25 Best Keynote Speakers for Accounting Conferences (2026)

Introduction

Here is the counterintuitive truth that every accounting conference organiser eventually learns: the best keynote speaker for your CPA conference is almost never an accountant. Your delegates spend every working week inside the profession. They attend webinars on tax updates. They sit through technical CPE sessions on audit standards and financial reporting. What they want from a keynote is not more of the same. They want a speaker who lifts their heads above the spreadsheet, helps them lead better, think differently, and handle the human challenges that no amount of technical training ever resolves.

The accounting and finance profession is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. According to the Intuit QuickBooks Accountant Technology Survey, 85 percent of accountants believe that failing to adopt new technology will limit their firm's growth. The Gallup State of the Global Workplace report found that 41 percent of employees globally experience significant daily stress, a figure even higher in high-accountability professions like accounting. And yet, the AICPA consistently reports that talent retention, firm culture, and leadership development rank as the top three concerns of managing partners heading into 2026. These are not technical problems. They are human ones. The right keynote speaker does not fix a balance sheet. They shift how a room of professionals thinks about the work they do, the teams they lead, and the clients they serve.

This guide has been compiled to serve accounting conference organisers looking for speakers who will genuinely move an audience of CPAs, controllers, CFOs, firm partners, bookkeepers, and finance leaders. The 25 speakers in this list have been selected based on their conference delivery experience, the relevance of their content to accounting and finance audiences, their ability to hold a mixed-credential room, and the specific value they bring to the most pressing challenges the profession faces in 2026. Whether you are planning a national CPA congress, a regional firm summit, a bookkeeping conference, a women in finance event, or an executive leadership retreat, this directory will help you find the right fit for your audience.

Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out with over 10,000 copies sold globally, is positioned at the top of this list because accounting firm leadership, team culture, difficult conversations, and high-performing team dynamics are at the heart of what he delivers. He has achieved a 93.75 percent satisfaction rating at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. To book Jonno for your accounting conference, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Why Keynote Quality Determines Conference Success

The accounting profession has a keynote problem. Not a shortage of speakers, but a habit of defaulting to the familiar: a retired athlete with a resilience metaphor, a financial futurist who recycles ChatGPT statistics, or a founding partner who gives a firm-history talk that only employees of that firm care about. The result is delegates who leave the keynote checking their phones and re-engage only when the breakout sessions begin.

Research from the Professional Conference Organisers Association consistently shows that the keynote speaker is the single biggest factor in member decisions to register for a conference. For accounting associations, where conference attendance is voluntary and funded by member dues, this is not a minor consideration. A weak keynote costs you registrations next year. A strong one becomes the reason people talk about your conference for twelve months.

The accounting profession also has a burnout problem that makes the keynote choice even more consequential. A Deloitte survey found that over 80 percent of workers have experienced burnout in their current role, with finance and professional services among the hardest-hit sectors. Tax season compression, staffing shortages, and the pressure of digital transformation are real. The right keynote speaker does not pretend these challenges do not exist. They meet the room where it is, acknowledge what delegates are carrying, and give them something genuinely useful before they leave the stage. That is what the speakers in this list do.

Organisations looking to build the kind of team that can handle the pressures of modern accounting practice may find that a facilitated Working Genius session or DISC workshop before or after a conference provides lasting value beyond the stage. Jonno White, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out and host of The Leadership Conversations Podcast with 230 plus episodes, delivers both keynotes and workshop sessions for accounting and finance firms globally. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss your event.

How We Compiled This List

This list was compiled by reviewing the keynote speaker lineups at major accounting conferences between 2023 and 2026, including AICPA Engage, Scaling New Heights, Digital CPA, Xerocon, the Northeast Finance and Accounting Convention, and the Accounting Business Expo. Speakers were evaluated across six criteria specific to the accounting and finance conference context: demonstrated delivery to professional service audiences, content relevance to the challenges of 2026, format flexibility including workshops and fireside formats, geographic diversity and international availability, fee accessibility for association budgets, and the depth of practical takeaways delegates can apply to their firms and teams. The list reflects genuine diversity in topic, geography, background, and career stage.

The 25 Best Keynote Speakers for Accounting Conferences

Category 1: Leadership, Culture and Team Dynamics

Accounting firms face a leadership crisis that no technical training resolves. The profession promotes its best technical performers into management roles they were never trained for, then wonders why retention suffers, culture erodes, and difficult conversations never happen. The speakers in this category address the human side of running a firm, building a team, and creating a workplace where accounting professionals actually want to stay.

1. Jonno White

Clarity Group Global

Leadership conversations do not get more practical than the ones Jonno White facilitates. Based in Brisbane and working with organisations across Australia, the UK, the USA, Singapore, India, Canada, New Zealand, and beyond, Jonno is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and keynote speaker who helps accounting firm leaders build the team cultures that attract and retain exceptional people. His approach is grounded, honest, and immediately applicable. He is not giving delegates a framework for someday. He gives them one for Monday morning.

