The future of accounting: 11 big shifts on the horizon
The future of accounting: 11 big shifts on the horizon
From AI agents to advisory roles, carbon accounting to cybercrime, AAT accountants and bookkeepers predict how the industry will change in the next few years.
- Accountants will have their own AI assistants
AI is already replacing routine accounting tasks such as categorising expenses or generating invoices. Earlier this year, OpenAI (owners of ChatGPT) founder Sam Altman predicted AI agents could join workforces as “virtual employees”, while Microsoft recently forecast every organisation could become a “frontier firm” within five years, whereby human workers direct AI agents.
Why the future’s here already
PwC has given 200,000 employees their own chatbot PA, ChatPwC.
What the accountants say
“I’m excited by the way technology frees us to focus on the human side of the job. The number-crunching is still as important as ever, but automation means we can spend more time interpreting data, advising clients and supporting them to reach their goals.” – Libby Walklett, The Ethical Bookkeeper
“AI is already helping us tailor information to users, creating a better customer experience. We can turn reports into podcasts, or summarise data with NotebookLM, so customers don’t have to read boring 20-page reports. It can even create songs should the customer want it!” – Zoe Whitman, co-founder, The 6 Figure Bookkeeper
Accountants regard AI as an enabler. AAT’s research found that, among professionals who currently work, or have previously worked, in accountancy, 42% say AI tools have been genuinely useful in their roles. Among 25–34-year-olds this figure climbs to 55%.
- Accountants will become like “GPs for organisations”
As compliance tasks and financial reporting becomes increasingly automated, accountants will focus more on advice and business problem-solving.
Why the future’s here already
Advisory services now comprise 32% of UK practice revenue, more than bookkeeping (31%) according to Xero’s 2025 Accounting and Bookkeeping Industry Report.
What the accountants say
“I see accountants as being the ‘GPs’ of an organisation. Clients won’t just want cash flow projections; they’ll want advice on IT, suppliers and wider issues. Once people would dread calls from their accountant because it’d usually involve a scary conversation about overdue taxes. That won’t be the case anymore.” – Antoniya Beyriyska, practice manager, Ask The Boss
“Communication skills will be crucial. This is an industry where many people say ‘I’m an introvert – that’s why I love being an accountant’. Unfortunately, this isn’t what the job will be about.” – Zoe Whitman
“We don’t have old-school bank managers anymore. Accountants/bookkeepers can fill that gap, connecting business owners with other people in the local area or networks.” – Jo Wood, co-founder, The 6 Figure Bookkeeper
“We need to become business geeks, not accountants.” – Chris Argent, Founder, Generation CFO
AAT’s research finds this is a common perspective. Four in five accountants agree that automation will free them up from administrative burdens (78%), enabling them to support businesses with strategic advice and problem-solving (80%).
- Accountants will advise on apps, HR and social media
Practices of the future will broaden their services in areas beyond finance.
Why the future’s here already
In Australia, 38% of practices now offer HR advisory, 35% app/software setup and 33% startup mentoring, according to a Xero study.
What the accountants say
“At FieCo, we assess businesses’ return on marketing and its impact on profit and loss. This helps them decide how much they should spend on marketing. Today, small companies want advisers who can connect the dots, not big-money marketing agencies.” – Ellis Harris-Boulter, Founder/Director, FieCo Accountancy
- AI will create thousands of jobs
Yes, really. AI could create an extra 20,000 accounting jobs in the UK, which would add £2bn to the British economy according to Sage/Demos research done last year. Demand is also increasing for forensic accountants due to the rise in financial fraud and cybercrime.
Why the future’s already here
EY, Deloitte and PwC are reportedly planning AI assurance services to audit AI products, tools and systems such as self-driving cars and cancer-detecting programmes.
What the accountants say
“New roles are emerging in AI businesses, such as testing, analysis and fact-checking. Eventually, this will trickle down into accountancy – every firm could have an ‘AI integrator’” – Jo Wood
“Whenever new tech arrives, people predict the end of accountants: just think of when calculators replaced the ledger, or when cloud software came along. Accountants will always be needed because customers still want someone to interpret the numbers. Accountants’ jobs may have evolved over the years, but they haven’t disappeared.” – Antoniya Beyriyska
- But its impact on entry-level jobs is unknown
Because AI can perform many entry-level tasks such as recording invoice or bank reconciliation, there’s a fear companies won’t know how to train beginners effectively, threatening the pipeline of future accountants.
Why the future’s already here
Jennifer Kosar, AI Assurance Leader, PwC US, told Business Insider the company is training junior employees to be able to review and supervise work done by AI, evolving the job to encompass more managerial and advisory skills.
