Darshan Gunawardena (Director of Technology and Transformation, Data and AI at Deloitte), Dean Hezekiah (Policy and Insights Manager at ACCA), and Narayanan Vaidyanathan (Head of Policy Development at ACCA) provide valuable insights into the transformative impact of AI on the finance and accounting profession. As AI reshapes workflows and decision-making, these experts explore ways in which the finance profession is harnessing AI’s benefits while addressing ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges.
From improving productivity in data analysis and financial reporting to enhancing risk management and forecasting, AI is steadily integrating into core functions, enabling finance professionals to work more efficiently and strategically. With ACCA’s ongoing support through educational resources, insights reports, and policy advocacy, its members are equipped to navigate this evolving landscape, ensuring AI adoption aligns with both innovation and public responsibility. Here, each of these experts shares their perspective on how AI is influencing the profession, what skills will become essential, and how ACCA is preparing members to lead in this AI-driven era.
Dean Hezekiah: AI Meets Accounting
How is AI transforming the role of accountants and financial professionals?
We expect incremental productivity gains as professionals discover novel ways to integrate AI into their work.
Our recent report, The Smart Alliance: Accounting Expertise Meets Machine Intelligence, reveals how finance professionals are already using AI for various tasks. Not surprisingly, the most popular use case we see from the report is data analysis and reporting, with 33% of survey respondents indicating that they use AI for this task. Other popular use cases include financial planning and analysis, invoice and payment processing, and office productivity.
Suffice it to say that finance professionals are asking questions of AI technology. We are now in the clarifying stage, connecting the opportunity to the requirements of our roles. As things become clearer, we should see these numbers increase and certain specific uses of AI becoming commonplace.
How is ACCA preparing its members to adapt to changes caused by AI in auditing and financial reporting?
ACCA continues to produce content and resources that help our members and stakeholders engage meaningfully with AI and digital themes. Our Professional Insights reports (like the Smart Alliance report mentioned above) provide an in-depth look at AI and digital themes from our subject matter experts. We also offer a range of online webinars and video resources to support members in responding adequately to these trends. Finally, for those who want to acquire the skills, we offer short courses to familiarize stakeholders with this knowledge. Examples of short courses on our site (learning.accaglobal.com) include Certificate in Ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Finance Essentials, Machine Learning with Python for Finance Professionals and Certificate in Data Analytics, among others.
What skills do you believe will become most crucial for professionals in the accounting field as AI continues to evolve?
In an evolved professional landscape, what it means to be capable looks markedly different than before. There is an expectation that accountants have digital skills and AI skills more specifically. We see this reflected in job requirements for business analysts and auditor roles for example. These and other roles now require working with increasingly large data sets.
Whilst there will always be a place for technical mastery and proficiency, these need to be paired with broader skills to bring out their full benefit. The true value that accountants provide is in their ability to understand their organizations deeply, navigating their complex landscape to provide value at the intersection of different functions, both within and outside the organization. Hence cross-functional collaboration is crucial for unlocking latent value in organizations. This includes unlocking the value (and opportunity) of AI.
To play this critical role, technical skills are important, but domain expertise and soft skills are essential. The challenge is to develop accounting professionals who can bridge the gap between having a broad technical understanding and accounting expertise. ACCA’s short article series, AI Monitor: Skills to drive responsible AI adoption, provides a deeper dive into the digital and AI skills needed to thrive in today’s accounting world.
Can you share an example of how AI is already integrated into accounting processes and its impact on efficiency or accuracy?
I recently connected with an ACCA member and Data Scientist who used machine learning technology to solve a business problem. He trained a model on historical cost data to create a tool that streamlined the process of estimating construction costs for new retail store openings and refits at a major retail company.
This AI adoption journey was featured in ACCA’s recent Smart Alliance report with several others. It showcases what is possible when you combine accounting acumen with digital skills. Not only did the solution yield incredibly accurate cost estimates, it saved the company time in making the decision and the cost of outsourcing the service.
Narayanan Vaidyanathan: AI’s Expanding Role in Finance
AI is revolutionizing industries globally. How do you see it impacting the broader finance ecosystem beyond just accounting?
AI has become central to the financial services sector, as highlighted by ACCA in its recent feedback to the European Commission. ACCA emphasizes that integrating AI into accountancy and finance workflows is an incremental process, best viewed as an assistant requiring clear oversight, established procedures, and human supervision.
In practice, AI’s applications are varied and impactful. For example, in narrative analysis, AI can draft the initial version of quarterly financial summaries, which are then refined by human accountants. Similarly, in contract analysis, AI efficiently identifies and interprets key elements, such as termination clauses, to assess potential risks. In fraud detection, AI offers a dynamic approach, assessing emerging fraudulent behaviours rather than relying solely on pre-set rules. Finally, AI enhances forecasting and predictive analysis by improving cash flow projections and valuations through a broader range of inputs, often connected to external data sources via APIs.
What ethical concerns arise with the increasing use of AI in finance, and how are they addressed?
