AI: should it replace junior roles?
AI: should it replace junior roles?
ICAEW polled members on LinkedIn to get an idea of attitudes around the use of artificial intelligence to complete tasks usually taken on by junior members of staff.
The number of entry level jobs has fallen by a third since the advent of ChatGPT, according to the Times newspaper. Following the increase in the cost of employment in the UK and a sizeable shift in ability for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), this appears to be accelerating. And it’s happening within the profession too, with firms reviewing their graduate intake across all service lines.
This is understandable given short-term financial pressures on businesses. But there is a debate around whether a reduction in junior headcount today may cause talent shortages in a few years, with a smaller pool of people ready to take on mid-level jobs.
To get a feel for sentiment around this topic, ICAEW posted a LinkedIn poll that asked members if we can rely on GenAI to take on junior audit and accountancy roles. Of the 977 respondents, the majority (44%) said that people still needed to learn the basics of audit and accountancy, and junior roles were necessary for that reason. But just over a quarter (26%) felt that the profession should embrace AI for junior tasks and that AI helps to add value.
Comments under the poll also reflected this split, with the majority reflecting on the need to find a balance between people and technology. “We have to think beyond the concept of AI replacing people,” said one member. “AI augments skills and, used properly, does add value to existing roles…Does it mean that the way roles are defined and classified may change? I think so. Can it save time? Certainly. Can it replace people? Not in a business in which forged relationships are key.”
This reflects recent CAW research, in which 66% of respondents believed that client relationship skills were important for today's accountancy training.
The ethical considerations of AI adoption were mentioned by another commenter, beyond the economic considerations. “Upskilling the entry level auditor to develop GenAI tools (for specific industries say) would be a fairer option. Who’s going to deliver and pay for that training also needs to be decided.”
Another said they were concerned about the decline in entry-level roles. “These roles are critical for skill-building and long-term career development. The challenge now is integrating AI without cutting off opportunities for new talent. It’s not just about replacing tasks, it’s about rethinking how people enter and evolve within the workforce.”
One member shared those concerns: “How do junior people learn the basics properly? These are fundamental to being able to perform higher level work with accuracy.”
Despite that, there is a desire among accountants to embrace AI; 85% of respondents to the CAW survey were at least fairly willing to give AI a go.
Others were more emphatic in their views on the value of GenAI. “ICAEW needs to wake up [to] the speed of change AI is making!” one said.
“Audit and its frameworks are still relevant, but you need to retool and reposition it for a new data order,” added another. “Why would any hungry grad want ‘entry-level’ roles for Luddite processes over the opportunity to create value at a start-up or tech company?”
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