What the accountants say
“I think AI could cause a massive skills shortage in 10-15 years’ time. If entry-level roles disappear, I worry we won’t have trained, experienced accountants by 2035.” Ellis Harris-Boulter
Fortunately, AAT’s research found that one in five accountants who have left the profession say they would return if automation could remove the more administrative aspects of the job.
- Sustainability will create new accounting roles
With companies facing rising pressure from governments and customers to reveal their impact on nature, accountants will play a central role in ESG reporting, carbon accounting and working on 2030 net-zero transition plans.
Why the future’s already here
In February, the Financial Times reported a rise in demand for UK sustainability consultancy work, thanks to recent regulatory change. Meanwhile, the net-zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Today it employs nearly one million people, according to the CBI.
What the accountants say
“At the moment, publicly listed companies must report on their environmental impact. I don’t think it’ll be very long until we see smaller businesses volunteering to do the same, before it becomes legislation… At FieCo we’re planning to introduce carbon assessment and monitoring as standard in all our plans.” – Ellis Harris-Boulter
“Sustainability is something all small businesses will need to implement, whether they like it or not. If you want to be a trusted adviser, you need to set a good example. However, it’s difficult. As tech-reliant companies, we depend on software which has a massive carbon footprint. Even entering the word ‘please’ into ChatGPT consumes a lot of energy.” – Antoniya Beyriyska
- Accountants will become more vigilant about cybercrime
As custodians of financial data, accountants are prime targets for fraudsters using deepfakes and phishing.
Why the future’s already here
Last year a Hong Kong-based finance clerk was tricked into sending £20 million of her company’s money to fraudsters who posed as her CFO in a deepfaked video call.
What the accountants say
“Many accountants don’t understand how easy it is to be hacked – a cybercriminal could be monitoring your emails and farming your data for two years without you even knowing. As accountants, maybe we need to become cybersecurity experts to protect clients’ data.” – Ellis Harris-Boulter
- Making Tax Digital will encourage change
The government’s long-promised digital tax system will soon be mandatory for many businesses.
Why the future’s already here
From April 2026, businesses and landlords with a turnover over £50,000 will need to use Making Tax Digital for income tax self-assessment (MTD for ITSA).
What the accountants say
“Businesses resisting MTD are at risk. They’re more likely to click on a phishing link, for example. Accountants have a role in financially educating clients who aren’t tech-savvy.” – Zoe Whitman
- Businesses will harness the skills of Gen Z
Gen Z are digital natives, but employers have concerns over their soft skills. Accountancy firm Forvis Mazars recently launched a learning and development programme for young employees which included lessons in “picking up the phone”.
Why the future’s already here
Well, Gen Z are the future. They’re also ambitious: 75% of UK accounting students want to run their own business according to Intuit.
What the accountants say
“There’s a reputation gap – many employers seem to think we’re lazy or workshy. But Gen Z bring an entire set of impressive digital skills. For example, most Gen Z-ers know how to use [graphic design software] Canva. They could bring skills such as graphic design into your business without even thinking about it. If organisations tapped into this, they’d become much more efficient. The way to unlock this? Listen to us.” – Ellis Harris-Boulter
- Accountants with data analysis skills will thrive
Today, many C-suites expect accountants to integrate non-financial data such as sales funnels, customer behaviour, supply chain performance and ESG metrics to provide a more complete picture of organisational health.
Why the future’s already here
AAT offers several data analysis courses: Data Analysis for Accountants, including Career Progression Pathway: Finance Data Analysis.
What the accountants say
“The skill isn’t just data analysis – AI can do that now. It’s knowing what you want to achieve with that data analysis.” – Zoe Whitman
“Data analysis will help us use big data for small clients. It will help practices have an edge and be competitive.” – Ellis Harris-Boulter
- So will practices marketing themselves like influencers
As the New York Times recently noted, “Businesses where intelligence and expertise are the differentiating traits will have to pivot. Take financial-services firms, for example… how do they stand out from one another? The answer may be found in ‘taste’ roles – how they communicate and market themselves, how they show up to customers, their creative philosophies.”
Why the future’s here already
Just look at the many successful young accounting influencers who also run successful businesses: Rachel Harris (StriveX; 150,000 Instagram followers), Grace Hardy (25,000 LinkedIn followers).
What the accountants say
“In an age of TikTok and the personal brand, influencer marketing – whether you like it or not – is what people are looking for. When customers see a human they can trust, they’re confident they’re making the right decision. Bookkeeping and accountancy practices will need to make sure they have key people of influence out there building a personal brand and trust with customers.” – Zoe Whitman
This article is sourced from the following link:
