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AI will replace some accountants using AI: How to not be one of them

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I have a confession: I am a little worried.

I’m worried because I don’t believe we’ve been representing the situation with AI in accounting correctly. In our profession, we’re fond of the mantra: “accountants using AI will replace accountants not using AI.”

But I don’t think that’s fully true anymore. Some types of accounting work, regardless of whether AI is being used by the human performing them, will be replaced by AI itself. Full stop. That’s the dirty little secret we’re not talking about enough.

This mirrors the broader trend in the corporate world. What was once whispers are now turning into public conversations, as evidenced by this recent viral internal memo from the Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke, where he directly stated:

“Before asking for more headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI.”

A prominent venture capitalist, Victor Lazarte (a general partner at Benchmark) put it even more bluntly on the Twenty Minute VC podcast:

“Big companies talk about, like, ‘AI isn’t replacing people, it’s augmenting them’… This is bullshit. It’s fully replacing people.”

But there is a new reality that is quietly emerging: forward-thinking CPA firms are beginning to adjust their hiring strategies for entry-level roles – because AI is now capable of handling much of the foundational work those roles traditionally performed. These firms are seeing paths to grow and scale while holding steady, or even reducing their need for certain types of entry-level staffing.

It’s a development that is uncomfortable to acknowledge – but it’s also an invitation. Because this conversation isn’t really about eliminating jobs. It’s about how the shape of work is changing, and what that means for how accountants can rethink and reimagine the value we bring. How to not just survive, but truly thrive in this next chapter of the profession.
If you’re a partner nearing retirement, maybe you can wax poetic about “how we used to do it before Copilot,” and rest your laurels on your distinguished career. But for the rest of us, the question is: how do we future-proof ourselves for relevance?

The heart of the answer comes from understanding where AI is limited and understanding where humans can uniquely add value. It’s not about rejecting technology, but about recognizing that accounting roles are not all created equal and the distinctly human layer that still matters and will continue to matter.

The most successful accountants will internalize that our jobs aren’t to race against machines, but to work and collaborate alongside them—as orchestrators, strategists, and creative thinkers.

With that, here are some tips.

1. Go Where AI Can’t Be Trained Quite Yet…Emerging and Ambiguous Arenas

AI thrives on well-structured data, heuristics, and historical precedent. That makes long-established fields with high data density the most vulnerable to AI takeover.

But new and emerging domains? Those are still being defined, and that’s where humans can shine. Take crypto accounting or the evolving regulatory landscape around AI itself. These areas are inherently immature from a modeling perspective, lacking the rich historical datasets AI needs to perform reliably. That means humans will play a larger role in setting the rules, defining frameworks, and shaping the profession.

If you want a moat, find the liminal spaces where the rules are still being written. That’s where the highest human leverage will be for years to come.

2. Move Up the Judgment Curve…Into Advisory

The advisory space remains rich with human relevance because it demands something AI still struggles with: context, nuance, judgment, and true (not mimicked) creativity.
Start asking:

  • What requires interpretation and tradeoffs?
  • Where do client goals and risk tolerance shift the answer?
  • What calls for empathy or negotiation?

That’s your opportunity zone.

Don’t just run reports or surface insights; help clients understand what it means, what to do next, and what to watch out for. The most valuable professionals will be those who can interpret AI outputs and guide real-world action to truly step into the trusted advisor role.

3. Become a Bridge…Between AI Systems

As AI agents proliferate, each with specialized capabilities, a new skillset is emerging: stitching together outputs from multiple systems into something cohesive, creative, and client-ready.

This is the human layer that machines can’t easily replicate:

  • Making unexpected connections across AI tools and outputs.
  • Knowing when one system’s limitations can be offset by another’s strengths.
  • Layering on storytelling, strategy, or foresight that spans disciplines and technology systems.

Think of yourself less as the doer and more as the conductor, leveraging an orchestra of AI tools to produce something greater than the sum of its parts.

Final Thought

Here’s the truth we haven’t quite said aloud yet: your job description, the unique value you think your role brings…may already no longer exist. AI systems are furiously evolving. The technology is here. More importantly, businesses and firms are making different decisions based on those technologies today. What hasn’t caught up yet is perception.
But that’s also where the opportunity lies.

