Artificial intelligence — and its potential to both disrupt and elevate the work of accountants — is top of mind for many in the profession these days, but that doesn’t mean that it is an immediate priority.
In fact, in a new survey from Accounting Today and its parent company, Arizent, more than half of firms described their adoption of AI and similar emerging technologies as “cautious” or “minimal,” and AI skills barely cracked the list of the 10 most important capabilities accountants need to be successful in their careers.
However, firms fully expect the ability to successfully leverage AI to become more important in the near future, and they have already begun to train staff in these areas (though with interesting generational differences).
The AT Role of AI and Emerging Technology survey was fielded online during July 2025 among 201 accountants. All respondents have insight into or responsibility for decisions around what technology is in use at the firm.
AI skills are at the bottom of the top
When it comes to the skills accountants need right now to be successful in their jobs, only 18% of those surveyed named proficiency with artificial intelligence, far below a range of “soft” skills, such as the ability to work with clients, and time management skills.
In fact, no technology-related skills were among the five most commonly cited abilities required for success today.
Tomorrow, though, is another story.
AI’s time is coming in accounting
The overwhelming majority of survey respondents said that proficiency with emerging tech like AI will be “much more important” (57%) or “somewhat more important” (35%) in the next three to five years, suggesting that they’re aware of the speed with which AI will become central to the way they and their clients work.
‘Cautious’ on AI adoption
This view of AI as a skillset that isn’t as important now as it will be in near future is perfectly in keeping with accounting firms’ level of adoption, which is slow and careful.
Almost half of firms in the survey described their adoption of AI and other emerging technologies as “cautious — slow and deliberate,” and almost a fifth (19%) said their adoption was “minimal — limited.” A further quarter (26%) are working toward AI at a “steady” pace.
Making some moves on AI
For all that caution and deliberation, accounting firms are not completely ignoring AI: Many are taking initial steps toward preparing themselves and their staff for a future where the impact of artificial intelligence is more widely felt.
Over half (55%) reported at least some attempts to upskill or train their current employees, and over a quarter (28%) have begun partnering with technology vendors.
Interestingly, many of these efforts seem to be aimed at, or only visible to, younger staff.
Who’s getting trained on AI?
Only half (49%) of respondents with more than 20 years of experience in accounting reported that their firm is taking action to upskill them in AI, versus over three-quarters (76%) of those who have been in the field for less than 10 years.
That suggestion that firms are focusing their AI efforts on their younger cohorts is borne out across the entire range of possible actions, including taking no action at all: Only 9% of younger accountants reported that their firm was doing nothing, versus 34% of accountants with two decades of experience or more.
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