Dakota CPA Connection Produced by the North Dakota CPA Society
May 2026 | Volume XXXVIII | No. 03
3 Ways CPAs Can Future Proof Themselves Amid a Software,Tech and AI Boom By Adam Lean, Co-Founder, The CFO Project The solution to never being replaced by software, technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is to do what software, technology and AI can never do: be a human. What exactly does it mean to “be a human” in the financial space? And how does that ensure that you won’t get replaced by AI or software? Here are three considerations: Leverage the Human Connection The first way to never be replaced is by leveraging the fact that, as humans, we can connect with other humans at a level that technology can never do. People buy based on feeling. Virtually every purchase that a person makes is driven by a desire to obtain pleasure and/or avoid pain. So, if someone like you comes along who can display empathy towards the pain that a fellow human — a business owner — is experiencing, they will gravitate towards you. Why? Because people want to be around people who care about them and their plight. People don’t want to be lonely. And being a business owner is lonely, frustrating and stressful. Consider how many people are in the
In This Issue • 2 President’s Message • 3 Member News
May 2026 | Page 1
average business owners’ life that they can turn to for real business help? They often can’t turn to their employees. They can’t turn to their spouse or friends. But if their CPA displays even a little bit of empathy, it will go very far. They will choose you over software every day of the week. Period. CPAs can apply this to their practice in three simple ways: • Be a great listener. Make them feel heard and understood. • Show genuine interest in their goals and challenges. • Offer guidance beyond financials and help them grow their business, not just manage numbers. Understand the Nuances The second way to never be replaced is by leveraging the fact that, as a human, you can understand nuance. There’s a ton of nuance in business. Just because software detects a trend or suggests a solution to a problem, that same software is not
• 3 New Members • 4 Directors Message • 5 Meet our Members
• 6 National Counsel Recap • 6 Leadership Academy • 7 CPE Opportunities
taking into consideration things like the market realities, the personality of the owner, the specific issues the owner is dealing with in their business, the competitor situation or the specific customer issues that the business owner is dealing with. The list goes on and on.
Continued on pg 13
President-Elect Tour June 16 Noon Bismarck United Energy Corp 4:30 MT Dickinson Players Sport Bar June 17 Noon Williston Lee Suess Office 4:30 Minot Beowulf June 18 Noon Grand Forks - TBA 4:30 Fargo - TBA Join President-Elect, Juan Martinez, and Executive Director, Sherre Sattler to hear the latest profession updates.
• 8 Management Conf • 9 Free Ethics Webinar • 13 Ethics Corner
on page 5 • 15Continued Tax Commissioner