At the ACCA Global Educator Conference 2026, panellists and participants discussed one of the key questions for the finance industry: how artificial intelligence is changing the role of accountants and finance professionals. An audience poll revealed that 88% believe AI will fundamentally change the identity of the accounting profession within the next decade.

This result is not a reason for panic. It is a signal for rethinking.

"Expertise is no longer simply about possessing knowledge. Artificial intelligence possesses more knowledge than any of us. Expertise now lies in verifying and contextualising that knowledge."

- Zaheer, senior partner

The current state of affairs

ACCA's AI Monitor Report notes that AI is already being used in core financial processes - this is no longer experimental. The highest levels of adoption are in data analysis, financial planning, invoice processing, and accounts receivable/payable automation.

But the key change is not about individual tools - it is systemic. According to Gartner forecasts, by the end of 2026, 80% of independent software vendors will have embedded generative AI into their products. By 2027, over 60% of ERP (enterprise resource planning) spending will go towards AI-enabled systems. AI is no longer an add-on - it is becoming part of the digital infrastructure in which finance teams operate.

What is actually changing in the work

Conference panellists spoke about specific changes. Where 60 hours were previously spent on manual document review and report preparation, the same work is now completed in a matter of hours. In audit - a shift from sample-based testing to 100% data analysis, from retrospective audit to predictive control. AI analyses data, correspondence, bank statements - tasks that used to take teams weeks.

But an important remark from ACCA: routine execution is shrinking, but responsibility is not. The role of oversight, data traceability, and ethical professional judgement is growing. The focus is shifting from execution to control, governance, and interpretation.

Which skills are becoming critical

Conference participants identified priority skills for future finance professionals. Poll results: ethical assessment and judgement - the highest priority, strategic thinking - in second place, emotional intelligence and communication - nearly 30%. Technological literacy scored only 13% - not because it is unimportant, but because it is already a baseline requirement, not an advantage.

What AI will not replace: professional judgement

There is one aspect that is particularly important for IFRS practice: professional judgement.

AI can process arrays of data, prepare draft reports, identify suspicious transactions. But the judgement about how to interpret such transactions in the context of a client's business model, contractual terms, and regulatory environment - that remains with people.

FTH's approach: automation without blind trust in AI

At Financial Transformation Hub, we have approached this question from our own practice. Our Financial Reporting Transformation Model is built on the automation of operational processes - a structured methodology that ensures accuracy and reproducibility of results.

At the same time, we are actively exploring the prospects of implementing AI in the transformation process. The key question we are working through is the security of sensitive financial data. Companies' financial statements contain information that is commercially critical.

This aligns with the conference conclusions: "human in the loop" is not simply about reviewing the output. It is about consciously designing a process where people remain responsible for the quality and security of the result. That is exactly what we are building.

What this means for companies

There are three moments when the absence of a qualified IFRS specialist in the process is most costly:

  • Preparing to raise investment - investors assess both methodology and figures, but if the methodology is weak, the figures simply are not trusted.
  • Due diligence - this is where errors in revenue recognition, asset classification, and expense categorisation are uncovered.
  • Audit - auditors verify not only the data but also the logic behind the decisions made.

In each of these cases, financial statements prepared without proper professional oversight create risks that are difficult to rectify after the fact.

Conclusion

ACCA puts it quite clearly: AI is a productivity tool in finance, not a replacement for the profession. AI changes the balance between routine operations and professional judgement.

The finance professional of the future is not about something complex. It is about combining:

  • deep understanding of finance;
  • basic understanding of technology;
  • the ability to explain the result.

It is precisely this combination that enables effective work with AI while maintaining control over quality.

At Financial Transformation Hub, we build our work exactly this way: structured methodology + practical expertise + clear communication of results. Because for an investor or auditor, what matters is not only what is reflected in the financial statements, but also how much those figures can be trusted.