A new survey by Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) and Ipsos UK revealed that the accountancy profession is increasingly adopting AI to add value, though upskilling and strong leadership are essential to unlock its full potential.
The report reveals that 79% of chartered accountants surveyed believe their role as ‘data guardians’ will grow in importance as AI becomes more integrated into businesses.
Younger professionals are leading the charge, with 91% of those aged 18–25 showing a strong or moderate willingness to embrace AI. They are applying AI to boost general productivity (40%), streamline data entry (24%), improve client services (17%), and enhance risk management (12%).
However; CAW suggests there is a critical need for upskilling and leadership to fully capitalise on AI’s potential.
The report, which includes responses from 2,718 chartered accountants across 48 countries and from 13 institutes, underscores that AI is reshaping the profession.
Of those surveyed, 85% accountants are willing to use AI technology, and 83% of those aged 18-24 are already using AI tools.
Despite this, 65% of surveyed accountants expect training on AI and its applications from professional bodies.
While 80% of those aged 18-24 are confident using AI, only 55% of senior decision-makers share this confidence, citing data security concerns (33%), lack of training (28%), and company policies (14%) as barriers to AI adoption.
Chartered Accountants Worldwide chair and CEO of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Ainslie van Onselen said: “AI is a rapidly evolving and transformative opportunity for Chartered Accountants to advance within the value chain, reinforcing both their trusted advisor and data guardian status. Senior leaders must seize the initiative and empower professionals with the skills and confidence to fully leverage AI’s potential. It is a tool for innovation, not a substitute for human expertise.
“Critical human thinking will remain essential to interpret and apply AI insights. With data privacy and security a top priority for all business leaders, structured and ethical training is must to ensure AI is used responsibly. And educational institutions take note – students are looking for more AI and digital skills in their future learning. The time to act is now.”
The survey also reveals that 52% of accountants disagree that their value can be replaced by automation.
However; a leadership gap may slow AI adoption, as 53% of C-suite executives do not feel prepared for AI’s impact over the next five years.
Qualitative interviews indicate that trust in AI often depends on existing security frameworks, such as Microsoft’s Co-Pilot.
Data security and cyber-attack risks are cited by 36% of C-suite executives as significant barriers to AI adoption.
Without proactive leadership, organisations may struggle to compete in an AI-driven economy, and the profession risks being left behind by other industries rapidly integrating AI.
