AI is Changing Accounting. Learning Must Keep Up

Artificial intelligence is moving quickly across the accounting profession. 72% of firms globally use AI weekly; 77% plan to increase investment to enhance performance and decision-making, as per the 2025 Future Ready Accountant report by Wolters Kluwer.

For accounting firms, adopting AI tools is only part of the equation. The real advantage will come from professionals who know how to interpret data, guide clients, and use technology to drive better outcomes. That calls for a shift in mindset, from focusing mainly on compliance and transactional work to building skills that support analysis, advisory, and strategic thinking.

This raises important questions for firm leaders and professionals alike. What mindset shift will accountants need over the next few years? Will competitive advantage come from better tools or better-trained people? And how can firms create an environment where continuous learning becomes part of everyday work?

To explore these questions, Ace Cloud Hosting spoke with Seth Fineberg, an accounting industry consultant, content strategist, and speaker. With over 30 years of experience in the profession, Seth has seen firsthand how firms are reshaping their services to stay relevant and responsive to client needs. Before founding Accountants Forward, he spent decades as a business editor and journalist, helping the accounting community understand key trends and innovations shaping the industry.

In this expert Q&A, Seth Fineberg shares his perspective on the mindset accountants need to adopt, why learning must become an ongoing habit, and how firms can help their teams move from uncertainty to opportunity in the age of AI.

1. AI is automating more transactional work. In your view, what mindset shift must accountants make to stay relevant over the next 3–5 years?

Automation is not new for accountants, but AI brings things to the next level. It is, essentially, utilizing the data they have and learning to more tasks can indeed be automated the way they want them to.

The mindset is one of control, really. Accountants need to really take a harder look than ever before at tasks or “work” that causes the most pain, takes the most time, and why. Workflows are key, of course, then focusing again on what it is they could be doing that adds the most value to clients.

Over the next few years, outcomes are going to be what is expected, and that’s the mindset all accounting professionals will need to have. That and what kind of accountant they want to be.

2. Many firms are investing in AI tools, but not always in people. Do you believe the real competitive advantage will come from technology adoption or continuous skill development, and why?

I think it would be, if I may, somewhat foolish to think that tools need more of your time than people. Sure, the narrative right now is less people needed for particular tasks…in theory. But even so, that only changes the role of the person; it doesn’t eliminate them entirely.

Your people need training and a focus on what is going to produce the greatest outcomes and most value for the firm. AI and any technology really still need people for review, for input, for communicating and sharing results, and for lack of a better term…to “people.” Upskilling can’t be undervalued at this point in time.

3. What does a true culture of continuous learning look like inside an accounting firm, beyond occasional training or certifications?

In speaking to firm leaders, this is something that really varies. One thing that is fairly consistent is that the tone gets set from the top, and if leadership prioritizes things like mentorship, training, participating in live events, both in the profession and in industries they serve, then this culture of continuous learning will thrive.

Staying connected to the platform vendors the firm works with, too, is also part of the equation, particularly when it comes to certifications or even other useful content they may have.

4. Some professionals see AI as a threat to roles they’ve mastered. How can leaders help teams move from fear to curiosity and growth?

As with cloud, and any technology that came before and since, the greatest threat to roles is trying to stay the same and thinking that change is the enemy. It may sound trite, but I’ve seen it time and again.

There needs to be a willingness to evolve and learn. Tools are only as good as those who use them, and with AI, it still requires the data you’ve worked on to be correct, and human interpretation and review. It’s hard to train someone to be curious, but showing what AI can do, literally placing it in your team’s hands, is the best way to start.

The great thing I see about AI is that it’s not just software developed by engineers; it is something that can evolve with you, using your personal touch.

5. If an accountant wants to stay future-ready starting today, what three areas of learning should they prioritize first?

Some of these are technical, some are not, but I’d say to be truly future-ready, these are the key things to keep in mind. In no particular order:

Review your tech stack and make even simple changes/additions

Review your client list. This, in a way, ties into the first one, in that knowing the kinds of clients you want to have and the work you want to do and the way you want to serve them will ultimately determine the tools you use.

Review your cybersecurity. Nothing is 100 percent, but with everything we use today, there has to be serious attention to your own security policies, as well as what can be outsourced and supported 24/7.

6. What websites, podcasts, books, or learning resources do you personally recommend for accountants who want to stay ahead in an AI-driven profession?

There really is so much, but anything that is practical, useful, and explains things in terms that you can relate to. With AI, I’ve seen this type of learning come from the lessons of Jason Staats, Logan Graf, Jody Padar, Erin Daiber, and Chad Davis.

The Future Belongs to Firms That Keep Learning

AI will continue to take over more routine and transactional work in accounting, but it will not replace the need for human judgment, interpretation, and trusted client guidance. What it will do is push the profession toward work that carries more value, stronger analysis, better decision-making, and deeper advisory support.

As Seth Fineberg makes clear, the firms that stand out will not be the ones that simply adopt the latest AI tools. They will be the ones that invest in their people, refine their workflows, and build a culture where learning is ongoing, practical, and tied to better client outcomes. Accountants who stay curious, adapt with intention, and strengthen both their technical and advisory skills will be better positioned to lead in a profession that is changing fast.

The right technology foundation matters too. At Ace Cloud Hosting, we help accounting firms work smarter with secure cloud hosting for Intuit QuickBooks, fully managed virtual desktops, managed IT services, and AI-powered cybersecurity. These solutions help teams stay connected, protect client data, and deliver a more consistent service experience.

In the years ahead, the firms that move forward will be the ones that bring together technology, learning, and people in the right way.