The case for Jonno White at the top of this list is straightforward. He holds a 93.75 percent satisfaction rating from his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has reached listeners in 150 plus countries across 230 plus episodes. For accounting conferences where the agenda is heavy on technical content and light on human development, Jonno fills the gap that matters most. His keynote "Step Up or Step Out: Conflict Without Confrontation" gives accounting firm partners a direct framework for the performance conversations they have been avoiding. His "Building a High-Performing Team" session has become a go-to for firm retreats and national conferences across multiple continents.

Jonno also facilitates half-day and full-day Working Genius workshops that give accounting teams a shared language for how each person in the firm contributes. Working Genius has been completed by over 1.3 million people globally in fewer than five years. For accounting firms navigating merger seasons, leadership transitions, or talent crises, this is not abstract professional development. It is the kind of work that changes how a team functions the week after the conference. International travel is often far more affordable than clients expect.

Best for: CPA firm annual conferences, accounting association national events, firm leadership retreats, partner development programs, bookkeeping conference keynotes.

Contact: jonno@consultclarity.org | Website: consultclarity.org

Book on Amazon: Step Up or Step Out

2. Amy Vetter

The B3 Method Institute

Amy Vetter is one of the most credentialled accounting-specific keynote speakers operating globally. She is a CPA, CGMA, Certified Speaking Professional (one of only 12 percent of professional speakers to hold the CSP designation), and the CEO of The B3 Method Institute. She began her career at KPMG, became a partner at a regional CPA firm, and transitioned into a senior accounting technology leadership role before founding her own firm. She knows the accounting profession from the inside because she lived it.

Her signature talk, "Business, Balance and Bliss: How the B3 Method Can Transform Your Career and Life," gives accounting professionals a practical framework for finding work-life harmony without sacrificing performance. She won the TEDx Talk Audience Choice Award for her presentation "Disconnect to Connect: The Path to Work-Life Harmony" and has been named multiple times to the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and Most Powerful Women in Accounting. Conference feedback from the AICPA, CPA Canada, Institute of Management Accountants, and dozens of state CPA societies consistently rates her as one of the most highly rated sessions of the event.

Best for: CPA firm leadership conferences, women in accounting events, Institute of Management Accountants conferences, CPE-eligible leadership tracks, wellbeing-focused accounting association events.

3. Tom Hood

AICPA-CIMA

Tom Hood is the Executive Vice President of Business Engagement and Growth at AICPA-CIMA and one of the most influential figures the accounting profession has produced. Accounting Today Magazine has named him among the most influential people in accounting for more than fifteen consecutive years. He was one of the first five thought leaders inducted into the CPA Practice Advisor Accounting Hall of Fame, and LinkedIn recruited him as one of their Top 100 Influencers, where he now has over 780,000 followers.

His keynote work focuses on helping accounting and finance professionals become future-ready: navigating AI adoption, building the skills that technology cannot replace, and leading firms through exponential change. He co-developed a strategic thinking programme with the AICPA and has facilitated future forums for the Major Firms Group, the AICPA Leadership Academy, and CPA societies across the United States. He speaks with the rare authority of someone who has spent decades inside the profession, not advising it from the outside.

Best for: AICPA Engage, Scaling New Heights, Digital CPA, state CPA society conferences, and any accounting event where the audience wants a credible inside voice on the future of the profession.

4. Shola Kaye

Independent

Shola Kaye is an award-winning keynote speaker, author, and communication specialist who speaks on inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and human connection in technology-rich environments. She was a featured speaker at Scaling New Heights 2026, where her work on deepening team performance and human connection in technology-heavy contexts was specifically cited as a priority for accounting professionals navigating automation. Her approach resonates particularly well with accounting firms working through DEI commitments, generational tension in partner groups, and communication breakdowns between technical staff and client-facing teams.

Shola's keynote content is grounded in communication science and delivered with warmth and precision. She is based in the UK and delivers internationally, making her a strong option for global accounting conferences and those looking for a keynote that bridges technical rigour with human depth. Her topics include empathetic leadership, courageous conversations, and building cultures where every voice is heard.

Best for: Accounting firm culture transformation events, diversity and inclusion conferences, AICPA Engage leadership tracks, UK and European accounting association conferences.

5. Jennifer Wilson

ConvergenceCoaching

Jennifer Wilson is the co-founder and partner of ConvergenceCoaching, a national consulting firm recognised among Accounting Today's 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and INSIDE Public Accounting's Top 10 Most Recommended Consultants. She has also been named among the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting. Her keynote and workshop content addresses leadership, the rise of the next generation in CPA firms, managing change, and building succession-ready partnerships. She brings decades of hands-on work inside public accounting, giving her credibility that generic leadership speakers cannot match.

For accounting associations seeking a speaker who understands the specific dynamics of partner groups, emerging leader development, and firm succession, Jennifer Wilson delivers content that is immediately actionable. She regularly speaks at AICPA conferences, AAM Summits, and national firm leadership events. Her content on generational leadership within firms is particularly relevant as Baby Boomer partners approach succession and Gen Z associates redefine what a career in accounting looks like.

