The School of Finance and Accounting (SFA) at the University of Westminster hosted its fifth Finance and Accounting Annual Research Symposium. This year’s event explored the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Accounting and Finance industry, focusing on how AI is reshaping practices, decision-making processes and the future of financial professions.
The symposium, which took place between 17 and 18 June at Westminster Business School (WBS), highlighted how AI is rapidly revolutionising the field of Accounting and Finance. Throughout the event, speakers discussed the latest innovations in AI and how they are transforming financial services and financial reporting. Emphasis was made on how AI technologies can impact users, firms and society at large, changing how financial information is processed and used, making it crucial for people to understand the potential risks.
The symposium was made up of 16 sessions with just as many session chairs and 49 presenters. The event benefited from two distinguished keynote speakers: Professor Crawford Spence, Professor of Accounting at King’s College London, and Henrietta Owusu-Banahene, Head of Portfolio Construction Services at Fidelity International in London and a WBS alumna.
The international symposium received 80 submissions from 24 countries from across the globe and examined a wide range of key finance, data analytics and accounting topics. Themes included AI, digital assets, asset pricing, corporate finance, financial econometrics, forecasting and fund management.
Dr Sheeja Sivaprasad, Principal Lecturer in Finance, said: “On behalf of the SFA, I would like to thank the keynote speakers and all the participants at the symposium. It was a very successful event centred on a transformative topic that is reshaping every industry, including Finance and Accounting. The symposium served as a valuable platform for exploring the implications, opportunities and risks of AI in the field. It offered participants the chance to exchange insights on this critical and rapidly evolving topic that is reshaping how tasks are performed. Additionally, it helped students understand the AI skills increasingly required in today’s workplace.”
The symposium directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Finance and Accounting courses at the University of Westminster.
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