CPDStore Ireland

As accounting practices in Ireland rapidly adopt automated tools and cloud platforms, the line between operational efficiency and catastrophic data exposure has blurred. "The Future-Proof Practice: Balancing GDPR, Cyber Defence, and AI" addresses the critical realities facing today's financial professionals.

Cybercriminals are moving beyond basic phishing, leveraging sophisticated generative AI to impersonate clients and bypass traditional controls. Simultaneously, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) continues to enforce strict accountability standards, and the ongoing roll-out of the EU AI Act brings new compliance obligations for the digital tools we use daily.

This webinar is vital for any accountant looking to protect their practice from financial fraud and regulatory penalties. Attendees will benefit from practical, up-to-date compliance strategies that transform security from a technical burden into a major competitive advantage.

• Liam Lynch will cover the following topics during this presentation:
   The New Threat Evolution - How criminals use generative AI to orchestrate hyper-targeted financial scams (including deepfakes and business email compromise), and how to identify them.
• Proactive Data Governance under GDPR - Moving beyond basic data protection to implement active data minimisation, strict access controls, and transparent retention policies.
• Securing the Connected Practice - Critical defence strategies for cloud accounting infrastructure, third-party software integrations, and client-facing digital portals.
• Navigating the EU AI Act in Practice - A pragmatic, high-level look at the new AI regulations in Ireland, focusing on the mandatory "AI literacy" requirements for staff and understanding transparency obligations when using AI tools for client work.  
• The Practice Rescue Plan - A practical, non-technical look at how to handle a data slip-up or system outage smoothly. We will cover the immediate steps to take and how to communicate transparently with affected clients.

By attending this session, you will:

• Understand the evolving mechanics of AI-driven cyber threats targeting Irish professional service firms.
• Learn how to map out a comprehensive data lifecycle that meets the DPC’s strict transparency and accountability principles.
• Be able to evaluate and mitigate the hidden security risks associated with third-party accounting software and cloud ecosystems.
• Develop a clear understanding of your fundamental obligations under the EU AI Act, ensuring your firm's adoption of new technology remains fully compliant without stifling innovation.
• Craft a straightforward, step-by-step action plan to handle unexpected data incidents or system downtime calmly, ensuring your client relationships and firm reputation remain completely intact.

This session is essential for:

• Partners, Directors, and Sole Practitioners.
• Practice Managers and Chief Operations Officers (COOs).
• Compliance Officers, Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs), and Risk Managers.
• Audit and Tax professionals handling highly sensitive corporate and personal financial disclosures.

Course Level: Need to Know