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Contributors

problems we have in the industry right now and Wesley Hartman
in the future as our work continues to grow and Founder at Automata Practice
become more complicated,” Hartman said. Development and director
Technology is helping firms continue to build of technology at Kirsch Kohn
out their advisory practices, said Jim Bourke, CPA/ & Bridge
CFF/CITP, CGMA, managing director, advisory
services with Withum, who works out of the firm’s
Red Bank, N.J., office. “I believe in 2023 we will
continue to see firms get their technology house in
order with best-of-breed technologies from around
the globe,” he said.
Jim Bourke, CPA/CFF/CITP, CGMA
Remote work and training environments are
Managing director, advisory services
“here to stay,” Bourke said. “I believe firms will settle
with Withum
into what the future of the profession will look like,
and with this in mind, technologies that support
this continuing hybrid model of work will continue
to enter our profession.”
FORENSIC ACCOUNTING
Robust internal controls will be at the forefront of
organizations’ concerns in 2023, driving a need for
Ernest Patrick Smith, CPA/ABV/CFF
forensic accounting expertise, according to Ernest
Owner and senior partner at
Patrick Smith, CPA/ABV/CFF, owner and senior
Nawrocki Smith
partner at Nawrocki Smith on Long Island, N.Y.
He warns a possible recession could result in
staff reductions that would create compliance chal-
lenges for many firms as they struggle to maintain
internal controls.
“If organizations cut workforce, they won’t have
the kinds of employees they need on the front
lines,” Smith said. “And I think, as we head into
2023, the need for forensic accountants skilled in Chris Benson, CPA/PFS
internal controls as they relate to compliance will be Principal at L.K. Benson & Company
at an all-time high.”
Smith predicts that many organizations will
need to look more closely at their processes to en-
sure they’re adhering to tax rules and requirements.
He also cites growing risks related to
white-collar crime, including identify theft,
employee fraud, and insurance fraud, and he
recommends firms explore digital tools to help
protect themselves.
Jan Taylor, CPA, CGMA, Ph.D.
As firms increasingly combine data analytics and
Academic in residence and senior
AI tools with effective internal controls, they will be
director–Academic & Student
able to extract, visualize, and analyze large amounts
Engagement at the Association of
of data to predict cyber threats and put strategies in
International Certified Professional
place to ward them off, he said.
Accountants, representing AICPA
“Cybersecurity is of utmost importance to
& CIMA
people everywhere,” he said. “Firms must have the
right kinds of controls built into their systems to be
able to ward off a cyberattack.”
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