Insights on AI, tax research, learning and the future of accounting.

Year-end tax planning season always requires heavy amounts of preparation, scenario planning and decision coaxing followed by detailed documentation and good old fashion nagging (for return documents etc). For the rest of May and June 2026, these meetings also require an explanation of the 2026 Budget announcements and how these are likely to impact your clients. Elfworks has launched the first wave of AI Agents, designed to safely and securely help take the load off accoun

Elfworks gives you better answers, less waste: Working smarter with multiple AI models

“I’ll just use AI for this.” It’s a phrase echoed in accounting firms across Australia every day. What started as an interesting plaything has rapidly become a necessary tool for servicing clients in a high-pressure environment. But here is the reality: the moment you decide to use AI, the Tax Agent Code of Professional Conduct enters the room. Failure to understand how these tools handle data and failing to get proper client consent could put you in direct breach of yo

A bright, ambitious recent graduate—let's call him Sam—walks into your office for his final interview. He's spent the last few years of his degree using AI for research, case law analysis and assignment drafting. He doesn't just "know" AI; it's his co-pilot. You're showing Sam around, explaining your processes — you've recently (three years ago) upgraded to cloud-based portals, you use some basic automation tools, and you're "definitely looking at AI" in the coming years. You

AI agents will deliver a ‘wow’ moment like your first experience of the iPod or iPhone or the first email you thumbed-out via Blackberry in the late noughties (at least everyone reading knows what an iPhone is). However, the experience will be different with the AI agent. Instead of the new tool being for enjoyment, communication, or a clear aid to make you more efficient in your job, this ‘wow’ moment will be coupled with the thought: I can see the time-consuming work taken

Elfworks Perspectives | Insights on how Elfworks delivers professional grade research. Your expertise applied where it matters most.

When I was a tax grad, our firm ran a quarterly cross‑practice “Tax Ideas” session. It started with energy: a rotating roster of partners and managers from different business lines would present their latest insights from private group and corporate tax work. By quarter three, the wheels got wobbly. Preparation time became an issue, diaries filled, and the rotation quietly stalled. Everyone retreated to their natural knowledge habitat: the partner’s brain and the direct repor

The intersection of artificial intelligence and professional standards isn't just coming – it's here, and it's complex. If you haven't been asked about your AI usage yet by your industry body, you will be soon. The accounting profession is grappling with how to harness AI's transformative potential while maintaining the ethical standards and compliance obligations that define our profession. Over the past couple of years, our three major accounting bodies – CA ANZ, CPA Austra