Philip Weldon Delivers Talk at ACCA Ireland Annual Conference 2026
In May 2026, Titan Digital was delighted to contribute to the ACCA Ireland Annual Conference, with Philip Weldon invited to speak to ACCA members on the practical use of artificial intelligence and digital technology in accountancy.
Philip’s session, “The Use of AI and Technology in SMP”, formed part of the conference programme on 28 May 2026. The session was facilitated by Ciara Lee, ACCA Ireland Committee Member, and was designed as a focused, practical presentation followed by audience Q&A.
Moving the AI conversation from theory to practice
Much of the public conversation about AI still sits at a high level: predictions, disruption narratives, and abstract discussions about what might happen next.
For accountants, finance professionals, and small-to-medium practices, the more useful question is much more immediate:
What can AI help us do better today?
That was the core theme of Philip’s ACCA Ireland session. Rather than treating AI as a distant technology trend, the presentation focused on practical, current use cases that accountants could understand, test, and adapt within their own work.
During the conference preparation process, the agreed direction was clear: the session should show “how to do it right now” rather than simply discuss theoretical possibilities.
Practical AI examples for accountants and SMPs
The presentation explored how AI and digital tools can support accountancy work across areas such as:
- Reviewing and interpreting financial information
- Supporting IFRS 16 lease accounting and depreciation workflows
- Processing bank statement information
- Identifying unusual patterns and potential fraud indicators
- Using prompts and structured workflows to improve consistency
- Helping practices think about AI adoption in a controlled, useful way
A key part of the session was the use of specific examples and prompts. The aim was not to suggest that AI replaces professional judgement, but to show where it can reduce friction, speed up analysis, and support more consistent client service.
For SMPs in particular, the opportunity is significant. Many smaller practices are already under pressure from client demands, compliance requirements, staffing challenges, and the need to modernise systems. AI will not solve all of that on its own, but it can become a practical layer in how firms handle information, prepare analysis, communicate with clients, and manage recurring workflows.
Why AI matters for the accountancy profession
The accountancy profession has always adapted to new tools: spreadsheets, cloud accounting, digital tax systems, automated bank feeds, dashboards, and practice management platforms.
AI is another step in that evolution, but it is different in one important respect: it changes how professionals interact with information.
Instead of simply recording, calculating, or retrieving data, AI tools can help users question, summarise, compare, draft, classify, and explain. For accountants, that creates opportunities in areas such as:
- Turning messy information into structured working notes
- Drafting first-pass client communications
- Summarising policy or accounting guidance
- Comparing documents or versions
- Generating checklists and review questions
- Supporting training and knowledge sharing inside a practice
- Creating repeatable internal workflows
However, these opportunities also come with important responsibilities. AI outputs need to be checked. Sensitive data must be handled carefully. Firms need policies, boundaries, and a clear understanding of where human judgement remains essential.
That balance — practical adoption with professional oversight — was central to the message of the session.
Titan Digital’s approach to practical AI
At Titan Digital, our approach to AI is deliberately practical.
We help organisations understand where AI can support real work, not just where it sounds impressive. That means focusing on:
- Use cases before tools
- Process before automation
- Data protection and governance
- Human review and professional judgement
- Clear prompts, repeatable workflows, and measurable outputs
- Practical adoption that gives teams confidence to experiment safely
For accountants and finance teams, this practical approach is especially important. AI can be powerful, but it must be used with care, context, and accountability.
Thank you to ACCA Ireland
Titan Digital would like to thank ACCA Ireland for the invitation to contribute to the 2026 Annual Conference, and to thank the organisers, facilitators, and members who engaged with the session.
It was a privilege to speak to ACCA members about a topic that is becoming increasingly important for the profession: how accountants can use AI and technology in ways that are practical, responsible, and commercially useful.
As AI continues to develop, the firms that benefit most will not necessarily be those that chase every new tool. They will be the ones that build clear, confident, well-governed ways of using technology to improve the work they already do.