ACCA is committed to balancing the benefits of AI with the public interest responsibilities it entails. Guided by the ethical standards of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), our members adhere to rigorous principles as they navigate AI’s growing role in accountancy.
Our stance on AI ethics is widely accessible through ACCA’s public resources. We recognize numerous ethical challenges that require vigilance, including the need for explainability and transparency, risks of bias and discrimination, privacy concerns, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, potential legal and regulatory breaches, inaccuracies, misinformation, and the risk of unintended consequences from AI applications.
Given the regulatory environment, how can financial professionals ensure compliance when implementing AI solutions?
An effective governance framework is essential for AI compliance, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements in a holistic and interconnected way, as highlighted in ACCA’s report Ethics for Sustainable AI Adoption: Connecting AI and ESG. This approach goes beyond simple compliance checks; it requires leadership to set a responsible tone prioritizing sustainable, long-term value and sound ethical practices.
Leadership plays a key role by exercising informed judgment, steering clear of tech-washing, and embedding ethical AI usage within regulatory and policy frameworks. Core components of this governance include robust data management, vigilant oversight, and a well-informed understanding of the AI vendor landscape. By equipping teams with strong AI skills and knowledge, organizations can navigate this rapidly evolving space responsibly, making AI adoption strategic and sustainable.
How is ACCA contributing to new policies and standards for AI integration in the finance sector?
ACCA actively collaborates with regulators, standard setters, and policymakers to foster a trustworthy ecosystem for responsible AI deployment. In a policy paper to the UK government, Building the Foundations for Trusted Artificial Intelligence, ACCA explored the broader implications of AI adoption and presented recommendations for sustainable, balanced outcomes.
These recommendations emphasize the need to act swiftly to keep pace with AI advancements, coordinate among government agencies with shared regulatory interests, align domestic policies with international developments, and seek multi-stakeholder input to shape effective regulation. ACCA also advocates drawing on the expertise of the accountancy profession to support national objectives, ensuring AI is adopted in ways that reflect both innovation and public interest.
Darshan Gunawardena: Insights into AI Adoption
What challenges do you foresee for smaller firms adopting AI, compared to larger organizations?
Smaller firms will encounter unique challenges in adopting AI, primarily due to the need for new infrastructure, skill acquisition, and the associated investments. Regulatory and compliance requirements also add complexity, necessitating a framework for the ethical and responsible use of AI.
Generative AI’s accessibility has lowered some barriers, yet compliance and regulatory concerns remain pivotal. The foundation for successful AI adoption is a firm’s digital maturity and the quality of its data. Establishing a clear AI strategy is essential, involving decisions on whether to build or buy solutions and whether to develop internal capabilities or engage external expertise. Ensuring data readiness and understanding the regulatory landscape are crucial steps, as are focusing on business cases that deliver a strong return on investment, enhancing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, or performance to initiate a successful AI journey.
What role do you see AI playing in risk management and corporate governance, especially in the context of financial transparency?
Risk management is a cornerstone of strong corporate governance, requiring a thorough process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that may hinder a firm’s objectives. AI can significantly enhance this process across various risk types, including financial, operational, strategic, environmental, reputational, and compliance risks.
AI’s capacity for anomaly detection and predictive analysis is invaluable. For example, AI models trained to identify irregularities can rapidly review large volumes of transactions, flagging those that deviate from regulatory standards, such as Anti-Money Laundering requirements, to ensure scalable and ongoing compliance. Additionally, AI models trained on historical sales data, expense trends, and seasonal variations can predict cash flow and aid liquidity management.
By strengthening risk management, firms not only protect their goals but also uphold ethical standards, reinforcing effective governance. Recognizing AI’s role in this domain, senior leadership should prioritize its adoption to stay resilient and compliant.
How can ACCA members leverage AI tools to enhance their decision-making processes, particularly in data analysis and forecasting?
ACCA members can harness AI tools in diverse and impactful ways. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, AI can detect and predict with accuracy and speed beyond human capacity. By processing entire data sets in real-time rather than relying on samples, AI enables more comprehensive and insightful analysis.
AI’s data analysis capabilities are invaluable in identifying patterns and spotting anomalies, such as preferences in vendor selection or inconsistencies in expense claims. AI has broad applications for forecasting, from sales and demand forecasts to revenue projections, cash flow analysis, and predicting supply chain disruptions. These forecasting capabilities provide ACCA members with timely, data-driven insights that significantly enhance decision-making, reinforcing their roles across finance and accountancy.
As AI evolves, how should accounting professionals balance technical knowledge with strategic thinking to remain competitive?
While Generative AI has captured headlines, distinguishing it from discriminative and traditional AI is crucial for informed decision-making. As AI becomes more accessible and user-friendly, the technical expertise needed for basic business applications will lessen. For accounting professionals, the priority should be on leveraging AI alongside their expertise to drive value, enhancing speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
AI tools can play a transformative role across the firm, from risk management and financial resource optimization to supporting sustainable growth and aligning financial strategies with broader business objectives. By focusing on strategic AI use, accounting professionals can unlock new efficiencies and insights that propel the firm forward.