Technology will allow us to move away from our desks: Rachel Grimes

It is very important for the Asia-Pacific region to have a voice. India has spots in different standard-setting boards and committees, she said

Rachel Grimes, president, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), a global organisation representing three million accountants of 130 countries, is not wary about the growing use of artificial intelligence and bots in the profession. Instead, technology will free accountants from manual tasks, allow them to become more pro-active, and forward-looking, she feels. In a freewheeling interaction with Sudipto Dey and N Sundaresha Subramanian, Grimes, in her maiden visit to India, shares her views on the public perception of the profession, issues on regulation, the impact of technology on accounting jobs, 

among others. Edited excerpts:

On change in the public perception of the accounting