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Technology is changing the role of the CPA faster than many firms expected. Routine accounting work is becoming more automated, AI is entering daily workflows, and clients now expect finance professionals to bring more than compliance knowledge to the table.
For CPAs, this creates a clear opportunity. Those who understand technology can move beyond processing information and start guiding smarter business decisions.
To explore how CPAs can become strategic technology enablers, Ace Cloud Hosting spoke with John H. Higgins, CPA.CITP, Founder of Higgins Advisory, LLC.
John is a Top 25 Thought Leader to the Accounting Profession and a strategic technology advisor who helps CPAs and CFOs understand, adopt, and apply emerging technologies.
He has also founded and sold two CPA technology advisory startups, giving him a strong blend of business-building experience and deep technology advisory expertise.
In this conversation, John shares how CPAs can build AI fluency, influence digital transformation inside their firms, overcome resistance to change, and decide which technologies to learn first as the profession moves toward a more automated, insight-led future.
How should CPAs redefine their role today to be seen not just as compliance or accounting experts, but as strategic technology enablers within an organization?
CPAs who want to position themselves for long-term growth should build strong fluency in technology broadly and in AI specifically. That is increasingly how business will operate, and firms are already seeing AI reshape day-to-day work. As information work becomes more automated, CPAs will spend less time on routine tasks such as entering journal entries, preparing financial statements, building spreadsheets, and processing tax returns.
For a grounded look at where this is already happening, see these practical AI use cases that are actually useful for CPAs.
They will spend more time applying professional judgment, interpreting results, and analyzing outputs generated by technology. In that environment, technology becomes the doer and the CPA becomes the thinker. The more a CPA develops both technological capability and strategic judgment skills, the more career opportunities will open up.
What are the first practical steps a CPA can take to start influencing digital transformation in their firm?
CPAs who want to influence digital transformation should first make their interest visible. Firms of every size need more internal champions who are willing to help modernize processes, evaluate tools, and support implementation. The pace of change is moving faster than at any other point in the history of business technology, so firms benefit when motivated professionals step forward early. Where possible, CPAs should lead by example.
They can show colleagues how technology improves efficiency, supports more innovative ways of working, and can even uncover new revenue or fee-generating opportunities. Digital transformation is not just about software. It is about improving how the firm works and creating more value for clients.
The most important skill that separates a technology leader from a technology user is the ability to help the firm move forward. These individuals do more than adopt tools for themselves. They communicate the opportunities that digital transformation creates for both the firm and the people working in it.
They educate colleagues on relevant technologies, set realistic expectations, and help others work through change in practical ways. Just as important, they understand that the hardest part of technology adoption is usually not choosing the tool. It is integrating that tool into the firm’s workflows, controls, and habits. The CPAs who can connect technology to process change are the ones most likely to lead adoption successfully.
What organizational barriers typically prevent CPAs from becoming innovation leaders, and how can they overcome resistance from leadership or colleagues?
The biggest barrier facing would-be innovation leaders is often reluctance from firm leadership to invest in and support change. In many cases, that resistance reflects an incomplete understanding of both the potential of new technology and the risk of standing still.
Fortunately, leaders are hearing more about these issues through industry media, conferences, and peer networks, and awareness is growing quickly as AI and related technologies become more visible across the profession.
CPAs who want to become innovation leaders can help by educating decision-makers, sharing practical use cases, and demonstrating where technology can improve efficiency, quality, and client value. Firm leaders should also recognize that if they fail to identify and support these forward-looking professionals, they may lose them to more innovative firms or to new practices of their own.
Which technologies should CPAs prioritize learning first, AI, automation, cloud platforms, or data analytics, and how should they decide where to begin?
AI should be the first priority because it is rapidly becoming the driving force behind workflow automation and a broader rethinking of how accounting work gets done. That does not mean CPAs should treat AI as a standalone skill. The best place to begin is by learning how AI connects to automation, data quality, governance, and reporting. CPAs should also be comfortable with data analytics beyond spreadsheets.
At a minimum, they should understand how to design KPI dashboards that supplement traditional financial reporting and give decision-makers more timely insight. Tools such as Microsoft Power BI and Tableau remain valuable because they help connect multiple data sources and present information in interactive, decision-ready formats.
From CPA to Technology Enabler
The future CPA will not be valued only for preparing reports or completing compliance work. Those responsibilities will still matter, but the bigger opportunity lies in judgment, interpretation, and leadership.
Firms also need to recognize and support internal champions. The professionals who test tools, educate teams, and connect technology to real business outcomes will help shape the next generation of accounting services. CPAs who step into that role early will not just keep pace with change, they will help lead it.
At Ace Cloud Hosting, we partner with accounting and CPA firms to lead digital transformation. We know the shift from compliance to strategy requires more than infrastructure; it requires a partner who understands technology’s enablement. Our cloud solutions help firms modernize workflows, adopt emerging technologies, and build the digital capabilities that matter. Let’s help your firm move forward.