AI is reshaping the landscape of accounting, but not in a way that eliminates the profession. It challenges us to think bigger about what it means to be a value-creating accountant. As Accounting Today’s exploration of AI in advisory notes, the roles most at risk are those that are linear, repetitive, and data-heavy. But those that involve deep client relationships, nuanced understanding, and strategic foresight? Those are not only safe, they’re set to thrive.

Accountants who embrace this shift will find themselves on the frontlines of transformation, delivering greater impact than ever before. By leaning into judgment, creativity, and the ability to orchestrate across AI tools, we can elevate our work and our value.

In doing so, you’ll not only stay relevant – you’ll thrive in the evolving world of accounting.

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Accounting

XcelLabs launches to help accountants use AI

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Jody Padar, an author and speaker known as “The Radical CPA,” and Katie Tolin, a growth strategist for CPAs, together launched a training and technology platform called XcelLabs.

XcelLabs provides solutions to help accountants use artificial technology fluently and strategically. The Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs and CPA Crossings joined with Padar and Tolin as strategic partners and investors.

“To reinvent the profession, we must start by training the professional who can then transform their firms,” Padar said in a statement. “By equipping people with data and insights that help them see things differently, they can provide better advice to their clients and firm.”

Padar-Jody- new 2019

Jody Padar

The platform includes XcelLabs Academy, a series of educational online courses on the basics of AI, being a better advisor, leadership and practice management; Navi, a proprietary tool that uses AI to help accountants turn unstructured data like emails, phone calls and meetings into insights; and training and consulting services. These offerings are currently in beta testing.

“Accountants know they need to be more advisory, but not everyone can figure out how to do it,” Tolin said in a statement. “Couple that with the fact that AI will be doing a lot of the lower-level work accountants do today, and we need to create that next level advisor now. By showing accountants how to unlock patterns in their actions and turn client conversations into emotionally intelligent advice, we can create the accounting professional of the future.”

Tolin-Katie-CPA Growth Guides

Katie Tolin

“AI is transforming how CPAs work, and XcelLabs is focused on helping the profession evolve with it,” PICPA CEO Jennifer Cryder said in a statement. “At PICPA, we’re proud to support a mission that aligns so closely with ours: empowering firms to use AI not just for efficiency, but to drive growth, value and long-term relevance.”

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Accounting

Accounting is changing, and the world can’t wait until 2026

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The accountant the world urgently needs has evolved far beyond the traditional role we recognized just a few years ago. 

The transformation of the accounting profession is not merely an anticipated change; it is a pressing reality that is currently shaping business decisions, academic programs and the expected contributions of professionals. Yet, in many areas, accounting education stubbornly clings to outdated, overly technical models that fail to connect with the actual demands of the market. We must confront a critical question: If we continue to train accountants solely to file tax reports, are we truly equipping them for the challenges of today’s world? 

This shift in mindset extends beyond individual countries or educational systems; it is a global movement. The recent announcement of the CIMA/CGMA 2026 syllabus has made it unmistakably clear: merely knowing how to post journal entries is insufficient. Today’s accountants are required to interpret the landscape, anticipate risks and act with strategic awareness. Critical thinking, sustainable finance, technology and human behavior are not just supplementary topics; they are essential components in the education of any professional seeking to remain relevant. 

The CIMA/CGMA proposal for 2026 is not just a curriculum update; it is a powerful manifesto. This new program positions analytical thinking, strategic business partnering and technology application at the core of accounting education. It unequivocally highlights sustainability, aligning with IFRS S1 and S2, and expands the accountant’s responsibilities beyond mere numbers to encompass conscious leadership, environmental impact and corporate governance. 

The current changes in the accounting profession underscore an urgent shift in expectations from both educators and employers. Today, companies of all sizes and industries demand accountants who can do far more than interpret balance sheets. They expect professionals who grasp the deeper context behind the numbers, identify inconsistencies, anticipate potential issues before they escalate into losses, and act decisively as a bridge between data and decision making. 

