Emmanuel Degrève, you are a tax advisor, author, professor, president of the OECCBB—and now a candidate for the presidency of the ITAA. What led you to take this step?
Frankly, it was a growing sense of unease.
For several years now, I’ve sensed a growing disconnect between who we are on the ground—committed, innovative professionals who are essential to the economy—and how our national institution portrays us. At 58, nothing was forcing me to enter this fight. But sometimes, not going becomes harder than going. So I’m going for it. With a slate of six candidates from the OECCBB, driven by the conviction that the ITAA can—and must—be different.
Artificial intelligence is disrupting many sectors. How do you see its impact on the accounting profession?
Neither as a threat nor as a magic solution. As a catalyst. AI automates what can be automated—data entry, consistency checks, the mechanical generation of data. In doing so, it frees up time. But only for those who know what to do with it. The value of a certified public accountant has never been in the numbers themselves. It lies in interpretation, advice, and the relationship of trust. AI doesn’t eliminate that value—it makes it more visible. And more demanding.
You’ve published several analyses on the actual uses of AI in the profession. What have you observed?
That the gap is widening. Professionals who integrate these tools intelligently gain greater analytical depth, enhanced advisory capabilities, and greater impact for their clients. Those who ignore them or are simply swept along by them are losing ground—often without even realizing it. The difference won’t lie between those who “know how to use AI” and those who don’t. It will lie between those who retain control over their added value—and those who have relinquished it without realizing it.
And you didn’t just write about the subject.
No. Writing without taking action isn’t in my nature.
At the OECCBB, we’ve taken a concrete and, I believe, historic step for our profession: the launch of the first sector-specific and sovereign artificial intelligence, designed by and for accounting professionals. Completely free for members. This isn’t a hastily adapted, general-purpose tool. It’s an AI built from our realities, our vocabulary, and our specific needs. An AI that knows the difference between a balance sheet and an income statement, between a tax obligation and an opportunity for optimization. It’s a first in Belgium. Perhaps in Europe. And it is precisely this type of initiative that I want to bring to the ITAA.
Precisely—what role should the ITAA play in this transformation?
The one it hasn’t played yet. An institution representing more than 15,000 professionals cannot simply stand by and watch the transformations its members are experiencing every day. It must anticipate them, equip them, and support them. Our program places digital transformation at the heart of our priorities. Training, tools, accessible resources, and concrete support for firms of all sizes. Not just a slogan. An operational commitment.
A word for the entrepreneurs and business leaders reading this?
Your accountant is changing. Not disappearing—but transforming. Into a strategic advisor, a decision-making partner, a trusted third party in a world where data abounds but meaning is lacking. This is an opportunity for you. Provided that the institution overseeing our profession is up to the task.
That is why I am running
Emmanuel Degrève is running for president of the ITAA — list #ITAA26.
Full platform: www.itaa26.be
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