IFRS Labo in Japan: Connecting Accounting, Technology and the Next Generation of Finance Professionals

From IFRS knowledge to real-world conversations about AI, accounting, and the future of the profession

The accounting profession is changing.

Generative AI is already influencing how finance professionals research, analyze information, create documents, and approach everyday work. But as AI becomes more capable, a new question is emerging:

How can accounting professionals combine technology with deep accounting knowledge—and learn from each other's experiences?

At IFRS Labo, we believe this conversation should happen not only through articles and videos, but also through real connections between professionals.

That is why we have been actively participating in and organizing opportunities for accounting and finance professionals in Japan to exchange ideas, experiment with new technology, and learn together.

Beyond IFRS: Building a Community Around the Future of Accounting

IFRS Labo began with a simple purpose:

Make complex accounting knowledge easier to understand, learn, and apply.

Today, we are expanding that mission.

Accounting professionals increasingly need to understand not only IFRS and financial reporting, but also:

• Generative AI

• Automation

• Data and technology

• New ways of working

• Professional judgment in an AI-assisted environment

We believe these areas should not be treated separately.

The future finance professional will need to understand both accounting and technology.

And learning how to combine the two is something that is best explored together.

A Recent AI × Accounting Study Group in Japan

One recent example was a small gathering of accounting professionals interested in AI × accounting, organized as part of the growing professional community around these topics.

Participants came from different areas of the accounting and finance ecosystem, including CPAs and professionals interested in technology and AI.

The purpose was simple:

Share what we are actually doing—not just talk about AI in theory.

The discussion covered topics such as:

• ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini

• AI tools being used in accounting workflows

• Vibe coding

• Table and data design

• Tool selection

• Testing

• AI adoption in audit

The level of experience varied considerably.

Some participants were already experimenting with building their own tools and workflows. Others were still at the beginning of their AI journey.

That difference made the discussion particularly valuable.

From "Should I Use AI?" to "How Should I Use It?"

One of the most interesting observations was how different the questions became depending on experience.

For professionals who were already actively using AI, the questions became highly practical:

How are you building it?

How are you structuring the data?

Which tool did you choose?

How do you test the output?

Meanwhile, others were asking a much more fundamental question:

"Where should I start?"

The advice from more experienced participants was surprisingly simple:

Choose one major AI tool—Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini—and start using it.

You don't need to understand the entire AI ecosystem before getting started.

Experience creates questions.

Questions lead to experimentation.

And experimentation leads to better understanding.

The AI Skill Gap Is Becoming Visible

The discussion also revealed an important challenge for the accounting profession.

AI adoption isn't happening at the same speed for everyone.

Some professionals are already experimenting with AI-assisted development and sophisticated workflows.

Others are still trying to understand the basic possibilities.

This creates an opportunity for the accounting community.

Rather than allowing this gap to widen, professionals can share their experiences and help each other move forward.

That is one of the reasons we believe communities are important.

Why Accounting Expertise Still Matters

There was also an important underlying message throughout the discussion.

AI can help with many accounting tasks.

But accounting professionals still need to understand:

• What the actual accounting issue is

• Which standards and principles apply

• Whether an AI-generated answer is reasonable

• Where professional judgment is required

• How to review and challenge the output

As AI becomes better at handling the mechanical layer of accounting, the ability to understand the conceptual layer may become even more important.

This connects directly with what IFRS Labo has been building.

Our content focuses not simply on memorizing individual standards, but on helping professionals understand the logic, structure, and substance behind financial reporting.

From Community Conversations to Knowledge Resources

We see community activities and content creation as part of the same learning cycle.

A conversation with practitioners can reveal a question.

That question can become:

Discussion → Article → YouTube explanation → Visual learning material → Quiz questions → Training resources

In other words, real conversations help us understand what finance professionals actually need to learn.

This is particularly important for a knowledge platform like IFRS Labo.

Rather than creating content in isolation, we want to learn directly from the people working in accounting and finance.

From Japan to a Global Accounting Community

These discussions may take place in Japan, but the underlying questions are global.

Finance professionals everywhere are asking:

How should we use AI responsibly?

Which accounting tasks should be automated?

How should AI-generated work be reviewed?

What skills will accountants need in the future?

How should accounting education evolve?

We believe experiences from different countries and professional communities can enrich these conversations.

Japan is one of the communities where we are starting to build those connections.

But our ambition is broader:

To create a place where accounting and finance professionals around the world can learn, exchange ideas, and grow together.

What's Next for IFRS Labo?

The response to the recent gathering was strong, with the event reaching full attendance and registration closing early.

Participants also felt that there was simply not enough time for the discussion.

So another gathering is already being planned for the autumn.

For IFRS Labo, these activities are not separate from our knowledge platform.

They are part of the same mission.

Learn from professionals. Share knowledge. Experiment with technology. Create practical resources. And help the accounting community move forward together.

The future of accounting will be shaped by technology—but also by the people who understand how to use it responsibly and intelligently.

IFRS Labo wants to be part of that conversation.

Follow IFRS Labo

We share practical IFRS knowledge, accounting insights, visual learning resources, and perspectives on how technology is changing the finance profession.

If you are an accounting or finance professional interested in IFRS, AI, technology, and the future of our profession, we welcome you to join the conversation.

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