As digital risks grow, Pres Ali proposes cybersecurity training for accountants

As businesses become increasingly digital, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali believes accountants must evolve beyond traditional financial reporting and become key players in protecting organisations from cyber threats.

Speaking at the opening of the 43rd Annual Conference of the Inter-American Accounting Association (ICAC), President Ali proposed the creation of a regional cybersecurity training programme for accountants, warning that digital security will soon be an indispensable skill across the profession.

“One area that will undoubtedly grow is cybersecurity and digital assurance,” the President told delegates, noting that tomorrow’s accountants will need to understand technology almost as well as they understand finance.

He cautioned that accounting professionals who fail to develop cybersecurity expertise risk becoming less relevant in an increasingly technology-driven business environment.

“No accountant will be valued in the future if you are not trained in cybersecurity in its totality,” President Ali declared.

To help prepare the profession for that shift, the President said Guyana is prepared to work through the National Defence Institute (NDI), together with international training partners, to design and deliver a specialised cybersecurity training module for accountants across the Caribbean.

He said once the regional accounting body signals its interest, Guyana stands ready to collaborate in developing the programme.

Beyond technical training, President Ali urged accountants to become advocates for cybersecurity within their own organisations, encouraging them to take a leadership role in promoting awareness at every level.

“You must be the ones to walk into the boardroom and say to the CEO, ‘I want to do a three-hour training on cybersecurity across the organisation,'” he said.

According to the President, the accountant of the future will do far more than prepare financial statements or audit accounts. Instead, they will be expected to help organisations safeguard sensitive information, identify and manage digital risks, strengthen governance systems and build resilience against an evolving cyber threat landscape.

His remarks formed part of a broader call for the accounting profession to embrace innovation and equip itself with the skills needed to remain relevant in an increasingly digital global economy.