2027 Is Coming: What Accounting Firms Must Start, Stop, and Rethink

The accounting profession is entering another period of change. As 2027 approaches, firms are facing growing expectations from clients, changing workforce needs, and new questions about how accounting services should be delivered. 

To understand what accounting firms should prioritize, Ace Cloud Hosting spoke with Seth Fineberg, an accounting industry journalist, consultant, and founder of Accountants Forward.

With years of experience covering the profession and engaging with accounting leaders, Seth brings a practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing firms. 

In this Expert Opinion, Seth discusses the changing role of accountants, outsourcing decisions, staffing priorities, employee burnout, and the steps firm owners should consider as they prepare for 2027. 

As AI reshapes accounting, which traditional roles will evolve, and what new roles do you expect to emerge in 2027? 

It is still early days for AI, which is hard to grasp given how it has advanced in business in such a short time. Given that, predicting what roles will evolve is equally as challenging since each day we see new ways accounting professionals are using it. That being said, the biggest thing that will likely change is the notion of “the work”.  

What accountants have historically done in that regard will likely change dramatically, and ultimately what an accountant actually does and is relied on for will also change. In the simplest of terms: “doers to reviewers” begins to scratch the surface. 

Should 2027 be the year accounting firms seriously rethink outsourcing? What 2–3 functions should firms consider outsourcing? 

Technology advancements, business expectations, and demands are indeed evolving. And while it is difficult to pick any particular functions, much like automation itself, you have to look at the things that are either causing you the most pain in terms of time spent or, ultimately, where you want to be as a firm.  

What kind of work do you want to be doing and spending the most time on? The few functions you do not should be given the strongest consideration for outsourcing, automation, or both.  

With Tax Season 2027 approaching, should firms hire more employees, leverage outsourcing, or focus on improving productivity with existing teams? 

As indicated above, with where technology and services are at, it’s hard to consider adding more staff to things that could most likely be handled by the aforementioned. That being said, hiring for the things that will bring you more growth should be more highly considered.  

Simply supporting how the tasks you always have done may come into serious question, unless those are things that have actually brought your firm value and growth potential. 

What should accounting firm owners do this tax season differently to reduce employee burnout and retain their best talent? 

You have to set boundaries, first and foremost. The tone is set from the top, so as a firm leader, it is on you to say, “These are our hours, this is how we want to handle clients, this is when things are due, this is what’s acceptable, and this is what is not.” Also, looking right now through your client list and deciding who to move on from is going to be essential. 

These suggestions may not be new, but everyone on staff and in your client list has to align with the firm’s direction, focus, and values. This is the best initial way to stave off burnout and create an environment staff wants to be a part of. 

As the holiday season approaches, what should accounting firm owners prioritize before closing out 2026 to ensure a smoother start to 2027? 

I think sorting out many of the issues raised above, in regard to boundaries, focus, technology, and outsourcing decisions, should be well in hand by the end of the year, so that when prep work does begin (taxes and books or even advisory work), you have a North Star, if you will. 

If you could give accounting firm owners just three recommendations for 2027, what would they be? 

• Know the true value of your work and your time and build everything into those ideals, from clients to pricing to technology and more. 
• Begin to see (if you have not already) what technology and automation in particular can bring to the most time-consuming of tasks. AI, of course, is at the forefront of those decisions; start to get more comfortable with it where it makes the most sense or even assign people in your firm to be working in this way. 
• As always, get to a live event, either locally, nationally, or both. Even one per year to connect to your community and your colleagues to build not only your knowledge, but your connection to a support system you may never have realized is available to you. 

Preparing Your Accounting Firm for 2027 and Beyond 

AI and automation are changing how accounting firms operate, but technology is only part of the challenge. Firm owners must also rethink their business models, manage workloads, retain talent, and identify opportunities for growth. With tax season 2027 approaching, now is the time to assess what is working, what needs to change, and where to focus next. 

Preparing for 2027 does not mean changing everything at once. Accounting firms need a clear direction and a better understanding of what will help them succeed in the long run. 

As Seth’s insights suggest, staying connected with industry peers and being open to new approaches can help firm owners make more informed decisions. For firms looking to take practical steps, understanding how to get started with AI in accounting can be a useful starting point.