Episode 76

Prompt Engineering - the Vital New Accounting Skillset

Is AI reshaping the accounting world? How can accountants harness the power of ChatGPT through prompt engineering?

Rob Brown sits down with Mark Wickersham, an expert in prompt engineering and AI applications for the accounting industry. They discussed the world of ChatGPT, exploring its potential to revolutionize accounting practices and the crucial skill of prompt engineering.

Mark Wickersham shares his journey with ChatGPT, emphasizing the importance of asking better questions to get better answers. He introduces the concept of prompt engineering as a vital communication skill in the AI era. 

The discussion covers various aspects of crafting effective prompts, from specifying roles and formats to considering the intended audience. Wickersham also provides practical examples of how accountants can leverage ChatGPT for tasks ranging from financial analysis to content creation, highlighting the tool's potential to dramatically increase productivity and enhance client services.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prompt engineering is essentially communication with AI systems 
  • Good prompts include specifying roles, response formats, and audience considerations 
  • ChatGPT can be used for financial analysis, research, and business advisory in accounting firms 
  • Mastering prompt engineering can save hours of work and open new opportunities for accountants 
  • It's not AI that will replace accountants, but how competitors use AI that may make others irrelevant

View this episode in video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/KTS58DjGvsg

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About the Podcast

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Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.

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About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.