Ahead of IAFA 2025 next month, IAB editor Zoya Malik spoke to Delphi Alliance CEO Christos S Christodoulou about his views on the accountancy profession and what he is most looking forward to about this year’s event

The Accountant: Please tell us about the solution that you will be presenting on and how it will impact your clients’ businesses.

Christos Christodoulou: Networking is not only for accountants and lawyers! Delphi Alliance, being the first multi-disciplinary alliance in the world, has 13 different disciplines within its alliance.

Our main role is to provide the ultimate sharing of resources, knowledge and referrals, by creating both local alliances in each business centre in which it has a presence, and also develop a global alliance at the same time.

The recent addition of our 13th discipline – until the end of 2024 the alliance had 12 – which deals with venture capital and funding, introduces a valuable new resource for all members and their clients as it provides access to capital and funds.

Currently with a presence in 15 countries and with a target of 38, we aim to provide our members with added value both for their local and international clients.

TA: Tell us about the key themes in the market that will impact the accounting industry and your business over the next 24 months.

CC: From the accounting industry perspective and the Cyprus market where I come from, I believe that technology and human resources are the biggest challenges to face.

Recruitment requires a very hard and intensive effort, often unfortunately with no substantial results, as the new generation is not attracted to the profession but to wider industry.

Although AI and other IT tools seem to be increasingly becoming a need, it is still questionable at what level they will have an impact on demand from firms, in terms of matching compliance requirements and the documentation processes for assurance purposes.

TA: What do you hope to gain by attending IAFA 2025? What are the objectives for you and your business?

CC: There are several objectives for my attendance at IAFA 2025. On a personal level, I’m looking forward to my participation on the panel about The Evolution of Accounting Firms: Strategy, Innovation and Market Leadership.

As a delegate, I’m also keen to hear the insights of the distinguished speakers on some very interesting subjects.

I’m also looking forward to engaging with leaders within the same category as Delphi Alliance, and discussing prospects and opportunities in what we all do. It’s a great chance to push professional alliances to the next level. 

On a corporate level, Delphi Alliance has applied for the Association of the Year award, and we would be honoured to feature in the nominations and – why not? – to celebrate an award for which we have worked so hard during the last 12 months and more!

I have full respect for IAB and The Accountant, and most of all to the people behind this event. They all represent the best of us, and it will be an honour to be with them at their annual forum.