Cathy Rowe explores how unified tech stacks and agentic AI are transforming audits, tax workflows, and firm-wide decision-making.

MINNEAPOLIS, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting (TAA) executive, Cathy Rowe, Senior Vice President and Segment Leader, U.S. Professional Market, delivered a compelling keynote address today at AICPA Engage 2025, held at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Her remarks focused on the accelerating pace of technological change and how integrated tech stacks and agentic AI are reshaping the accounting profession for audit and tax professionals.

In her keynote, Rowe emphasized that the rate of technological change is now faster than ever, urging firms to embrace both sustaining and disruptive innovation. She shared insights from Wolters Kluwer’s "Future Ready Accountant" study, which found that 77% of firms experienced growth last year, yet 40% cited keeping up with new technology as their top challenge. Rowe highlighted that firms using fully integrated solutions reported revenue increases of 10% or more, underscoring the ROI of strategic tech investments.

She outlined four key pillars for leveraging AI in modern firms:

• Data-Driven Firm Management – Using AI to generate real-time insights and automate reporting.

• Increased Efficiencies and Capacity – Streamlining workflows and optimizing staff allocation.

• Proactive Risk Management – Monitoring tax and audit data to identify and mitigate risks.

• Enhanced Client Service – Shifting from compliance to advisory roles through AI-driven insights and automation.

A central theme of Rowe’s address was the emergence of agentic AI—a transformative evolution from traditional automation to intelligent agents that act autonomously with human oversight. She explained how agentic AI spans four key categories: Taskers, Automators, Collaborators, and Orchestrators. These agents can classify documents, manage workflows, guide professionals through complex tasks, and even orchestrate entire audit or tax preparation processes. Crucially, this next-generation AI is made possible through open integration platforms, enabling firms of all sizes to benefit from seamless automation, data interoperability, and intelligent decision-making.

"Agentic AI is not just a buzzword—it’s a strategic enabler," Rowe stated. "It empowers professionals to work at the top of their credentials, enhances client service, and creates competitive advantage. With open integration APIs, firms can build intelligent, responsive systems that adapt in real time."