Tech News: AICPA launches online learning platform

The AICPA and CIMA unveiled an online learning platform, AICPA & CIMA Learning. Features include: a full-featured mobile app for learning on the go; a Learning Library where purchased content is categorized; on-demand learning and webcasts available through a single platform; one-click launch of courses and webcasts; a webcast calendar used to book events quickly and track registrations; and more than 50 languages to choose from (for the interface). The new system offers more than 2,500 courses and webcasts. New features will be released throughout 2023, including knowledge-exchange communities and dynamic learning journeys.

The AICPA and CPA.com have partnered with audit, assurance and analytics software provider Caseware in releasing a new version of OnPoint EBP that supports a broader range of plan audits. When the software was first released in 2020, it supported limited scope audits of 401(k) plans. With the new release, however, the software now features expanded scope to facilitate audits of 403(b) plans, defined benefit plans, and health and welfare plans; revised financial reporting risk assumptions to better align with inherent risk factors; and new presentation and disclosure checklists tailored for various types of employee benefit plans. To support firms in adopting OnPoint EBP, CPA.com offers consulting support and a variety of live and self-study CPE courses.

Big Four firm PwC is entering a strategic partnership with Microsoft and contract management software provider Icertis. PwC, serving as the transformation partner, will integrate Icertis into Microsoft Azure-powered solutions to enable access to its contract intelligence platform, which develops business insights from data embedded in contracts and uses it to automate end-to-end business processes. The announcement comes shortly after PwC announced it was planning to invest over $1 billion to improve and scale its own AI capacities. … Big Four firm KPMG announced a strategic collaboration with Google to help clients integrate Google Cloud's generative AI technologies into the front, middle and back offices of enterprises. The partnership will initially focus on clients in financial services, health care, and retail, three industries that are already navigating the rapid impact of generative AI. KPMG and Google Cloud have previously worked together to bring advanced AI to HSBC by implementing cloud-based intelligent conversational AI, delivering medical predictions from real-time data in the ICU, and a 360-degree customer view with advanced analytics for a global life insurer. … KPMG also announced a strategic partnership of its own with Microsoft, focused on co-developing solutions for clients across industries and embedding Azure OpenAI Service across nearly all dimensions of KPMG's U.S. business from client engagements (e.g. analyzing ESG data) to client communications to internal efficiencies. This collaboration with Microsoft and use of Azure OpenAI Service allows KPMG to layer Microsoft's machine learning models, natural language processing capabilities and enhanced analytics into firm data sets and solutions within its secure cloud environment, protecting client and firm data.