Grant Thornton UK 
Franki is an associate director in the Digital Audit Team at Grant Thornton UK. She also maintains an academic sideline researching country-by-country tax reporting and open databases. Previously she was Head of Audit and Ethics at Engine B, a purpose-led, cross-sector enterprise enabling intelligent corporate data access at the speed and quality demanded by the digital age. Before that, as Head of the Data Analytics Research Team at the UK National Audit Office, Franki lead a world-leading team of auditors and data scientists to develop data analytics tools for the audit of government bodies in the UK.

John Toon, Tech Strategy Lead, Beever and Struthers
John looks after all things technology for Beever and Struthers and their clients. John leads a team that have data analytics, BI reporting, software development, automation, and systems advisory skills. They provide the firm and their clients advice on the latest technology trends, how to make use of them effectively, whilst understanding potential risks, with the goal to maintain competitive advantage, modernise and be an attractive place to work.

Monica Odysseos, Head of AI and Data Lab, Grant Thornton Cyprus 
Monica is a leader in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, currently heading the AI and Data Lab at Grant Thornton Cyprus. A qualified Chartered Accountant with ICAEW, Monica holds an MSc in Risk Management from the University of Southampton and a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Bath. She has built a robust career in technology and consultancy, leading significant AI projects, developing deep learning models, and pioneering data analytics initiatives. As the Chair of the ICAEW Data Analytics Community, she educates members on AI through her widely acclaimed 'AI: What is it really?' article series and webinars. A certified trainer and SCRUM Master, Monica continually drives the industry forward by integrating advanced AI solutions with strategic business practices, empowering organisations to harness data for growth and innovation.