Kicking off this year's DigitalCPA event at the Opening Remarks and Keynote was Erik Asgeirsson, President and CEO of CPA.com. Erik Asgeirsson was part of the company's original founding team. Erik is a leading change agent for digital innovation and technology-enabled transformation across the accounting and finance profession. (His complete Bio is at the end of this article.)
One of the focal points in starting his presentation was to address the 'core purpose' of DigitalCPA. The event won't just focus on technology, which is a tool of the profession. It also focuses on the people (the accounting profession as a whole) and the accounting process, including its methodology and design.
Erik spoke multiple times during DigitalCPA, but each of his messages carried the same theme elaborated in his opening remarks regarding "growth by design." During those remarks, he spoke of the contrast between 2012 and now. Back in 2012, the focus of CPA.com and the AICPA was on the rise of cloud accounting, the emergence of client accounting services, supporting traditional business models prevalent at the time, and addressing concerns about security and controls related to cloud computing.
In thirteen years, a lot has changed, and with cloud computing a foregone conclusion, more and more accounting practices have rid themselves of the "servers in their broom closets." Essentially all issues surrounding 'cloud computing' and cloud-based accounting solutions have been successfully resolved, with risk reduced to acceptable levels.
Today, the focus is on AI. Clearly, there is a dramatic acceleration of AI implementation and adoption. We all recognize that AI is transforming the accounting profession. Yet, while AI is "reshaping the profession," that technology is but an enabler for the people and processes of accounting, which is right back to the 'core purpose' of the event.
Erik Asgeirsson’s DCPA25 Key Takeaway #1:
AI is moving from pilots to practice. Firms are embedding AI into everyday workflows to boost accuracy and insight, while doubling down on data quality, responsible use, and change management. CPA.com's AI initiative is supporting that shift with new tools like the AI models and use cases primer, and an AI solution due diligence guide.
At the same time, Client Advisory Services has seen tremendous growth and is expected to continue maturing as illustrated in the CPA.com graphic below.
Many firms are actually bringing Client Advisory Services, Value Added Reseller (of their preferred tech stack), and CFO Advisory together under one umbrella because they believe it is the right strategic solution.
Erik Asgeirsson’s DCPA25 Key Takeaway #2:
Firms are doubling down on CAS, and the growth trajectory is strong. As CAS shifts deeper into advisory, firms are redesigning delivery around tech-enabled models, vertical expertise, modern pricing, and talent investment.
Other areas of transformation and growth include Audit and Tax, for which CPA.com has also developed maturity models.
When speaking about the Audit functionality, he noted that the AICPA has built a cloud-based product that is more than just putting the old three-ring binder processes and checklists into the cloud; it's about doing the Audit differently from the start.
The AICPA.com Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS) is a modernized audit methodology developed by the AICPA in partnership with CPA.com and Caseware International. It aims to enhance the efficiency, quality, and value of audits through a data-driven approach and guided workflows, allowing for real-time collaboration and robust data analytics. DAS represents a significant shift in how audits are conducted, focusing on risk and leveraging technology to improve audit outcomes.
You can find out more about AICPA's Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS) Here.
Whether you are using AICPA DAS for audits or not, you will be interested in reading the Audit Transformation Survey Report, which focuses on the five key themes illustrated in the graphic below.
You will find that report HERE, without any registration required to 'read' the 32-page document.
Erik Asgeirsson’s DCPA25 Key Takeaway #3:
"Firms are redefining Audit & assurance in the digital era. New technologies, evolving standards, rising expectations, and talent constraints are pushing firms to modernize how assurance is delivered, with momentum growing around solutions like the AICPA Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS) and research like CPA.com's just-released inaugural Audit Transformation Survey Report."
And, "What about Tax," you ask? Tax is another area of tremendous growth and transition for the accounting community. Yet this is one of the areas where CPA.com recognized AI's potential to perform validated tax research.
