AICPA and CIMA Launch AI Skills Programme for Accounting Professionals
The AICPA and CIMA have introduced the AI Accelerator Skills Programme, a training initiative designed to help accounting and finance professionals build the skills and governance structures needed to lead AI adoption in their organisations.
The programme emerged from a meeting of chief financial officers and senior finance executives representing more than 50 Fortune 1000 companies in August 2025. AICPA and CIMA refined the framework through pilot projects with public accounting practices and corporate finance functions across the US and other markets.
Tom Hood, executive vice-president of Business Engagement and Growth at AICPA and CIMA, said: "Finance leaders overwhelmingly agree that people drive transformation success - mindset, skills and leadership - not technology alone. The AI Accelerator gives professionals the tools they need to guide their organisations responsibly through this moment of change."
Three Learning Tiers
The programme is organised into three tiers targeting different levels of responsibility.
- Strategic tier: Focuses on leadership, transformation planning, ethics and governance, positioning AI as part of long-term business strategy.
- Transitional tier: Addresses generative AI adoption models and change management for rolling out AI initiatives.
- Operational tier: Concentrates on practical application, productivity gains, automation and daily use of AI tools.
Credentials and Deployment
Participants can earn up to 42 continuing professional education (CPE) credits and obtain a certificate on completion. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy has accredited the programme.
Organisations can deploy the AI Accelerator as a full pathway or select stand-alone modules. It's available through the AICPA's Business Learning Institute or can be integrated into an organisation's own learning management system for rollout across teams.
The AICPA and CIMA previously became the first organisation to secure registration from the US Department of Labor for an apprenticeship focused on finance business partner roles.
For more information on AI learning for accountants or AI for finance professionals, explore available training options.
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