Bengaluru, Nov 02: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), convened accounting firm partners, CFOs and Global Capability Centre (GCC) leaders during Susan S. Coffey’s India visit from 27–30 October in Bengaluru, India. Coffey, CPA, CGMA, is CEO of Public Accounting at the Association.
Centred on Rise2040, engagements in Bengaluru included firm townhalls, partner dialogues, CFO roundtables, and GCC leadership interactions and conversations with senior leaders from major accounting firms. These exchanges addressed professional capabilities, resourcing, governance and the changing relationship between global firms and India teams.
Building on AICPA and CIMA’s CFO Summit and Rise2040 conference in Bengaluru, the visit advances Rise2040’s priorities around AI integration, workforce development, outcome-based value delivery and expanded assurance. The Rise2040 initiative attracted more than 7,500 participants globally across 25 countries, with more than 90 events and 33 GCCs involved.
Connecting India’s expanding responsibilities with the profession’s transformation, Coffey said, “There is opportunity for India to help determine how global accounting and finance work is designed, governed and delivered. As AI takes on more routine tasks, accountants must bring the judgement to challenge outputs, understand business consequences and advise on decisions. That requires investment in people alongside technology. Through Rise2040, we are bringing these conversations together so that greater capability is matched by clear accountability and public trust.”
The shift is already evident in technology investment. EY’s GCC Pulse Survey 2025 reported that 58% of Indian GCCs were investing in agentic AI. Examples shared through Rise2040 also illustrate firms’ expanding integration of their India teams into global delivery, technology and innovation.
As GCC models evolve, AICPA and CIMA emphasise that professional judgement, ethical standards and governance remain essential. Accountants must evaluate evidence, challenge AI outputs and safeguard information, while independent assurance can strengthen confidence in AI systems, controls and enterprise data.