#2 The Accountant of Tomorrow: What Talent and Employers Need to Know

The accountancy profession is at an inflexion point.

AI is automating the repetitive and the routine, but it is expanding the need for the deeply human skills that have always defined the best accountants. Whether you are looking to switch jobs or build a stronger team, here is what to prioritise.

For Employers looking to Strengthen their Teams

The skills mix you need is shifting. If your hiring criteria still centre on technical accounting knowledge above all else, you risk building a team that AI can largely replicate. Here is what to look for instead:

1. The Skills Matrix: What to Prioritise

2. Rethink what ‘Junior’ looks like

The traditional model, where a junior accountant spends years on repetitive tasks to build foundational knowledge, is changing fast. AI is absorbing those entry-level functions. This means:

• Junior hires need stronger interpersonal and reasoning skills from day one
• On-the-job training must pivot towards AI tool proficiency, not just technical process
• Early career development should include stakeholder exposure, ethical scenario work, and communication training

3. Hire for trust, not just credentials

In a world saturated with AI-generated content, the accountant’s role as a trusted, human bridge between data and decision-making is more valuable than ever. When hiring, look for:

• Evidence of professional integrity under pressure
• Stakeholder references that speak to trust and reliability, not just technical output
• Professionals who can explain not just what the numbers say, but why they matter

4. Make AI adoption a team priority, not a personal one

I am clear in the original article that AI must be treated as a tool for enterprise-wide transformation, not just personal productivity. For employers, this means:

• Invest in upskilling your existing team on AI tools, not just hiring new professionals and leaving the rest behind
• Build governance frameworks so AI-generated outputs are reviewed, validated, and signed off by accountable professionals
• Foster a culture where innovation is encouraged but ethical oversight is non-negotiable

The Bottom Line

AI is not replacing accountants. It is redefining what an accountant is for. The profession’s future belongs to those who are trusted advisors, clear communicators, critical thinkers, and ethical leaders, individuals who can take what AI produces and make it meaningful, reliable, and actionable for the humans who depend on it.

For talent: make those human skills the centrepiece of how you present yourself.

For employers: make those human skills the centrepiece of how you hire, develop, and retain.

Sinead Donovan FCA is Strategic Board Advisor at Barden, former Chairperson of Grant Thornton Ireland, and Past President of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

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