To meet these expectations, a radical mindset shift is essential. There are firms still operating on autopilot, mindlessly repeating tasks with minimal critical analysis. Likewise, many academic programs continue to treat accounting as purely a technical discipline, disregarding the vital elements of reflection, strategy and behavioral insight. This outdated approach creates a significant mismatch. While the world forges ahead, parts of the accounting profession remain stuck in the past. 

The consequences of this shift are already becoming evident. The demand for compliance, transparency and sustainability now applies not only to large corporations but also to small and mid-sized businesses. Many of these organizations rely on professionals ill-equipped to drive the necessary changes, putting both business performance and the reputation of the profession at risk. 

The positive news is that accountants who are ready to thrive in this new era do not necessarily need additional degrees. What they truly need is a commitment to awareness, a dedication to continuous learning, and the courage to step beyond their comfort zones. The future of accounting is here, and it is firmly rooted in analytical, strategic and human-oriented perspectives. The 2026 curriculum is a clear indication of the changes underway. Those who fail to think critically and holistically will be left behind. 

In contrast, accountants who see the big picture, understand the ripple effects of their decisions, and actively contribute to the financial and ethical health of organizations will undeniably remain indispensable, anywhere in the world.

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Accounting

Republicans push Musk aside as Trump tax bill barrels forward

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Congressional Republicans are siding with Donald Trump in the messy divorce between the president and Elon Musk, an optimistic sign for eventual passage of a tax cut bill at the root of the two billionaires’ public feud.

Lawmakers are largely taking their cues from Trump and sticking by the $3 trillion bill at the center of the White House’s economic agenda. Musk, the biggest political donor of the 2024 cycle, has threatened to help primary anyone who votes for the legislation, but lawmakers are betting that staying in the president’s good graces is the safer path to political survival.

“The tax bill is not in jeopardy. We are going to deliver on that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Friday.

“I’ll tell you what — do not doubt, don’t second guess and do not challenge the President of the United States Donald Trump,” he added. “He is the leader of the party. He’s the most consequential political figure of our time.”

A fight between Trump and Musk exploded into public view this week. The sparring started with the tech titan calling the president’s tax bill a “disgusting abomination,” but quickly escalated to more personal attacks and Trump threatening to cancel all federal contracts and subsidies to Musk’s companies, such as Tesla Inc. and SpaceX which have benefitted from government ties.

Republicans on Capitol Hill, who had —  until recently — publicly embraced Musk, said they weren’t swayed by the billionaire’s criticism that the bill cost too much. Lawmakers have refuted official estimates of the package, saying that the tax cuts for households, small businesses and politically important groups — including hospitality and hourly workers — will generate enough economic growth to offset the price tag.

“I don’t tell my friend Elon, I don’t argue with him about how to build rockets, and I wish he wouldn’t argue with me about how to craft legislation and pass it,” Johnson told CNBC earlier Friday.

House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington told reporters that House lawmakers are focused on working with the Senate as it revises the bill to make sure the legislation has the political support in both chambers to make it to Trump’s desk for his signature. 

“We move past the drama and we get the substance of what is needed to make the modest improvements that can be made,” he said.

House fiscal hawks said that they hadn’t changed their prior positions on the legislation based on Musk’s statements. They also said they agree with GOP leaders that there will be other chances to make further spending cuts outside the tax bill. 

Representative Tom McClintock, a fiscal conservative, said “the bill will pass because it has to pass,” adding that both Musk and Trump needed to calm down. “They both need to take a nap,” he said.

Even some of the House bill’s most vociferous critics appeared resigned to its passage. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, who voted against the House version, predicted that despite Musk’s objections, the Senate will make only small changes.

“The speaker is right about one thing. This barely passed the House. If they muck with it too much in the Senate, it may not pass the House again,” he said.

Trump is pressuring lawmakers to move at breakneck speed to pass the tax-cut bill, demanding they vote on the bill before the July 4 holiday. The president has been quick to blast critics of the bill — including calling Senator Rand Paul “crazy” for objecting to the inclusion of a debt ceiling increase in the package.

As the legislation worked its way through the House last month, Trump took to social media to criticize holdouts and invited undecided members to the White House to compel them to support the package. It passed by one vote.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune — who is planning to unveil his chamber’s version of the bill as soon as next week — said his timeline is unmoved by Musk. 

“We are already pretty far down the trail,” he said.

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