Difference Makers Discuss – AI and the future of the global Chartered Accountancy profession

In this exclusive episode of Difference Makers Discuss, Ainslie van Onselen—Chair of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and CEO of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand—is joined by Alex Russell, Associate Director at Ipsos Corporate Reputation. Together, they discuss the findings of Chartered Accountants Worldwide’s inaugural global AI research study, conducted in partnership with Ipsos UK.

As artificial intelligence transforms the accounting landscape, the profession stands at a crucial crossroads. This landmark study, capturing the perspectives of nearly 3,000 respondents across 13 professional institutes in 48 countries, offers powerful insights into how AI is being adopted and understood by Chartered Accountants around the world.

The research decisively counters the myth that AI will make Chartered Accountants obsolete. Instead, it highlights a profession eager to embrace technology while facing specific challenges that need addressing. Across demographics and firm sizes, there exists a strong willingness to integrate AI into accountancy practices, with younger generations displaying particularly high enthusiasm. This generational comfort with technology isn’t surprising – digital natives who have grown up surrounded by technology understand its potential benefits both professionally and personally. As Generation Z and Generation Alpha enter the workforce (projected to comprise 50% of employees by 2035), this technological fluency will increasingly become the norm rather than the exception.

The study identifies two primary barriers to AI adoption within the accountancy profession: a skills gap and concerns about data security. Despite high interest, many professionals lack confidence in their ability to use AI effectively, creating a disconnect between awareness and implementation. This skills gap exists across firm sizes, though larger organisations may have more resources to address it. Regarding data security, many accountants express legitimate concerns about client confidentiality, intellectual property protection, and the risks associated with using certain AI tools, particularly free public platforms that may repurpose inputted data for their own development.

Professional Chartered Accountancy organisations appear uniquely positioned to address these challenges. The research shows a near-unanimous expectation across all firm sizes that institutes should provide AI education, particularly through CPD. While larger firms face greater expectations to provide internal training, the primary responsibility for upskilling falls to the professional bodies. This creates a perfect opportunity for knowledge-sharing across the Chartered Accountants Worldwide network, where institutes further along in their AI journey can share best practices with others still developing their capabilities.

Perhaps most compellingly, the research reveals that AI implementation makes accounting more strategic and valuable, not less relevant. By automating routine, process-oriented tasks, AI frees professionals to focus on higher-value activities like strategic thinking, critical analysis, and consultative client relationships. This shift aligns with what attracts many to the profession in the first place – making a meaningful impact through expertise and insight, not merely processing transactions. Senior leaders recognise this potential, with C-suite executives particularly concerned that AI adoption isn’t happening quickly enough to realise these benefits.

The report outlines a structured pathway to AI adoption, emphasising the need for clear objectives, proper governance structures, and comprehensive training plans. While regulatory environments may differ across jurisdictions, the fundamental approach to implementation follows consistent principles that can be adapted globally. This implementation must include robust ethical considerations and validation systems to mitigate risks like algorithmic bias and data hallucinations.

For the future of the profession, AI presents a tremendous opportunity to make accounting more attractive to younger generations by eliminating drudgery and emphasizing creative, strategic work. The findings suggest that firms investing in AI capabilities now will gain significant competitive advantages within five years, while those that delay may struggle to catch up. Ultimately, successful AI integration requires leadership commitment, strategic investment in skills development, and a vision for how technology can enhance rather than replace human expertise in accountancy.