Best for: CPA firm management conferences, partner development events, accounting marketing association summits, succession planning retreats.

Category 2: The Future of the Profession, AI and Change

The accounting profession is in the middle of a technology transition that will reshape every role, every firm structure, and every client relationship within the next decade. The speakers in this category are the ones who help accounting audiences understand what is coming, reframe it as opportunity rather than threat, and leave with a practical response rather than a vague sense of urgency.

6. Daniel Susskind

King's College London

Daniel Susskind is a Research Professor in Economics at King's College London, a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University, and one of the most cited thinkers on the future of work in the context of AI and automation. His TED Talk on the future of work has been viewed more than 1.7 million times. He is the author of A World Without Work (2020), named by The New York Times as required reading, and Growth: A Reckoning (2024), chosen by President Obama as one of his favourite books of the year and a runner-up for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year. He co-authored The Future of the Professions with Richard Susskind.

His talk on "The Future of the Professions" is directly relevant to accounting audiences because it addresses what happens to white-collar professions when AI reaches the level of practical expertise that currently defines professional value. Rather than catastrophising, Susskind argues for a pragmatic optimism that equips professionals to lead through the transition. He was a keynote at Scaling New Heights 2026 alongside April Rinne, making him one of the most validated choices for accounting conference programmers right now.

Best for: Large-scale national accounting conferences, AICPA Engage, Scaling New Heights, CFO leadership summits, accounting firm leadership retreats where the agenda centres on technology and the future.

7. April Rinne

Flux

April Rinne is a Harvard Law School graduate, Fulbright Scholar, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and Thinkers50 Radar member who Forbes ranked as one of the 50 Leading Female Futurists in the world. She is the author of the international bestseller Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change and has worked and travelled in more than 100 countries. Her clients have included Intuit, Airbnb, Nike, the World Bank, EY, and governments across six continents.

Her keynote, "Flux Mindset," gives accounting and finance audiences a practical framework for developing the skills that constant change demands: slowing down enough to see clearly, running scenarios rather than planning linearly, and becoming genuinely comfortable with not knowing. For accounting professionals whose entire professional identity is built on precision and certainty, this is a genuinely challenging and liberating talk. She was a keynote at Scaling New Heights 2026 and is a regular presence at finance and professional services conferences globally.

Best for: Scaling New Heights, national accounting association conferences, CFO summits, professional development events for accounting professionals navigating AI, automation, and firm transformation.

8. Jason Schenker

Prestige Economics

Jason Schenker is a financial futurist, chairman of The Futurist Institute, president of Prestige Economics, and one of the most accurate financial forecasters in the world. Bloomberg has ranked him among the most accurate forecasters globally across multiple economic categories including interest rates, currency, energy, and equity markets. He holds professional designations including Certified Financial Planner, Certified Futurist, and Project Management Professional, and is the author of more than 30 books on economics, leadership, and the future of work.

For accounting and finance conference audiences who want a keynote grounded in hard data rather than speculation, Schenker delivers unmatched credibility. His content on economic outlook, interest rate trajectories, the macroeconomic context for accounting firms, and the specific impact of AI and automation on financial services gives conference programmers a speaker who is simultaneously rigorous, compelling, and commercially relevant.

Best for: CFO leadership conferences, corporate finance summits, accounting firm partner retreats where economic context is a core programme theme, financial services association annual meetings.

9. Kara Swisher

Technology Journalist and Author

Kara Swisher is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's most respected technology journalists and commentators. She was a keynote speaker at Sage Future 2026, the flagship accounting and finance technology conference for Sage's global user base, specifically for her ability to translate complex technology dynamics into language that finance and accounting audiences find accessible and engaging. Her insights into the AI revolution, Big Tech accountability, and the human implications of technological acceleration are delivered with the directness and wit that has made her one of the most sought-after voices at major finance and technology conferences globally.

For accounting conference organisers looking for a high-profile name who can connect the technology transformation of the profession to the broader cultural and societal context, Swisher offers a perspective that no technology insider or accounting industry figure can replicate. She challenges comfortable assumptions, asks the questions that experts often avoid, and leaves audiences with a sharper sense of what the technology revolution actually means for their profession.

Best for: Large-scale accounting technology conferences, Sage Future, Digital CPA, accounting firm innovation summits, events where technology is the central conference theme.

10. Dan Burrus

Burrus Research Associates

Dan Burrus is a technology forecaster, business strategist, and author of seven books including Flash Foresight and The Anticipatory Organization. He has been called one of the world's leading business futurists, with clients including Google, Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, and the US military. His Hard Trend methodology, which distinguishes between changes that are certain and those that are merely possible, has been applied in accounting and finance through his work with the AICPA. Tom Hood, EVP of AICPA-CIMA, has specifically cited Burrus's influence on the accounting profession's forward planning through the Rise2040 initiative.

His keynote content helps accounting and finance leaders stop reacting to change and start anticipating it. The distinction between Hard Trends (certainties) and Soft Trends (possibilities) gives firm leaders a practical framework for strategic decision-making in an environment where AI, automation, and regulatory change are all accelerating simultaneously.

Best for: AICPA conferences, Scaling New Heights, accounting firm strategy retreats, CFO summits, events focused on practice transformation and future-ready leadership.

Category 3: Resilience, Wellbeing and Sustainable Performance

Burnout is not a buzzword in accounting. It is a structural feature of the profession, built into tax season compression, compliance deadlines, and a culture that has historically rewarded hours over outcomes. The speakers in this category are not delivering generic wellness talks. They address the specific dynamics of high-pressure professional environments and give accounting professionals a credible path to sustainable performance.

11. Brene Brown

Breneworks

Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, a multiple New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most watched TED Talk speakers of all time. Her talk "The Power of Vulnerability" has been viewed over 60 million times. She is the author of Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Dare to Lead, and other works that have become foundational reading for leaders across industries. She appeared as a keynote at the Intuit Connect conference for accounting professionals, which is one of the highest-profile endorsements possible for an accounting conference keynote choice.

Her content on vulnerability-based leadership, shame resilience, and courageous conversations is particularly resonant for accounting professionals who operate in high-stakes, high-accountability environments. The culture of many accounting firms makes it difficult for staff to admit mistakes, ask for help, or disagree with partners. Brene Brown's work gives firm leaders a framework for changing that culture in ways that improve retention, reduce burnout, and build the psychological safety that high-performing teams require.

Best for: Major national CPA conferences, Intuit Connect, AICPA Engage, women in accounting events, accounting firm culture transformation retreats with premium budgets.

12. Alden Mills

Independent

Alden Mills is a three-time Navy SEAL platoon commander, Inc. 500 CEO, and bestselling author of Be Unstoppable, Unstoppable Teams, and Unstoppable Mindset. He was named the number one virtual speaker by Entrepreneur magazine and has delivered keynotes for State Farm, Transamerica, USAA, and National Life Insurance, among others. His work with financial services organisations specifically focuses on leadership under pressure, building high-trust teams, and the kind of resilience that translates into consistent team performance rather than individual heroics.

For accounting conference programmers, Alden Mills occupies a rare position: he is a speaker with genuine military and entrepreneurial credibility who has done the work to make his content directly applicable to financial services and accounting audiences. His talk on building unstoppable teams does not rely on military war stories. It translates leadership principles into the specific context of accounting firm culture, client advisory relationships, and the performance pressures that finance teams face daily.

Best for: Accounting firm partner retreats, CFO leadership conferences, financial services firm annual events, accounting association keynotes where resilience and team performance are the theme.

13. Susan David

Harvard Medical School

Susan David is a psychologist at Harvard Medical School and the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life. Her TED Talk on the topic has been viewed over 10 million times and was named one of the top ten most popular TED Talks of the year. She has worked with the United Nations, Ernst and Young, Google, Microsoft, and governments and non-profits around the world to help leaders build the emotional skills that modern professional environments demand.

For accounting conferences, Susan David fills a gap that neither technical CPE nor generic resilience talks address: the internal experience of accounting professionals navigating constant change, increasing complexity, and the emotional weight of advising clients through difficult financial decisions. Her concept of "emotional agility" is genuinely useful for accountants who are trained to be technically precise but rarely equipped to manage their inner professional experience.

Best for: Accounting firm culture events, AICPA leadership conferences, accounting association national events with wellbeing tracks, women in finance summits, CFO leadership retreats.

14. Simon Sinek

SinekPartners

Simon Sinek is the author of the international bestseller Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, and creator of the Golden Circle framework that has become one of the most widely used leadership concepts in professional development globally. His TED Talk is one of the most-watched of all time, with over 60 million views. He is a regular keynote presence at large-scale association and corporate conferences internationally, including events for financial services firms and professional associations.

His content on purpose-driven leadership, the "infinite game" mindset, and why great leaders prioritise their people before profits resonates strongly with accounting firms navigating the shift from compliance-based revenue models to advisory relationships. For managing partners trying to articulate why their firm matters beyond the billable hour, Sinek's framework provides genuine intellectual scaffolding. His fee reflects his global profile and is best suited to large national events.

Best for: Large national accounting conferences, accounting firm leadership summits, association keynotes where purpose and culture are the programme theme, events targeting emerging leaders in the profession.

Category 4: Communication, Difficult Conversations and Accountability

Accounting professionals are trained to find technical answers. They are rarely trained to have hard conversations about performance, partnership, scope creep, fee resistance, or workplace conflict. These are the conversations that determine whether a firm grows or stagnates, whether talented staff stay or leave, and whether client relationships deepen or erode. The speakers in this category address the communication and accountability gaps that technical training leaves behind.