Tax practitioners face significant challenges with tax research, including navigating complex regulations, ensuring accuracy, and managing time-consuming processes. Keeping up with changing tax laws and regulations can be daunting and time-consuming.
To address those challenges, CPA.com partnered with Blue J, a leading generative AI tax research solution for firms of all sizes. With this tool, firms can get verifiable answers to complex tax questions and draft high-quality client communications in seconds, enabling you to elevate your role as a strategic advisor.
CPA.com has been focused on helping more accountants move into tax advisory and tax planning since 2020. It is positioned to provide excellent opportunities for firms of all sizes, and if a firm believes that expanding its practice into those areas, the CPA.com Blue J solution will support your firm through enhanced expertise and efficient, timely advice to help create exceptional client experiences. You can find out more about Blue J HERE.
Erik Asgeirsson’s DCPA25 Key Takeaway #4:
Tax, too, is shifting from compliance to advisory. Practices are streamlining workflows and applying AI to keep pace with changing regulations, deliver faster and more consistent guidance, and create capacity for higher-value client conversations.
Asgeirsson believes the next phase of progress for the accounting industry won't come simply from adopting new tools, but from redesigning how firms deliver value, shifting toward advisory, and building the capabilities that will matter most to clients in the years ahead. In so doing, the role of the 'Trusted Advisor' will never be more important.
Erik Asgeirsson’s DCPA25 Key Takeaway #5:
Firms are adapting for long-term resilience. Strategy, structure, and talent approaches are evolving toward more agile, advisory-focused, technology-enabled organizations that can harness AI and sustain long-term growth.
I want to thank CPA.com, the AICPA, and Erik Asgeirsson for their high-impact opening remarks and keynote presentations at DigitalCPA25 on Monday, December 8th. I also want to thank them for inviting me to attend my first-ever Digital CPA event and providing me with a complimentary 'virtual' pass.
Hopefully next year, my schedule will allow me to attend DCPA26 in Sand Diego, December 6-9, 2026, in-person.
Over the next few weeks, I will have even more articles exploring the various sessions I attended at DCPA25. Stay tuned.
Erik Asgeirsson's Bio:
Erik Asgeirsson is the president and CEO of CPA.com and was part of the company's original founding team. Under his leadership, CPA.com has grown into a recognized leader in emerging technologies and a key provider of business strategies, solutions, and resources that position accounting firms and finance teams for future success.
Erik is a leading change agent for digital innovation and technology-enabled transformation across the accounting and finance profession. His background in engineering and technology bridges technical insight with strategic leadership to advance innovation and guide the profession's ongoing evolution. He has been named to Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list for more than a decade and is a member of numerous advisory boards. He is also a frequent speaker at professional conferences and is quoted regularly by the accounting and business press.
Under his direction, CPA.com has led the development of the cloud-based client advisory services (CAS) category, which has become one of the highest-growth firm practice areas. He also co-sponsors the Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS) initiative, which leverages advanced technologies to transform the future audit practice. Additionally, he co-founded and hosts the award-winning AICPA Town Hall broadcast and has overseen the global rollout of the .cpa top-level web domain for CPAs.
CPA.com is an affiliate of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the world's largest accounting association. Before joining the company, Erik held a variety of positions at AT&T within business development, operations, and product management. Erik holds an MBA in finance from The New York University Stern School of Business and a B.S. in electrical engineering from George Washington University.
Disclosures:
This feature was adapted from content presented during DigitalCPA25. Content (including graphic materials within this feature) furnished by CPA.com and AICPA as press content, including Asgeirsson's wrap-up provided through hq.cpa.com. Source materials were adapted by Insightful Accountant and are furnished to our readers solely for educational purposes.
DigitalCPA delivers the insights, tools, and connections you need to grow by design. CPA.com is as an affiliate of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), with the goal to connect firms of all sizes with the expert insights, strategies, resources and technologies that future success demands so they can continue to thrive – now and into the future.
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