Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is not a future concern, it is reshaping the finance and accountancy profession. More than half of ICAEW Chartered Accountants surveyed in our 2025 member research confirmed that technology, automation and GenAI represented the primary opportunity and challenge for the profession.

To help members embrace the opportunities offered by this technology ICAEW created the GenAI Accelerator Programme. The flexible e-learning programme offers an overview of the fundamental principles of the technology, a practical walk through five of the most high-profile platforms, and outlines use cases and a framework for implementation.

“The finance and accounting profession has experienced waves of new technologies over the decades, but nothing like this,” says Peter Beard ACA, founder of GenFinance.AI, a specialist firm that supports finance teams and practices with GenAI adoption and was a key partner in making the programme.

“The scope and scale of what GenAI can do, its flexibility and its cost-effectiveness mean unparalleled and democratised access to knowledge and capability. It is one of the most fundamental technological changes of our time. GenAI is levelling the playing field, empowering professionals at every level like no other technology previously before."

ICAEW members can see the opportunities on offer with the technology – 85% of member survey participants confirmed they were willing to use AI – but at the same time many felt unprepared. A lack of training was seen as the key blocker to adoption.

To address this ICAEW has developed its GenAI Accelerator Programme, and members can enrol and access the first course of the programme for free.

“GenAI is incredibly empowering for users, no longer do you have to be a coder, an engineer or a programmer to access artificial intelligence,” says Beard. “The accelerator has been created to ensure ICAEW members can confidently experiment and engage with AI, with practical support on each stage of their GenAI adoption journey.”  

Flexible step-by-step structure

The GenAI Accelerator is made up of eight e-learning courses. Each course is divided into four or more modules each equating to an hour or so of study, comprising video and interactive elements, alongside written content and additional resources.

This bite-sized approach means that learning is totally flexible, meaning that you can study whenever suits you, for as long as suits you – you’re not committing to blocking out days in the calendar or forced to fit your studies into a specific time frame.

The first of the programme’s courses – which is freely available to ICAEW members and students – outlines the fundamentals of GenAI and offers up to eight hours of learning.

It opens by looking at AI’s role in finance and accounting and the tools covered in the programme: ChatGPT (OpenAi), Grok (xAI), Perplexity AI (Perplexity), Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini AI.

The following six modules explain how large language models work, where they fit into the finance workflow and why they’re different from traditional automation. The course also discusses the key ethical considerations in using GenAI technology and the value it can bring to data-led decision making.

Five-step framework for adoption

At the heart of the GenAI Accelerator, is a five-step framework on GenAI adoption. “It’s not a rigid set of rules, but a guiding compass,” explains Beard. “The framework has been designed to offer chartered accountants a way to navigate this exciting new terrain.”

The five interconnected phases, are:

• Ideate and identify use cases – uncovering and defining potential use cases.
• Validate and prioritise – critically assessing the feasibility, potential impact and strategic alignment of use cases.
• Pilot and test – implementation of use cases on small, controlled scale to gather data, refine processes and build confidence.
• Scale and integrate – expanding successful pilots across the organisation and embedding GenAI into standard operating procedures.
• Monitor and continuously improve – tracking performance, adapting to developments and fostering a culture of ongoing learning. 

Each of these phases are discussed in detail in the first course of the accelerator. Alongside explaining why they are important to the implementation process, the course offers practical ways on how to approach each phase, including the questions to ask and examples of checklists and documentation. The modules then offer advice on how to move into the subsequent phase of the project.

“The aim of the course is to ensure members come away not only with the knowledge to use GenAI tools but with the confidence to make informed decisions and to lead adoption in their teams and organisations," confirms Beard.

“Accountants have the opportunity to get GenAI right first time and that time is now. It’s time to embrace and experiment!”