15. Jonno White (Communication and Difficult Conversations Track)

Clarity Group Global

While Jonno appears at position one in this list as an overall pick for accounting conferences, the relevance of his specific content to this category deserves its own acknowledgement. His book Step Up or Step Out is a direct field guide for leaders who need to have the conversations they have been avoiding. Written specifically for leaders in professional environments, it has sold over 10,000 copies globally and is used in leadership development programmes across multiple sectors.

For accounting firms where partner dynamics, staff accountability, fee conversations with clients, and performance management are perennial friction points, Jonno's keynote "Step Up or Step Out: Conflict Without Confrontation" gives delegates a framework they can apply the following week. He also facilitates DISC workshops that help accounting teams understand why they communicate differently and how to bridge those differences. Jonno works with organisations across Australia, the UK, the USA, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, and beyond. International travel is often far more affordable than accounting conference organisers expect.

Contact: jonno@consultclarity.org

Book: Step Up or Step Out on Amazon

16. Cy Wakeman

Reality-Based Leadership

Cy Wakeman is a New York Times bestselling author, drama researcher, and keynote speaker whose work on eliminating workplace drama and building accountability cultures has been applied in financial services, healthcare, and professional services firms globally. Her book Reality Bites: 11 Tools to Move from Drama to Accountability is a practical guide for leaders who have tried to manage performance through empathy alone and found it insufficient. She has delivered keynotes for AICPA Digital CPA, where her specific focus on accountability leadership was cited as one of the most applicable sessions for accounting firm management.

Her content challenges the common assumption that leadership means managing emotions before expectations. For accounting firms where the soft skills training pendulum has swung so far toward empathy that accountability has been lost, Cy Wakeman's "Reality-Based Leadership" gives managing partners permission to hold high standards while treating people well.

Best for: AICPA Digital CPA, accounting firm management conferences, partner and manager development programmes, any accounting conference where accountability and performance culture are on the agenda.

17. Bryce Hoffman

Red Team Thinking

Bryce Hoffman is the author of Red Teaming: Transform Your Business by Thinking Like the Enemy, a former journalist and business strategist whose "Red Team" methodology has been applied by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and major professional services firms. His keynote content teaches accounting and finance leaders to challenge their own assumptions, stress-test their strategic plans, and think like an adversary in order to identify the blind spots that conventional planning processes consistently miss.

For accounting conference programmers, Bryce Hoffman occupies a niche that few speakers fill: the strategic thinking keynote that equips firm leaders and finance professionals to make better decisions under uncertainty. His content is intellectually rigorous and practically applied, making it particularly suitable for CFO conferences, accounting firm leadership retreats, and events where the audience is senior enough to engage with strategic complexity.

Best for: CFO leadership conferences, accounting firm partner strategy retreats, risk management and assurance conference tracks, senior finance leader events.

Category 5: Innovation, Technology and Digital Transformation

18. Allie K. Miller

Open Machine

Allie K. Miller is the CEO of Open Machine and one of the world's leading voices on artificial intelligence in business. She is a former Amazon AI leader and was a keynote at AICPA Digital CPA 2024, where her talk on how individuals, teams, and organisations can master the AI age was cited as one of the most practically useful sessions at the event. She advises Fortune 500 companies on AI implementation and has trained more than 30,000 leaders in AI fundamentals and applied strategy.

For accounting conferences where AI is the dominant theme, Allie K. Miller delivers the rare combination of technical depth and human clarity. She does not simply explain what AI can do. She gives accounting professionals a structured framework for deciding what to adopt, how to evaluate AI tools in a firm context, and how to lead teams through AI integration without creating the anxiety and resistance that poorly managed technology rollouts produce.

Best for: Digital CPA, Scaling New Heights, accounting technology conferences, accounting firm innovation and transformation events, AI adoption strategy sessions for finance teams.

19. Erik Asgeirsson

CPA.com

Erik Asgeirsson is the president and CEO of CPA.com, the technology subsidiary of the AICPA, and one of the most trusted voices on technology transformation within the accounting profession. He has led CPA.com's development of major professional learning and technology platforms and is a regular keynote and panel moderator at Digital CPA, AICPA Engage, and related AICPA conferences. His deep institutional knowledge of where the profession is heading, combined with his specific expertise in cloud accounting, automation, and advisory service transformation, makes him a credible and substantive choice for accounting conference keynotes with a technology focus.

While Asgeirsson does not position himself primarily as a professional keynote speaker, his ability to translate technology strategy into professional development language for CPA audiences is unmatched. He is best used in moderated formats, fireside chats, or panel discussions where his knowledge of the profession's technology infrastructure can be drawn out through conversation.

Best for: AICPA Digital CPA, technology-focused accounting association events, accounting firm technology strategy sessions, moderated panel discussions at CPA conferences.

20. Debbie Qaqish

The Pedowitz Group

Debbie Qaqish is a principal partner and chief strategy officer at The Pedowitz Group and one of the pioneers of revenue operations and marketing automation thinking in professional services. She has authored multiple books on modern marketing strategy and speaks at professional services conferences on how firms can build client relationships that generate sustainable revenue rather than transactional engagements. For accounting firms making the transition from compliance revenue models to advisory service models, her content on client journey design, marketing technology, and revenue operations provides a practical framework for firm growth.

Best for: Accounting firm growth conferences, accounting marketing association summits, CPA firms transitioning from compliance to advisory services, events where firm business development is a conference track.

Category 6: Diversity, Inclusion and the Next Generation

21. Reshma Saujani

Girls Who Code

Reshma Saujani is the founder of Girls Who Code, the author of Brave, Not Perfect, and one of the most influential voices in the world on gender inclusion in professional environments. Her TED Talk, "Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection," has been viewed more than 6 million times and has become a foundational reference in conversations about why women are underrepresented in technical professions including accounting, finance, and technology. Her organisation has taught coding to over 500,000 women globally.

For accounting conference programmers, Reshma Saujani provides a keynote that speaks directly to the gender dynamics of the profession, where women represent the majority of accounting graduates but a fraction of managing partners. Her message about the difference between socialising girls for perfection and boys for bravery is directly applicable to why high-performing women in accounting often hesitate to put themselves forward for promotion, partnership, or client-facing leadership roles.

Best for: Women in accounting conferences, Women Who Count, accounting firm diversity and inclusion events, AICPA conferences with DEI programme tracks, accounting association events targeting the next generation of firm leadership.

22. Cynt Marshall

Former CEO, Dallas Mavericks

Cynt Marshall is the former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and one of the most credentialled culture transformation leaders in professional sports. She spoke at the TXCPA Dallas Convergence 2026 accounting conference on purpose-driven leadership and her "ALL IN" philosophy for building resilient organisations. Her background includes senior human resources leadership at AT&T before her groundbreaking tenure at the Mavericks, where she oversaw a complete cultural transformation of the organisation following a high-profile workplace misconduct crisis.

For accounting firms navigating their own culture transformation challenges, including the shift to flexible work, the push for genuine inclusion, and the need to rebuild trust after difficult events, Cynt Marshall delivers a keynote grounded in lived experience rather than theory. Her story of transforming a broken culture into a high-performing one is directly applicable to accounting firm managing partners who know their culture needs to change but do not know where to start.

Best for: Accounting firm culture transformation events, leadership conferences with diversity programme tracks, any accounting association event where purpose-driven leadership is the theme.

23. Jeff Motske

Trilogy Financial

Jeff Motske is the founder and CEO of Trilogy Financial and the author of The Family CFO. He is a fee-only financial planner and keynote speaker whose content bridges the gap between the technical precision of the accounting profession and the human complexity of financial decision-making in families and small businesses. For accounting conferences that serve practitioners advising individual clients, small business owners, and families, Motske provides a rare keynote perspective: what it actually feels like to be on the other side of the desk.

His content is particularly valuable for accounting conferences with an advisory services focus, helping CPAs understand the client psychology that drives financial decisions and building the empathy-based communication skills that turn transactional accountants into trusted advisors.

Best for: CPA firm advisory service conferences, accounting conferences serving practitioners in personal financial planning, small business accounting conferences.

Category 7: Keynote Speakers with Direct Accounting Credentials

24. Sandra Wiley

Boomer Consulting

Sandra Wiley is the president and shareholder of Boomer Consulting, frequently described as the go-to voice on the profession's staffing and talent crisis. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant on hiring, retaining, and developing accounting firm talent, and speaks regularly at accounting firm management conferences, AICPA events, and state CPA society gatherings. Her content is directly operational: she gives firm leaders specific, actionable strategies for the talent problems that are keeping managing partners awake at night.

For accounting conference programmers who need a speaker with deep inside knowledge of the profession and an immediately practical message, Sandra Wiley is one of the most reliable choices available. She understands the specific dynamics of accounting firm management in a way that no generalist speaker can replicate. Her session on the staffing crisis in public accounting is among the most-attended sessions at any event where it appears.

Best for: CPA firm management conferences, CPAFMA events, state CPA society conferences, Boomer Circle Summit, accounting firm partner retreats focused on talent and firm strategy.

25. Jessica Levin

Seven Degrees Communications

Jessica Levin is the founder of Seven Degrees Communications and the author of Everyone Has Sh*t: Unsolicited Advice for Being Human. She speaks at accounting and professional services conferences on firm culture, change management, and creating workplaces where the next generation of accounting professionals can build careers they are proud of. She has spoken at numerous accounting marketing, management, and association events and understands the specific combination of technical rigour and human dysfunction that characterises the culture of many accounting firms.

Her approach is warm, direct, and grounded in the reality of what it takes to build a firm that people actually want to work for. For accounting conference programmers looking for a closing keynote or opening session that brings energy, honesty, and genuine applicability to a mixed room of firm owners, managers, and emerging professionals, Jessica Levin delivers content that lands well across generational lines.

