Wolters Kluwer executive delivers keynote on the future of integrated tech stacks and agentic AI at AICPA Engage 2025

Cathy Rowe explores how unified tech stacks and agentic AI are transforming audits, tax workflows, and firm-wide decision-making.

Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting (TAA) executive, Cathy Rowe, Senior Vice President and Segment Leader, U.S. Professional Market, delivered a compelling keynote address today at AICPA Engage 2025, held at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Her remarks focused on the accelerating pace of technological change and how integrated tech stacks and agentic AI are reshaping the accounting profession for audit and tax professionals.

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Cathy Rowe, Senior Vice President and Segment Leader, US Professional Market of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting North America.

In her keynote, Rowe emphasized that the rate of technological change is now faster than ever, urging firms to embrace both sustaining and disruptive innovation. She shared insights from Wolters Kluwer’s “Future Ready Accountant” study, which found that 77% of firms experienced growth last year, yet 40% cited keeping up with new technology as their top challenge. Rowe highlighted that firms using fully integrated solutions reported revenue increases of 10% or more, underscoring the ROI of strategic tech investments.

She outlined four key pillars for leveraging AI in modern firms:

• Data-Driven Firm Management – Using AI to generate real-time insights and automate reporting.
• Increased Efficiencies and Capacity – Streamlining workflows and optimizing staff allocation.
• Proactive Risk Management – Monitoring tax and audit data to identify and mitigate risks.
• Enhanced Client Service – Shifting from compliance to advisory roles through AI-driven insights and automation.

A central theme of Rowe’s address was the emergence of agentic AI—a transformative evolution from traditional automation to intelligent agents that act autonomously with human oversight. She explained how agentic AI spans four key categories: Taskers, Automators, Collaborators, and Orchestrators. These agents can classify documents, manage workflows, guide professionals through complex tasks, and even orchestrate entire audit or tax preparation processes. Crucially, this next-generation AI is made possible through open integration platforms, enabling firms of all sizes to benefit from seamless automation, data interoperability, and intelligent decision-making.

“Agentic AI is not just a buzzword—it’s a strategic enabler,” Rowe stated. “It empowers professionals to work at the top of their credentials, enhances client service, and creates competitive advantage. With open integration APIs, firms can build intelligent, responsive systems that adapt in real time.”

Wolters Kluwer is actively advancing the integration of agentic AI across its suite of tax and accounting solutions as part of its long-term innovation strategy centered on firm intelligence. Building on more than a decade of AI investment, these enhancements will empower professionals to automate complex workflows, enhance decision-making, and deliver greater value to clients. Customers can expect to begin experiencing these next-generation capabilities in the near future, reinforcing Wolters Kluwer’s commitment to helping firms stay future-ready.

Rowe concluded by encouraging firms to assess their current workflows, evaluate integration opportunities, and invest in talent and change management to become truly future-ready.

Professionals interested in learning how Wolters Kluwer can help them prepare for the future are encouraged to contact their sales representative.

Interview Opportunity

Media interested in scheduling an interview with Cathy Rowe may reach out to Shannon Wherry, Associate Director, External Communications at shannon.wherry@wolterskluwer.com.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2024 annual revenues of €5.9 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

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