How to build an accountancy career in the age of Agentic AI

Agentic AI – the next leap in AI technology – is emerging as a game-changer in accounting. It refers to AI with “agency,” meaning it can act autonomously to make decisions and execute tasks without step-by-step human prompts. In simple terms, an agentic AI can set its own goals, plan how to achieve them, adapt to changes and carry out multi-step processes with minimal human intervention.

How Agentic AI Differs from Generative AI in Accounting

This goes beyond today’s generative AI tools (like basic chatbots that respond to prompts) by adding sophisticated reasoning and iterative planning capabilities. What does this mean for you as a future career? It means the profession is on the cusp of significant change – and the change is happening fast. Less than three years after ChatGPT’s debut, agentic AI is expected to be widely used by the end of this year, promising to fundamentally affect how finance jobs are done.

In practical terms, generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT) responds to prompts with outputs (a summary, a draft email, etc.), whereas agentic AI can take a goal (like “prepare a tax report and file it”) and figure out all the intermediate steps on its own. It perceives inputs (from databases, documents, even audio), reasons through the requirements, acts by executing tasks and learns from the results for next time. This four-step “perceive–reason–act–learn” cycle enables agentic systems to handle complex accounting projects with minimal oversight. In short, agentic AI can be like a diligent virtual accountant who not only computes data but also decides what needs to be done next.

How agentic AI will transform accountants’ daily work

Think about how much of an accountant’s time is spent gathering data, verifying numbers and making sure compliance boxes are ticked. Agentic AI is set to radically streamline those activities. Here are some key areas in accounting and finance being reshaped by agentic AI:

• Tax Compliance: Autonomously monitors changing tax laws, gathers and processes financial data, and even prepares filings in line with regulations – saving countless hours and reducing human error in tax prep. For example, an AI agent could track new tax credits, identify which clients qualify, compile the documentation and submit the forms with minimal human input.
• Financial Auditing: Scans and analyzes financial records 24/7, flagging discrepancies or unusual transactions and even performing initial audit tests without constant oversight. This means routine audit checks can be done in real-time, allowing auditors to concentrate on investigating anomalies and strengthening controls rather than manually sampling data. AI’s anomaly detection can catch potential fraud or errors faster than traditional methods.
• Strategic Planning: Crunches vast datasets to forecast financial trends and model scenarios for business planning. Agentic AI can rapidly produce projections and “what-if” analyses – for instance, evaluating how a 5% increase in costs or a new market entry might impact the company’s 5-year outlook. By generating these insights on demand, AI becomes an invaluable assistant in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), augmenting your ability to advise on strategy.

Crucially, agentic AI isn’t just a hypothetical future concept – it’s arriving in accounting software sooner than you might think. Many familiar finance tools are adding AI agent features in the background. You might not see a big flashing label that says “Now powered by agentic AI!” but suddenly your cloud accounting platform or audit software will start handling multi-step tasks for you. For instance, next-gen tax software might automatically gather missing client data by scanning emails or public records, or an ERP system might initiate its own workflows to correct data inconsistencies it finds. As these capabilities quietly integrate, accountants will need to adapt to working with an AI “colleague” embedded in their tools.

Skills for the AI-Augmented Accountants

Here are some of the key skills and traits that will define the future-proof finance professional:

• Data Analytics & AI Proficiency: You don’t need to be a programmer, but you should be comfortable using AI-driven tools and interpreting their output. Familiarize yourself with AI-powered accounting software, from audit analytics platforms to AI-based forecasting tools. Many firms expect new hires to hit the ground running with technologies that automate reporting or reconciliation. Showing that you can leverage these tools – and even help improve their use – makes you a valuable asset.
• Critical Thinking & Oversight: AI is powerful, but it isn’t infallible. Accountants will always be needed to exercise judgment. Develop your ability to analyze results critically: if an AI agent produces a financial analysis, can you spot if something looks off or ask the right questions about assumptions? Future finance talent must serve as the human “control” to the AI’s output, ready to step in when something doesn’t make sense or when a nuanced decision is needed. This critical thinking extends to ethics and accuracy – ensuring the AI hasn’t introduced bias or errors.
• Strategic & Advisory Skills: With agentic AI taking over baseline work, higher-level skills come to the fore. This includes strategic planning, business acumen and the ability to translate financial data into actionable advice. For example, an AI might churn out an analysis of a company’s product margins; you should be able to take that and formulate business recommendations or explain to a client why their margins are eroding and how to fix it. The value you bring is in interpreting data-driven insights in the context of business strategy – something AI cannot fully replicate.
• Communication & Collaboration: Ironically, the more we automate technical tasks, the more human skills matter. As one industry report noted, AI can parse numbers, but it cannot explain complex financial insights – that’s where you come in. Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) are crucial. Whether it’s writing a clear email explaining an AI-generated report to a non-financial manager, or collaborating with IT teams to implement a new finance AI system, your ability to liaise between the technology and the people will set you apart. Don’t neglect skills like storytelling with data, presentation abilities and teamwork. In an AI-augmented finance department, you’ll often act as the bridge between the AI tools and the stakeholders who rely on the information.
• Tech Curiosity & Continuous Learning: The AI landscape is evolving continuously. What’s cutting-edge today might be standard tomorrow. Cultivate a habit of continuous learning – take courses on emerging finance tech, attend webinars on AI in accounting, experiment with new software. Being proactive about upskilling is something recruiters and hiring managers love to see, because it signals you’ll keep the organization at the forefront. Show that you’re keeping pace with those expectations.

Remember, accounting fundamentals still matter immensely. It’s hard to supervise an AI or interpret its results if you don’t understand the underlying accounting. Many AI tools can pass sections of accountancy qualifications, but they lack the nuanced understanding of business context and judgement that comes with human experience. So, while you beef up your tech skills, continue honing your grasp of core accounting principles, tax rules and finance theory. In the future, the best finance professionals will be those who pair deep accounting expertise with AI-savvy efficiency.

Finally, don’t overlook the importance of soft skills like adaptability, creativity, and ethics. Adaptability is key when your workflows change due to new tech. Creativity and problem-solving are needed to devise novel solutions (e.g., building a new automation for a previously manual process). And ethics is paramount – accountants will be central in ensuring AI is used responsibly, data privacy is maintained and decisions remain compliant with laws. These human qualities will never go out of style, and in an AI-driven environment, they’re a big part of what makes you indispensable.

Embracing the future: AI as your partner, not your replacement

As experienced finance recruiters we’ll leave you with this insight: the candidates who will thrive in the age of agentic AI are those who view the technology as a partner rather than a rival.

Businesses are beginning to realize that by automating the drudgery, they can unlock their human accountants’ potential to contribute more meaningfully. In fact many leaders now see AI’s integration as an opportunity to enhance roles or redeploy their best talent.  

If you’re in the process of building your career in accounting, here’s our advice: get excited about agentic AI, get curious and get prepared. Play around with AI tools (many are available in sandbox or demo forms), read case studies of how firms are using AI in auditing or reporting and think about where you can leverage these tools in your future job to shine.

When you step into job interviews, talk about how you automated a process or learned an analytics tool.

Above all, maintain a growth mindset. The accounting profession has always evolved – from paper ledgers; to Excel spreadsheets; to ERP systems and now to autonomous AI agents. Each leap has ultimately created new opportunities for those who adapted. Agentic AI is no different. By embracing it, you position yourself at the forefront of a transformed profession.

With the right skills and mindset, you won’t be replaced by AI – you’ll be working alongside it to drive better insights, better decisions and better outcomes for the business.

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