Andy North Joins the AIGAS Advisory Board | PPCS
Andy North Joins the AIGAS™ Advisory Board
We are delighted to announce that Andy North has joined the AIGAS™ Advisory Board. Andy brings deep experience from across the accounting profession, a long-standing understanding of how firms really operate, and — on a personal level — has been one of the earliest and most genuine supporters of the thinking that would eventually become AIGAS™.
Andy North
AIGAS™ Advisory Board Advisor · Accounting Industry Advisor
Tax Technology
Marketing Leadership
AI Governance Advocate
Andy combines long experience in accounting media, software, and industry relationships with a practical understanding of what accounting firms need from technology: clarity, trust, usability, and relevance in the real world.
A Particularly Personal Appointment
Some appointments matter because of the expertise someone brings. This one matters for that reason — but also because it is personal.
Andy and I have known each other for almost 20 years, going back to the time when I was at MYOB and he was at AccountingWEB. Long before AIGAS™ existed, and long before AI governance became a serious topic in the profession, Andy was someone who understood the accounting industry from the inside and cared deeply about where it was heading.
In an industry where new ideas are often met with caution, sometimes understandably so, Andy stood out. He was the first person in the accounting world who showed real enthusiasm for the idea of AI governance, and the first to respond positively to PPCS’s message. That early encouragement mattered more than he probably realised at the time.
In many ways, Andy’s belief in the need for practical AI governance helped inspire the creation of AIGAS™ itself.
That is why this appointment feels so fitting. Andy was not just an early supporter of the idea – he was there at the beginning, helped give it momentum, and became the first person formally appointed as a Board Advisor.
Introducing Andy North
Andy brings a rare combination of experience across accounting media, commercial leadership, and professional relationships within the sector. He is currently CCO at TaxCalc, and before that spent more than two decades at AccountingWEB, including as Publisher and Global Publisher.
That background matters. It means Andy understands not only the vendors and technologies shaping the profession, but also the day-to-day realities of firms – how they adopt change, where the friction points are, and what makes an idea resonate in practice rather than just in theory.
Andy’s contribution to AIGAS™ is especially valuable because he brings:
- ✓
Deep experience inside the accounting profession and the software ecosystem around it - ✓
A strong understanding of how firms really operate day to day — from workflows and client service to operational pressures and technology adoption - ✓
A practical instinct for what will actually land with firms across the UK - ✓
A long-standing enthusiasm for responsible, well-governed AI adoption in the profession
Andy North — Full Bio
Andy North brings deep experience from within the accounting profession and a strong understanding of how firms operate day to day. His insight helps ensure AIGAS™ remains grounded in the realities of accounting practices — from workflows and client service through to operational pressures and technology adoption.
He currently serves as CCO at TaxCalc, where he continues to play an important role in one of the best-known brands in the UK accounting software space. Before that, Andy spent over 20 years at AccountingWEB, including senior publishing leadership roles that gave him a front-row seat to the ideas, people, and technologies shaping the profession.
Within AIGAS™, Andy plays a key role in ensuring that the standard is not just theoretically sound, but genuinely usable by firms across the UK. He brings practical judgement, strong industry instincts, and a clear sense of what good governance needs to look like if it is going to be adopted in the real world.
On a personal level, Andy was also one of the very first people in the accounting industry to show real enthusiasm for the idea of AI governance. His support, encouragement, and willingness to engage early helped shape the confidence behind AIGAS™ in its earliest stages.
CMO, TaxCalc
Why Andy’s Appointment Matters
AIGAS™ has always been about making AI governance practical for accounting firms. Not theoretical. Not over-engineered. Not written in a way that sounds impressive but never gets implemented.
Andy has understood that instinctively from the start. He saw early that AI governance would become a real issue for firms, and he immediately recognised that what the profession needed was not fear, hype, or abstraction – but something practical, proportionate, and relevant.
His contribution has already helped AIGAS™ in meaningful ways:
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He was the first person in the industry to respond positively to PPCS’s message around AI governance - ▸
He became the first appointed Board Advisor for AIGAS™ - ▸
He also helped raise awareness by asking Sal Nasser to speak at TaxCalc’s Fusion events
That combination of belief, credibility, and practical support is exactly why I am so pleased to formally welcome Andy onto the board.
Looking Ahead
As AIGAS™ continues to grow, Andy will play an important role in helping us keep the standard connected to the profession it is meant to serve.
His perspective will help support:
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A stronger connection between governance thinking and the realities of accounting firms - ➤
Greater industry relevance as AI adoption accelerates across the profession - ➤
Practical feedback on how governance messages are received and understood by firms - ➤
A continued focus on making AIGAS™ credible, accessible, and genuinely usable in practice
I am genuinely pleased to have Andy involved in this journey. He has been there from the beginning, he understands why this matters, and he brings exactly the kind of grounded industry perspective that will help AIGAS™ grow in the right way.
We are delighted to welcome Andy North to the Advisory Board and look forward to continuing to work together as AIGAS™ develops into a practical, trusted standard for AI governance in the accounting profession.
Building Practical AI Governance for Accounting Firms
AIGAS™ is being shaped by people who understand both the promise of AI and the realities of professional practice. That balance is what will make the standard credible, useful, and fit for adoption across the sector.
Accounting Firms
Practical Standards
Professional Trust
If you would like to learn more about AIGAS™ or the Advisory Board, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Please get in touch:
hello@ppcs.uk
PPCS
PPCS specialises in cybersecurity and governance for accounting firms, helping practices implement Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, and now AI governance through AIGAS™.
Our focus is simple: practical, achievable frameworks that improve resilience, build trust, and enable growth.
Chair, AIGAS™ Advisory Board