AI and the accountant’s evolution
Artificial intelligence has rapidly become the defining theme in accountancy. AI is no longer on the horizon - it is here, demanding leadership, foresight and adaptability from accountants at every level.
From compliance and reporting to client service and strategic leadership, it is transforming how the profession operates. The articles in IAB’s Technology Supplement 2025 highlight not only the extraordinary opportunities ahead, but also the complex challenges of governance, skills and strategy that firms must now confront.
We begin with insights from Praxity Alliance where CEO Sam Louis sets out a vision of ‘The Connected Leader- Rethinking Outsourcing in a Digital Age’. She argues that outsourcing has moved beyond cost efficiency to become a driver of innovation and growth through digital-first strategies. That vision is illustrated in the article ‘Connected Leadership in Action’, a conversation between Sam Louis and Jill Morris of PM+M, which shows how Praxity's outsourcing working group is helping firms harness global collaboration for strategic expansion.
From there, Dext explores the pressures facing UK small and medium-sized businesses. In ‘Bridging the Tech Divide’, Paul Lodder demonstrates how accountants can empower SMB's with AI enabled tools that reduce administrative strain and free owners to focus on growth - supported by insights from a national survey of 500 leaders.
International growth and technology adoption are also themes in Oblique Consult’s ‘Food Tech Transformation’. Managing director Wahaj Siddiqui shares how his firm guided a venture-backed US dark kitchen operator through the regulatory, tax and operational challenges of expansion into the Middle East, showing the agility that boutique advisers can bring compared with larger firms.
Further features extend this discussion. ACCA’s Jamie Lyon and Alistair Brisbourne chart how AI is reshaping accountants’ responsibilities and skills, while Saïd Business School’s Cyrus Suntook and Accenture's Paul Prendergast examine the changing role of finance teams as automation takes hold across industries. Duncan and Toplis’ Stuart Brown reflects on how firms must embrace AI to remain competitive as the market grows exponentially. Strategic intelligence’s Beyza Karakoy explores the rise of RegTech, where AI and data analytics enable real-time compliance, and Thomson Reuters’ Elizabeth Beastrom highlights the urgent need for coherent AI strategies based on finding from its ‘Future of Professionals 2025’ report.
Together these features paint a vivid picture of a profession in transition, equipping our readers with practical insights to help shape their firm's journey through the AI age.
Zoya Malik
Editor-in-Chief, Financial Services Practice, GlobalData & Editor, International Accounting Bulletin
zoya.malik@globaldata.com