Best for: Accounting firm culture events, accounting marketing association summits, CPA firm management conferences, events targeting the next generation of accounting firm leadership.

Comparison Table

Speaker	Specialty	Best For
Jonno White	Leadership, culture, difficult conversations, Working Genius	National CPA conferences, firm retreats, partner development
Amy Vetter	Wellbeing, mindful leadership, CPA-specific	Women in accounting, IMA, state CPA societies
Tom Hood	Future of profession, AI, strategy	AICPA, Scaling New Heights, Digital CPA
Shola Kaye	Inclusion, communication, EQ	DEI tracks, UK and global conferences
Jennifer Wilson	Partner development, next gen, succession	CPA firm management, AAM Summit
Daniel Susskind	Future of work, AI, economics	Large national conferences, CFO summits
April Rinne	Change mindset, flux, uncertainty	Scaling New Heights, AFP, CFO conferences
Jason Schenker	Economic forecasting, financial futures	CFO conferences, corporate finance summits
Kara Swisher	Technology journalism, AI accountability	Tech-focused accounting conferences
Dan Burrus	Hard Trend forecasting, anticipation	AICPA, accounting firm strategy retreats
Brene Brown	Vulnerability, courageous leadership	Premium budget national events
Alden Mills	SEAL leadership, team resilience	Firm retreats, financial services conferences
Susan David	Emotional agility, change	Leadership conferences, wellbeing tracks
Simon Sinek	Purpose, Why, infinite leadership	Large association keynotes
Cy Wakeman	Accountability, drama-free workplaces	Digital CPA, firm management conferences
Bryce Hoffman	Red team thinking, strategic decision-making	CFO conferences, senior firm retreats
Allie K. Miller	AI adoption, AI strategy	Digital CPA, Scaling New Heights
Erik Asgeirsson	Accounting technology, CPA.com	AICPA tech events, Digital CPA
Debbie Qaqish	Revenue operations, firm growth	AAM Summit, firm growth conferences
Reshma Saujani	Gender inclusion, bravery	Women in accounting, DEI conferences
Cynt Marshall	Culture transformation, purpose leadership	Culture events, DEI-focused national events
Jeff Motske	Client psychology, advisory services	Personal financial planning, CAS conferences
Sandra Wiley	Talent, staffing, firm management	CPAFMA, state CPA societies, firm retreats
Jessica Levin	Culture, change, next gen	Firm culture events, AAM Summit

Want Help Implementing This?

Finding the right keynote speaker is one decision. Building the team that can actually apply what they learn is another one entirely. Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out, works with accounting firms, financial services organisations, and professional services teams globally to deliver the conversations and frameworks that stick long after the conference ends.

For accounting firm leaders who want their team to not only hear about high performance but actually build it, Jonno facilitates Working Genius team sessions, DISC communication workshops, and executive team offsites that give accounting professionals a shared language and a practical system for working better together. He also delivers keynotes and workshop sessions at accounting conferences across Australia, the UK, the USA, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, and beyond. International travel is often far more affordable than accounting conference organisers expect.

To book Jonno White for your accounting conference keynote, workshop, or executive team offsite, email jonno@consultclarity.org or visit consultclarity.org.

How to Choose the Right Speaker for Your Accounting Conference

The single most common mistake accounting conference organisers make is choosing a speaker whose content they personally find interesting rather than one whose content their delegates genuinely need. Before contacting a speaker bureau or reaching out to a speaker directly, answer four questions. First, what is the primary challenge your delegates face right now? Not the theme of your conference brochure, but the actual problem keeping your members and attendees awake at night. Second, what do you want delegates to be able to do differently on Monday morning? A good keynote gives your audience a tool, a framework, or a shift in perspective they can apply immediately. Third, what is the emotional state of your audience walking into the keynote? A room full of partners who have just survived tax season needs a different speaker than a room of emerging leaders looking for frameworks. Fourth, what is your budget, and does it allow for travel, accommodation, and speaker fees without compromising your overall conference investment?

Once you have answered these questions, evaluate speakers against three additional criteria specific to the accounting conference context. Association audience experience matters more than corporate event experience. Accounting conference audiences are voluntary, diverse, and often sceptical of generic content. Ask any potential speaker for specific video evidence of delivery to professional service or association audiences, not just corporate keynotes. Content customisation is also critical. The best speakers for accounting conferences do not deliver the same talk to everyone. They ask about your audience, your theme, and your specific challenges, and they build their content accordingly. Finally, format flexibility is increasingly important. The shift toward shorter keynotes, fireside chats, and facilitated Q&A means speakers who can only deliver one format are a risky investment for modern conference programming.

What to Expect: Investment Guide

Keynote speaker fees for accounting conferences vary significantly based on profile, travel requirements, format, and exclusivity arrangements. The following ranges reflect 2026 market rates for live engagements.

For speakers with primarily domestic profiles and strong accounting-specific credentials, including Amy Vetter, Jennifer Wilson, Sandra Wiley, and Jessica Levin, conference organisers can typically expect to invest in the range of five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars for a keynote, often with additional CPE facilitation options.

