Andersen, a firm specializing in tax, valuation, financial advisory, and consulting services, and the University of San Francisco’s School of Law (USF Law) have initiated a program to integrate Generative AI (GenAI) into professional tax practice, aiming to equip tax professionals with skills for responsible AI application.
The Generative AI Tax Research Training Program combines USF Law’s established AI curriculum with specialized tax research training. This initiative seeks to address a critical industry need by providing a structured, ethics-focused approach to adopting powerful AI tools while aligning with regulatory requirements and professional standards. The program is designed to enhance research efficiency, accuracy, and professional judgment for Andersen’s tax professionals.
Mark Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen, stated, “It’s critical that our people are prepared not only to leverage AI to enhance productivity and client service, but to do so in a manner that maintains professional standards and quality control. USF is on the leading edge of embedding this kind of training and mindset into its curriculum, and we’re honored that our employees will be part of this program focused on GenAI tax research.”
The partnership builds on USF Law’s approach to AI education. Earlier this year, USF Law integrated GenAI directly into its core curriculum as an essential component. Johanna Kalb, dean of the USF School of Law, commented, “Our ongoing collaboration with Andersen is rooted in our shared commitment to innovation, integrity, and excellence. This new program represents another significant milestone in our partnership as we prepare professionals for the challenges of a tech-driven world by enabling them to build the skills—and judgment—they’ll need to lead within the rapidly changing professional services landscape.”
Salvador D. Aceves, president of the University of San Francisco, noted that the initiative also supports USF’s Center for Law, Tech and Social Good in its mission to integrate legal education with emerging technologies to advance social responsibility. He added, “Andersen will define the standards for responsible and effective AI usage in tax practice, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to support their leadership.”
The inaugural cohort of approximately 60 Andersen professionals is slated to begin training in late 2025. Participants will receive instruction on evaluating and selecting appropriate GenAI tools for tax research, integrating AI responsibly into daily workflows, maintaining professional judgment and quality control, and navigating ethical considerations and compliance requirements. Following this pilot, the training will be expanded across Andersen’s tax practice and offered to employees at no cost as a professional development benefit.
Andersen and USF have maintained a professional education partnership since 2014. Through this collaboration, Andersen employees have access to USF graduate programs, including the Master of Legal Studies in Taxation (MLST), Master of Laws in Taxation (LLM), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Accounting Immersion Program. To date, over 275 Andersen employees from 30 countries have graduated from these programs, which are provided as an employee benefit at no cost.
Andersen is the founding member of Andersen Global, an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax, legal, and valuation professionals. Established in 2013 by U.
S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now includes more than 44,000 professionals worldwide and operates in over 600 locations through its member and collaborating firms. In the U.
S., Andersen employs over 2,200 personnel across 25 cities.
The University of San Francisco School of Law, founded in 1912, educates legal professionals and offers various programs, including Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation, Intellectual Property and Technology Law, and a general LLM, as well as a Master of Legal Studies in Taxation (MLST) for non-lawyers. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
