Claude Fundamentals for Accountants (2026 Update)
Overview
This course provides a concise overview of Claude and its growing role as an AI-powered productivity, analysis, and workflow platform for accounting professionals. Participants will learn how Claude differs from traditional search engines, spreadsheets, and chatbots, and how it can be used to accelerate drafting, research, document review, data analysis, and client communications while maintaining professional skepticism and accountability. The course explores practical prompting techniques, document and spreadsheet analysis, projects, artifacts, connectors, Microsoft 365 integrations, automation capabilities, and emerging AI workflows. Special emphasis is placed on confidentiality, privacy, ethics, verification, and professional judgment. By the end of the course, participants will understand how to integrate Claude into their daily accounting workflows to improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and support higher-value advisory services. The course is based on the Claude platform ecosystem, including Chat, Projects, Artifacts, Connectors, Microsoft Office integrations, Voice Mode, Design, Code, and Cowork capabilities.
This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Highlights
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:
- Understanding Claude and Large Language Models
- Prompt Engineering Fundamentals for Accountants
- Working with Documents, Contracts, and Spreadsheets
- Projects, Artifacts, and Reusable AI Workspaces
- Claude Connectors and Business System Integration
- Microsoft 365 Add-ins and Workflow Automation
- Professional Skepticism, Ethics, Privacy, and Verification
Prerequisites
No prior experience with Claude is required; however, a basic understanding of accounting processes, Microsoft Office applications, and professional business communication will be beneficial.
Designed For
This course is designed for CPAs, accountants, auditors, finance professionals, controllers, consultants, and business advisors who want to understand and leverage Claude to improve productivity, analysis, communication, and decision-making.
Objectives
After attending this presentation, you will be able to...
- Explain how Claude generates responses and supports accounting workflows.
- Identify accounting tasks that are well-suited for AI augmentation.
- Apply effective prompting techniques to improve AI-generated outputs.
- Analyze contracts, financial documents, and datasets using Claude.
- Evaluate the appropriate use of Projects, Artifacts, Connectors, and Office integrations.
- Assess risks related to hallucinations, confidentiality, and data governance.
- Develop AI-assisted workflows that enhance productivity while maintaining professional judgment.
Preparation
None
Notice
This course is offered by a 3rd party vendor and will not be accessible in the My CPE Tracker section of the ISCPA website. Course access information will be emailed directly to you by CPA Crossings.
Leader(s):
Leader Bios
Garrett Wasny
Garrett Wasny, MA, CMC, CITP/FIBP is a professional development consultant to accountants, attorneys, engineers and doctors worldwide and a former management consultant with Price Waterhouse. He advises high-skill knowledge workers how to thrive in the digital age and unleash their online potential using productivity, search, mobile and social technologies. He’s authored two books (Global Business Resources.com by McGraw-Hill in New York and How to Conquer the World by Government Institutes in Washington, DC), 20 e-books, and over 100 published articles on Internet strategy for dozens of leading business publications. He’s also delivered more than 1,000 webinars and seminars on Internet topics to hundreds of organizations in North America, Europe and Asia. He lives in Vancouver.
Non-Member Price $119.00
Member Price $89.00