🔍 Top headlines
Student interest in accounting is on the rise
After years of concern over the talent pipeline, there’s finally some encouraging news: undergraduate enrollment in accounting programs rose 12% year-over-year this spring, with two-year institutions seeing a 24% jump. That’s over 29,000 more students entering the pipeline, driven by growing awareness of accounting’s stability, earning potential, and broad career relevance. Profession-wide efforts like updated CPA licensure pathways, outreach initiatives, and firm-backed recruitment are starting to resonate. Graduate programs are also reporting increases in applications. For firms, it’s a key moment to double down: students are showing renewed interest, and the profession has a chance to support that momentum with mentorship, accessibility, and clearer paths into long-term careers. Sustaining this growth will take continued, coordinated action, but the energy is there, and the window is open.
Intuit upgrades GenOS to power next-gen AI agents
Intuit has rolled out major enhancements to its GenOS platform, accelerating the development of “done-for-you” AI Agents across QuickBooks, TurboTax, and beyond. These agentic systems are designed to perform complex tasks—like managing AP/AR or updating tax code logic—on behalf of users, while staying seamlessly connected to human experts. Powered by a robust blend of proprietary and commercial LLMs, GenOS combines planning, reasoning, and execution tools with Intuit’s rich financial data to deliver smart, proactive support at scale. New developer tools, including an Agent Starter Kit and real-time evaluation services, enable Intuit teams to ship these experiences faster across products. For accountants, this means AI that doesn’t just assist. It completes tasks, flags insights, and helps clients move faster, with built-in trust and transparency. It’s a glimpse into how advisory workflows may soon be powered by smart collaboration between AI and expert-led guidance.
Finance execs signal sharp drop in confidence
The latest AICPA-CIMA Economic Outlook Survey shows a dramatic shift in sentiment among senior finance professionals. Just 27% of CFOs, controllers, and other accounting and finance executives now have a positive view of the U.S. economy—down from 67% at the end of 2024. Nearly one in five believe we’re already in a recession, and another 34% expect one by year-end. Top concerns have shifted from inflation to tariff volatility, which is disrupting supply chains and driving up costs for two-thirds of businesses. Hiring plans are cooling (only 14% are expanding), and revenue and profit expectations have reached their lowest levels since 2020. Even confidence in individual company outlooks has dropped, from 50% to 37%. For accountants advising business leaders, this data highlights the urgent need for proactive scenario planning, cost control, and steady guidance in a market defined by caution and complexity.