Tech Trends 2026: Five AI trends reshaping accounting opportunities

Ryan is an Audit & Assurance principal with more than 20 years of experience helping global institutions strengthen trust, transparency, and performance across complex analytical, financial, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. His work brings together deep experience in risk management, governance, controls, valuation, modeling, data, automation, and emerging technology to help clients navigate transformation with confidence. Ryan serves as Deloitte’s Global AI Specialist Leader, leading a team of AI professionals who support assessments of AI systems and advise non-attest clients on large-scale AI strategy and governance transformations. His work focuses on helping organizations understand, govern, and manage the business, risk, and control implications of AI, advanced algorithms, and emerging agentic systems. Ryan also serves as Deputy Leader of Deloitte’s Valuation & Analytics practice, a global network of professionals with deep experience across traded financial instruments, data analytics, modeling, and valuation. In this role, he leads Deloitte’s Omnia DNAV AI and Derivatives technologies, which incorporate automation, machine learning, and large-scale data to enhance the delivery of valuation and analytics services. Previously, Ryan served as a leader in Deloitte’s Model Risk Management practice, where he advised financial services institutions on model development, validation, governance, technology enablement, and quantitative risk management. He has led multidisciplinary teams serving several of the top 10 US financial institutions on complex risk, control, and process transformation programs. Ryan frequently serves as a trusted advisor to CEOs, CFOs, CROs, boards, and audit committees on issues at the intersection of risk, technology, governance, financial markets, and business transformation. His experience spans AI and algorithmic risk, model risk management, financial risks and valuation. Ryan received a BA in Computer Science and a BA in Mathematics & Economics from Lafayette College. His work sits at the intersection of financial risk, valuation, modeling, data, automation, machine learning, and AI, helping clients strengthen trust, transparency, and business value across critical decision-making processes. Media highlights and perspectives Ryan has authored many thought leadership articles and blogs and his commentary has been featured in publications including Accounting Today, CFO Dive, Strategic Finance Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. 2026 [Strategic Finance Magazine] Optimizing AI with Good Governance [Accounting Today] Internal audit’s role in guiding AI responsibly [Internal Auditor Magazine] AI Unleashed [Deloitte blog] COSO AI framework: Internal controls for generative AI 2025 [Deloitte blog] Internal Audit’s role in strengthening AI governance [Deloitte blog] The impact of AI on your audit: Supporting AI transparency and reliability in finance and accounting [Deloitte blog] Generative AI in Financial Reporting and Accounting [WSJ Risk & Compliance Journal] A Day in the Life of an Accounting Generative AI User [FEI Weekly] AI in Finance: Balancing Innovation, Accuracy, and Audit Readiness [Accounting Today] Auditors, management prepare for AI impact on financial data 2024 [Deloitte blog] Mitigating AI fraud risks [Deloitte perspectives] Underscoring the role of AI in investment management [NACD report] NACD 2024 Governance Outlook Report [FM Magazine] What CFOs Need to Know About AI Risk [Internal Auditor] The Fraudsters Have AI, Too [CFO Dive] Bolstering your cyber defenses in the age of AI 2023 [Deloitte perspectives] Perspective on New York City local law 144-21 and preparation for bias audits [Deloitte blog] Reduce AI risk and promote AI trust [Deloitte perspectives] What is an Algorithm? Let’s Demystify Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) [Pitchbook] Road to Next 2022 [Deloitte perspectives] An Auditor’s Mindset in an AI Driven World | Deloitte US [WSJ article] First Bias Audit Law Starts to Set Stage for Trustworthy AI 2021 [Deloitte perspectives] Applying COSO ERM framework principles to AI

As Deloitte’s US Chief Technology Officer, Bill helps clients anticipate the impact that new and emerging technologies may have on their organization in the future, while getting there from the realities of today. In this role, he identifies, researches, and champions the emerging technologies affecting clients’ businesses. Bill also drives the incubation of new assets, solutions, and businesses across Deloitte’s industries and offerings, while shaping the strategy for Deloitte’s evolving technology-related services, talent model, and market positioning. Bill is a principal in Deloitte Consulting LLP. For more than 25 years, Bill has delivered complex transformation programs for clients in a variety of industries, including Financial Services, Life Sciences & Health Care, Consumer, Telecommunications, Energy, and the Public Sector. Bill also serves as executive sponsor of Deloitte’s CIO Program, offering CIOs and other tech executives insights and experiences to navigate the complex and evolving challenges they face in business and technology. Previously, Bill was the founding global leader of Deloitte Digital where he was responsible for launching and growing a new global practice, redefining the vision of a digital agency. Bill earned his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Kids In Need Foundation - partnering with teachers and students in under-resourced schools, providing the support needed for teachers to teach and learners to learn. He also chairs the Business Advisory Council of the Starlight Theater, the largest open-air venue in the Midwest that sponsors a variety of programs to expand access and involvement in the arts.

Brian Crowley is a managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP leading the Data Science group within Audit & Assurance (A&A) Technology and Transformation. To help elevate audits and enhance operational excellence, the Data Science team designs, develops, and deploys artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities, including Generative AI. In addition, Brian crafts the overall group strategy, manages operations, and leads the team of data scientists and audit subject matter specialists. He also leads the design of operational and governance models that support each phase of the AI lifecycle, from ideation through development, deployment, and monitoring, and aligns those activities and processes with appropriate technology solutions to ensure effective and consistent Machine Learning Operations (MLOps). A sought-after speaker on matters of emerging technologies in the Finance and Accounting professions, Brian has more than 15 years of experience in serving audit clients in the diversified manufacturing and commodity trading space. During a three-year hiatus, he worked in the A&A Services Group within Deloitte’s Professional Practice Network assisting with the development of various guides, tools, and training materials. A life-long resident of Connecticut, Brian lives with his wife in Fairfield, CT. He is a licensed certified public accountant in Connecticut and holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Accounting from the University of Connecticut. Brian enjoys traveling around the world with his wife just as much as he loves spending nights with friends playing strategy board games.

Jean-Denis is an Audit & Assurance partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, based in the San Francisco office. He leads the US Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) industry for Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance practice. His focus within the industry lies in Software/SAAS, GenAI, B2C - advertising, publishing, gaming and social platforms. Jean-Denis has experience in technical accounting & reporting, SOX, internal audit design & testing, and controllership process transformation. He leads and also serves as Chair to the National Group Manager Advisory Committee working to identify key strategic initiatives for transformation of our Audit & Assurance business. He is a licensed CPA in California and holds a BA in Business Economics from University of California, Santa Barbara.