Tom Hood on AI, hybrid work, and other 2026 themes shaping accounting

On this episode of the JofA podcast, an AICPA executive and regular guest discussed trends from discussions with numerous finance professionals, delving into how AI and hybrid work might affect accounting this year and beyond.

"Now we're going to be talking about managing AI agents in finance and accounting," Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, said. "That's going to be a whole different world, and it's going to be exponential in what we can do with it."

Hood, the AICPA's executive vice president–Business Engagement and Growth, also explained why CFOs are cautiously optimistic about growth and how the Rise2040 project is helping the profession prepare for long-term change.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• How AI is shifting from simple productivity tools to powerful finance agents — and what that means for accounting professionals.
• Practical strategies for making hybrid work more effective, including purposeful in-office collaboration.
• Why CFOs and finance leaders are cautiously optimistic about growth in 2026 despite economic uncertainty.
• How anticipatory thinking and hard-trend analysis can help accountants prepare for long-term change and disruption.
• Why trust and integrity remain core accounting values.