Virtual classroom - Generative AI in professional practice: from core skills to client value
Move beyond the hype - learn to apply Generative AI directly to your professional practice.
*New for 2026*

This 6-hour course is delivered over three, 2-hour live virtual classroom sessions. This highly interactive course blends expert insight, peer learning, and practical tools for immediate workplace application.

Session 1 – Foundations, ethics and core accounting applications
Focus: Build essential understanding and practical skills for ethical, effective GenAI use. This session lays the groundwork for confident application across professional practice, helping participants “Learn” the core concepts of Generative AI, “Use” the key techniques of ethical and effective prompting, and “Apply” them within accounting and financial reporting contexts.

Learn it – GenAI foundations for practice
• Understand what Generative AI is and how it differs from traditional automation in professional services.
• Explore the key tools in an accountant’s GenAI toolkit (e.g. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity) and their practical uses.
• Use the Eight Functions of GenAI framework — Chat, Search, Analyse, Think/Reason, Create, Code, Remember, Translate — to identify opportunities across the workflow.

Use it – Effective and ethical application
• Master prompt engineering using the T.P.C.E.F. model (Task, Persona, Context, Examples, Format) to achieve accurate, professional outputs.
• Apply ethical principles from ICAEW’s Five Fundamental Principles to GenAI usage.
• Recognise and mitigate risks including hallucination, bias, data privacy, and confidentiality breaches.

Apply it – GenAI in accounting and financial reporting
• Identify practical applications of GenAI for transaction processing, reconciliations, forecasting, and reporting.
• Automate common accounting processes — GL postings, month-end routines, and variance analysis — to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Enhance management and statutory reporting under UK GAAP/IFRS using GenAI for drafting and review.

Workshop: Hands-on exercise using GenAI to draft variance analysis commentary and prepare sample financial statement disclosures.

Session 2 – Transforming assurance and tax services
Focus: Deepen your application of GenAI across two core pillars of professional practice - Audit & Assurance and Tax. Building on the foundational skills from Session 1, this session focuses on using AI to enhance audit planning, testing, documentation and reporting, while also streamlining tax compliance, research and advisory processes to deliver greater efficiency and insight.

Learn it – Understanding GenAI’s role in assurance and tax
• Explore how GenAI supports assurance and tax functions by automating analysis, documentation, and communication.
• Understand the boundaries of responsible AI use in regulated environments.
• Identify where GenAI adds value across the audit lifecycle and within tax compliance, planning, and advisory services.

Use it – Developing effective and ethical techniques
• Learn prompting strategies to analyse complex financial data, draft structured outputs, and summarise technical content.
• Apply GenAI to accelerate audit documentation, improve analytical reviews, and support tax research.
• Strengthen professional judgement through verification and ethical oversight when interpreting AI-generated outputs.

Apply it – Practical audit and tax applications
Audit and Assurance:
• Enhance planning and risk assessment, including fraud risk evaluation and audit scoping.
• Automate testing and documentation of internal controls and substantive procedures.
• Generate and review analytical procedures, audit findings, and management letters.

Tax Services:
• Streamline preparation and review of corporation tax, VAT, and PAYE filings.
• Use GenAI to model transaction outcomes, structure R&D tax credits, and manage cross-border planning.
• Research complex tax legislation and draft clear, professional client communications.

Workshop: Put your learning into practice through hands-on exercises analysing datasets for anomalies and drafting audit findings, tax advice, and client-ready summaries using GenAI tools.

Session 3 – High-value advisory and future-proofing your practice
Focus: Move from technical application to strategic transformation. This session explores how GenAI can enhance advisory services, corporate finance, and internal practice management - enabling you to use AI to deliver deeper insights, drive innovation, and future-proof your firm or organisation.

Learn it – Understanding GenAI’s strategic potential
• Understand how GenAI supports higher-value professional services beyond compliance.
• Explore the expanding role of AI in business advisory, corporate finance, and strategic planning.
• Identify opportunities to integrate GenAI into decision-making, analysis, and firm-wide strategy.

Use it – Developing advanced analytical and strategic techniques
• Learn how to prompt GenAI effectively for complex analytical tasks such as market research, benchmarking, and forecasting.
• Use AI tools to assist with valuation, due diligence, and financial modelling.
• Explore methods for embedding GenAI within business planning, client engagement, and operational improvement.

Apply it – GenAI in advisory, corporate finance, and practice management
Business advisory and consulting
• Apply GenAI to performance analysis, operational reviews, and market evaluations.
• Support strategic planning, scenario modelling, and business transformation projects.
• Enhance client reports and recommendations with AI-generated insights and visualisations.

Corporate finance and advisory
• Use GenAI to support capital raising, due diligence, and M&A activities.
• Generate pitch documents, financial forecasts, and valuation summaries efficiently.
• Accelerate research and drafting for investment proposals and client briefings.

Practice management and operations
• Streamline internal workflows such as client onboarding, billing, and profitability analysis.
• Support quality control, risk management, and compliance monitoring with AI-enabled tools.
• Develop a structured GenAI adoption plan to enhance firm-wide efficiency, innovation, and resilience.

Workshop: Create your “First 90 Days” GenAI Adoption Plan, outlining immediate opportunities, responsible governance measures, and measurable outcomes for your firm or team.

Early Bird Pricing
15% discount automatically applied on bookings made up until 6 weeks before the course date

How are the courses delivered?

All Virtual Classrooms are run by live on Zoom. These are interactive and not recorded, interaction and delegate involvement is encouraged.

When will I receive joining instructions?

You will receive a email with joining instructions after enrolling. Materials and any other resources for the course will be sent to you shortly before the course start date.

Are there breaks?

Yes, no fixed timings - will depend on the length of the course.

How do I access the course slide deck?

Depending on the course you will either be sent in the lead up to the course or after.

What if I miss the live date?

The Virtual Classrooms are not recorded so we recommend you attend all sessions.

What if I am going to be 15 minutes late?

This is not a problem, the classroom starts at the start time, but you will be let in if you are delayed for any reason. Trainers do their best to accommodate catch-up, but this is not guaranteed. Where possible please let us know of any delays so we are aware when doing role call the beginning of the session.

Can I have my colleague with me in the live course?

Yes, if you purchase a second place. Each booking is valid for one person only.

Can I record the training?

No, virtual classrooms are not recorded.

Do the courses on this programme count as verifiable CPD?

Yes, these courses contribute verifiable CPD, so long as you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role. Additional information about CPD can be found here: Your guide to CPD.

How many people will be on the course?

Virtual Classrooms are designed to resemble a real classroom. Therefore, group sizes vary between 6 – 22 delegates per course.