L&D Strategy Built for Accounting & Advisory Firms
Athena L&D partners with accounting and professional services organizations to build learning infrastructure that drives performance — not just compliance.
What I Bring
Consulting That Goes Beyond the Course
🎯
Strategy First
Every engagement begins with a clear-eyed look at business goals, performance gaps, and audience needs — before a single slide is built.
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Evidence-Based Design
Grounded in adult learning theory and cognitive science, with an MA in Education from Loyola University to back it up.
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AI-Augmented Development
Leveraging AI tools to accelerate content development without sacrificing quality — and training teams to do the same.
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Scalable Architecture
Curriculum maps, LMS governance, and modular content design that grow with your organization and don't fall apart at the seams.
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Accounting & Advisory Depth
Deep domain expertise in CAS, audit, and professional services — no lengthy onboarding required to get up to speed on your world.
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NASBA CPE Expertise
Published, accredited self-study CPE designed to meet NASBA standards for accounting and advisory professionals.
Ready to Build Something That Actually Works?
Whether you need a full L&D strategy or a single high-stakes course, let's start with a conversation.
About
Elise Spencer
Instructional Designer & L&D Consultant specializing in accounting and advisory services organizations.
Building Learning Infrastructure That Performs
I'm an instructional designer and curriculum architect with deep roots in accounting and advisory services. My work sits at the intersection of learning science and business strategy — I design training ecosystems that help organizations onboard faster, perform better, and scale with confidence.
I spent several years at CPA.com building NASBA-accredited CPE curriculum and authoring industry research — including the annual CAS Benchmark Survey and Audit Transformation Report. I also served as Associate Professor and Department Chair at Prairie State College, and have designed compliance and performance training at DocNetwork. That combination of higher education rigor, real-world L&D practice, and CAS domain expertise is what I bring to every engagement.
I believe learning design is fundamentally a strategic discipline. The best training doesn't just transfer information — it changes behavior, closes gaps, and produces measurable outcomes for the business.
Associate Professor & Department Chair — Prairie State College
Training Design & Implementation — DocNetwork
NASBA CPE Author — multiple published accredited self-study courses
Published Industry Research — CPA.com CAS & Audit Reports
My Approach
Six Principles That Drive My Practice
Instructional Design
ADDIE, SAM, and backwards design inform every project — but I adapt the process to the reality of the engagement, not the other way around.
Adult Learning Theory
Andragogy shapes how I structure content, sequence learning, and create conditions where professionals can apply what they've learned immediately.
Curriculum Architecture
I design systems, not just courses — learning pathways, competency frameworks, and content ecosystems that hold together at scale.
Technology Integration
Articulate 360, LMS platforms, AI-augmented development — I select tools that serve the learning objective, not the other way around.
NASBA CPE Development
Standards-compliant self-study design with documented learning objectives, assessments, and instructional rationale that survives audits.
Strategic Partnership
I function as a thought partner, not just a vendor — asking hard questions, pushing back when needed, and staying accountable to outcomes.
Let's Talk About Your L&D Goals
Whether you're building from scratch or auditing what you have, I'd love to hear where you're headed.
Services
What I Do
From strategy to execution, end-to-end L&D consulting tailored to accounting and advisory organizations.
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Instructional Design & eLearning Development
End-to-end course design and development using Articulate Rise and Storyline 360. From needs analysis through final deliverable, I build eLearning that earns attention and produces measurable skill transfer — not just completion rates.
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L&D Strategy & Consulting
Organizational learning assessments, curriculum roadmaps, and strategic L&D planning for accounting and advisory firms navigating growth, service expansion, or talent development challenges.
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AI-Augmented L&D Solutions
Accelerated content development using AI tools integrated into the instructional design workflow — without sacrificing quality, accuracy, or instructional integrity. Faster timelines, same rigor.
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AI Adoption Training
Custom microlearning and workshop design to help teams shift from keyword searching to intentional, iterative prompting. Practical, role-specific, and immediately applicable across industries and functions.
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Curriculum Audit & Refresh
Systematic review of existing training content against current performance needs, learner reality, and business goals. I identify what to keep, update, and cut — with a prioritized action plan.
✍️
Report Writing & Technical Communication
Research-informed industry reports, white papers, and technical documentation for accounting and advisory audiences. I turn SME knowledge and survey data into clear, credible thought leadership.
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NASBA-Compliant CPE Design
Self-study CPE development built to NASBA standards — with documented learning objectives, instructional rationale, and assessment design. Multiple published accredited courses and deep familiarity with the review process.
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LMS Implementation & Governance
Platform selection support, LMS configuration, content architecture, and governance frameworks that keep your learning infrastructure organized as it grows.
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Facilitation & Instructor-Led Training
Facilitation guide design, workshop development, and virtual ILT delivery for accounting and advisory topics. I design for the room — with activities, discussion guides, and facilitator notes that make delivery easier.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Many engagements begin with a discovery conversation. Let's talk about what you're trying to solve.
Work Samples
Consulting Documents & Deliverables
A selection of instructional design and L&D consulting work — showing strategic thinking, not just execution.
Design Deliverables
Consulting Work Samples
Anonymized or permission-granted consulting deliverables representing the types of strategic L&D work I produce for clients.
Curriculum DesignCAS
CAS Curriculum Map
An anonymized 4-phase advisory services training map covering 7 topics with Know/Do learning objectives, content inventory, and gap analysis. Designed for an accounting firm building out a CAS onboarding track.