Mid-range globally recognised speakers with accounting conference track records, including Jonno White, Shola Kaye, Alden Mills, and Bryce Hoffman, typically fall in the range of ten thousand to thirty thousand dollars for an in-person keynote, with travel costs on top. Jonno White's international travel is frequently cited by clients as being more affordable than anticipated.

High-profile global speakers including Daniel Susskind, April Rinne, Jason Schenker, and Dan Burrus command fees in the range of twenty thousand to fifty thousand dollars for live events, with virtual options often available at reduced rates. Premium global speakers including Brene Brown, Simon Sinek, and Kara Swisher typically command fees well above fifty thousand dollars and are best suited to large national events with premium speaker budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good keynote speaker for an accounting conference?

The best keynote speakers for accounting conferences combine credibility with their specific audience, content relevance to the real challenges the profession faces, and the ability to leave a mixed room with something immediately applicable. They are not necessarily accounting experts themselves, but they understand professional service audiences, adapt their content specifically to the accounting context, and deliver with the kind of presence and precision that a sceptical, high-achieving professional audience respects.

How much does a keynote speaker cost for an accounting conference?

Keynote speaker fees for accounting conferences range from approximately five thousand dollars for emerging speakers with strong accounting-specific credentials to over one hundred thousand dollars for globally recognised names with premium profiles. Most accounting associations work with speakers in the ten thousand to forty thousand dollar range for their headline keynote. Travel costs are additional and vary significantly based on geography and speaker location. Many clients find that international speakers travel for less than expected when logistics are handled efficiently.

What topics do keynote speakers cover at accounting conferences?

The most popular keynote topics at accounting conferences in 2026 include AI adoption and the future of the profession, leadership and team culture within accounting firms, wellbeing and sustainable performance in high-pressure environments, difficult conversations and accountability, diversity and inclusion in the profession, change management during digital transformation, and the economic outlook affecting the financial services sector.

Can I hire someone to facilitate leadership workshops for my accounting firm?

Yes. Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out, facilitates Working Genius team assessments, DISC communication workshops, and leadership team sessions specifically for accounting and financial services firms. These sessions can be run as standalone engagements or as pre-conference or post-conference workshops attached to your accounting event. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss your firm's needs.

How do I find the right keynote speaker for my accounting association?

Start by identifying the primary challenge your members face, not just the theme of your conference. Then look for speakers with demonstrated experience with professional service or association audiences, content that is genuinely applicable to accounting and finance professionals, and the willingness to customise their content for your specific audience. Ask for video of the speaker presenting to similar audiences, speak with at least two past conference clients, and confirm what the post-conference deliverable looks like.

What is the difference between a technical speaker and a keynote speaker?

A technical speaker delivers specialised content to a specialist audience, typically through a breakout session or CPE-eligible workshop. A keynote speaker opens or closes a conference for the full room, sets the emotional and intellectual tone for the event, and delivers content broad enough to connect with delegates at every level of the organisation. The best accounting conferences need both.

Final Thoughts

The speakers in this list represent the full range of what is available to accounting conference programmers in 2026, from accounting-specific insiders with deep professional credibility to globally recognised voices whose content has been validated at the largest events the profession runs. No single speaker is right for every conference, and the best choice depends entirely on your audience, your theme, and what you want your delegates to do differently as a result of attending.

What every great accounting conference has in common is a keynote that meets the room with honesty, gives delegates something real, and sends them back to their firms with more than a branded notebook and a vague sense of inspiration. That is what the speakers in this list deliver at their best.

Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out, and host of The Leadership Conversations Podcast with 230 plus episodes reaching listeners in 150 plus countries, is available for accounting conference keynotes, Working Genius workshops, DISC communication sessions, and executive team offsites globally.

Book: Step Up or Step Out on Amazon

To book Jonno White for your next accounting conference, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and leadership consultant who has worked with schools, corporates, and nonprofits across the UK, India, Australia, Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Finland, Namibia, and more. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has featured 230 plus episodes reaching listeners in 150 plus countries. Jonno founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000 plus participating leaders and achieved a 93.75 percent satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works globally and regularly travels for speaking and facilitation engagements. Organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected.

To book Jonno for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

While Jonno is included in these rankings based on objective criteria and his genuine track record with accounting and professional services conferences, readers should note his authorship of this guide in the interest of full transparency.

Next Read: 25 Best Keynote Speakers on AI in Financial Services (2026)

The intersection of artificial intelligence and financial services is producing one of the most consequential speaker markets in the events industry. Conference organisers working in banking, wealth management, insurance, and fintech are navigating a landscape where the demand for credible AI keynote speakers has outpaced supply, and where the gap between technically excellent speakers and genuinely audience-ready ones has never been wider. This guide identifies the 25 speakers best positioned to deliver on that specific brief in 2026.

Keep reading: https://www.consultclarity.org/post/keynote-speakers-ai-financial-services