Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
This course is a completely updated version of the 2024 Advanced Excel Using AI for Accountants course. Re-engineered from the ground up, it transitions from basic conversational prompting to autonomous, model-directed spreadsheet control. In 2024, AI in Excel was conversational we treated tools like ChatGPT or Copilot as clever assistants, copying and pasting formulas from chat panels into our spreadsheets. In 2026, the technology has undergone a fundamental, paradigm-shifting evolution. We are no longer working with passive assistants; we are deploying autonomous AI agents with direct write, edit, and execution permissions over live spreadsheet grids. Modern agents dynamically plan multi-step workflows, execute sandboxed Python code, pull live market data from SEC filings and institutional databases, and audit their own outputs in real time.
This hands-on course equips Canadian CPAs and financial leaders with the practical skills and professional controls needed to harness frontier AI agents without sacrificing data integrity or compliance. You will explore the dual-surface architectures and unique capabilities of the four principal 2026 platforms Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI’s ChatGPT & Codex, Anthropic’s Claude for Excel, and Perplexity Computer.
In this course, you’ll witness a side-by-side 'Battle of the Excel Agents,' stress-testing all four platforms against a complex financial model with thousands of calculations and multi-jurisdictional tax rules. You’ll learn how to establish pre-flight controls, ring-fence inputs, and enforce CPA Code Rules 208 (Confidentiality) and 218 (Working-Paper Documentation) so you can audit every output and lead your practice with complete confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Deploy Autonomous Agents: Transition from manual formula entry to model-directed workbook execution.
- Match Agents to Tasks: Select the optimal platform (Copilot, ChatGPT/Codex, Claude, or Perplexity) for specific workflows.
- Ring-Fence Financial Models: Structure sheets and isolate input assumptions to guarantee error-free AI runs.
- Operationalize CPA Controls: Implement pre-flight risk checks, plan mode supervision, and 30-day firm rollouts.
- Audit & Verify Outputs: Detect agent failure modes including circular references, hard-coded plugs, and stale tax data.
Who Will Benefit
Canadian CPAs, public practitioners, CFOs, controllers, auditors, and senior finance professionals seeking to harness cutting-edge AI automation while upholding uncompromised accuracy and regulatory compliance.
How to Access the Course
To access your course, visit the CPA Ontario Blackboard site and sign in using the same username and password used for the Registration Portal. You can also access your course through the Blackboard Learn app (iOS or Android).
Important: Course access begins on the date of purchase and remains available for the Access Time specified for the course under Dates and Location. Please review the access time before purchasing. Note that it may take up to 15 minutes after registration for the course to appear in Blackboard.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal, and other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
David Trahair, CPA, CA, is a financial writer, trainer and best-selling author. His other books include Smoke and Mirrors, Enough Bull, Crushing Debt, and The Procrastinator’s Guide to Retirement. His views are totally independent because he does not sell any financial products. He currently operates his own financial training firm and offers seminars to organizations.