President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has proposed developing a regional cybersecurity training programme for accountants, warning that digital security is becoming an essential professional skill.
Delivering remarks at the opening of the 43rd Annual Conference of the Inter-American Accounting Association (ICAC), President Ali said the accounting profession must adapt rapidly as businesses become increasingly digitised.
He told delegates that future accountants will need to understand technology almost as well as they understand finance.
“One area that will undoubtedly grow is cybersecurity and digital assurance,” the president stated.
As business operations become more digital, he explained, accountants will increasingly be expected to understand cybersecurity controls and help organisations manage emerging risks.
“No accountant will be valued in the future if you are not trained in cybersecurity in its totality,” he told participants.
To support that transition, President Ali announced that Guyana is prepared to work through the National Defence Institute (NDI), alongside international training partners, to develop a specialised cybersecurity training module for accountants across the Caribbean.
He said once the regional accounting body expresses interest, Guyana stands ready to collaborate on designing and delivering the programme.
The president also encouraged accountants to become champions of cybersecurity within organisations.
“You must be the ones to walk into the boardroom and say to the CEO, I want to do a three-hour training on cybersecurity across the organisation.”
President Ali said the future accountant will not only interpret financial information but also help organisations protect data, manage digital risk and strengthen resilience in an increasingly technology-driven economy.