ConsultingDiscovery
L&D Discovery Deck
An anonymized 6-slide consulting discovery deck used to frame the L&D engagement for a regional advisory services client. Shows how I structure the conversation from business problem to learning solution.
StoryboardRise + Storyline
1099 Vendor Obligations — Full Storyboard
Complete storyboard for a 20–25 minute Rise + Storyline module on 1099 vendor obligations for QuickBooks support representatives. Includes script, screen layout, branching scenario design, and a fully-structured gamified assessment.
AI TrainingMicrolearning
AI Prompting Essentials — Part 1
A 7taps microlearning module teaching professionals to shift from keyword searching to intentional prompting. Covers foundational prompt structures with practical, immediately applicable examples.
AI TrainingMicrolearning
AI Prompting Essentials — Part 2
The second module in the AI prompting series — focused on iterating and refining prompts to improve output quality. Teaches how to diagnose weak results and systematically improve them.
VideoCASProof of Concept
Unlocking Client Advisory Services — Synthesia Video
A proof-of-concept AI-generated video introducing Client Advisory Services to accounting professionals. Demonstrates how Synthesia can produce scalable, professional video content for CAS training programs.
Industry Research
Thought Leadership
Published research and reference materials authored for CPA.com — the technology and innovation arm of the AICPA. Primary research developed in collaboration with subject matter experts across the accounting profession.
CPA.com2024
2024 CAS Benchmark Survey Report
Primary author. A comprehensive look at how accounting firms are building, pricing, and scaling Client Advisory Services practices — based on survey data from firms nationwide, developed with CAS subject matter experts.
Primary author. An in-depth examination of how audit practices are evolving in response to technology, regulatory change, and shifting client expectations — with data-driven insights developed with audit SMEs.
A definitive reference document standardizing terminology across CPA.com's Client Advisory Services content — improving content consistency, learner comprehension, and SEO performance across the platform.
Currently in development as a contracted author for CPA.com. The third annual benchmark report tracking CAS adoption, pricing trends, and practice evolution across the accounting profession. Expected Q4 2026.
CPA.comIn Development
2026 Tax Transformation Report
Examining how tax practices are transforming in response to technology adoption, AI integration, and changing service models. Contracted author for CPA.com. Expected Q4 2026.
CPE Courses
NASBA-Accredited Self-Study CPE
A sample of published courses for accounting and advisory professionals, designed to meet NASBA standards with rigorous instructional design and clear learning objectives.
01
Defining CAS: An Introduction
Introductory
A foundational course introducing accounting and advisory professionals to Client Advisory Services — what CAS is, how it differs from traditional compliance work, and why the shift to advisory is reshaping the profession.
Learning Objectives
Define Client Advisory Services and distinguish it from traditional accounting and compliance work
Identify the core components of a CAS practice and the services it typically encompasses
Explain the value proposition of CAS to clients and the business case for firm adoption
Design Rationale
Built as a self-paced entry point for firms onboarding staff to CAS. Scenario-based examples ground abstract concepts in real firm contexts, reducing the gap between conceptual understanding and applied practice.
02
Business Planning for CAS
Introductory
A practical course covering the strategic and operational planning elements required to launch or grow a CAS practice. Covers service line definition, resource planning, technology stack decisions, and go-to-market considerations.
Learning Objectives
Identify the key components of a CAS business plan and how each supports practice viability
Evaluate technology and staffing considerations for building a scalable CAS model
Apply planning frameworks to assess readiness and prioritize CAS launch activities
Design Rationale
Structured around a decision-making framework that follows a real firm through the planning process. Case-based design keeps learners anchored in practical application rather than abstract theory.
03
Onboarding Effectively
Intermediate
An intermediate course focused on designing and delivering effective client onboarding within a CAS practice. Covers onboarding process design, client communication frameworks, data migration planning, and technology touchpoints.
Learning Objectives
Design a structured CAS client onboarding process with defined stages and owner accountability
Apply communication frameworks that set expectations and reduce early-stage churn
Identify technology integration points and data migration considerations critical to onboarding success
Design Rationale
Intermediate learners need application, not explanation. This course uses scenario-based assessment and process mapping activities to move professionals from concept to implementation.
04
Pricing, Productizing, and Packaging Your Services
Intermediate
An intermediate course covering the strategic and practical dimensions of CAS pricing — including value-based pricing models, service productization, packaging structures, and client conversation frameworks.
Learning Objectives
Distinguish between cost-based, market-based, and value-based pricing approaches for CAS
Apply productization principles to define and package advisory service offerings
Construct a pricing conversation framework for presenting CAS engagements to clients
Design Rationale
Pricing is the topic most CAS professionals find hardest to apply consistently. This course uses Firm A and Firm B comparison scenarios to make abstract pricing decisions concrete and transferable.
I design accredited self-study courses for accounting and advisory organizations that need to meet NASBA standards without sacrificing instructional quality.
Contact
Let's Start a Conversation
Whether you have a specific project in mind or you're still figuring out where to start, I'd love to hear from you.
Get In Touch
How Can I Help?
I work with accounting and advisory firms, professional associations, and L&D teams who need a strategic partner — not just a vendor.
elise.spencer@athenald.com
Typically responds within 1–2 business days
Areas of Focus
CAS TrainingNASBA CPEL&D StrategyAI AdoptionCurriculum AuditeLearning DevelopmentLMS ImplementationIndustry Reports
