Real world ready | Next Gen accounting
Tech things to the next level
Automation is fundamentally changing the way accounting technicians work
Words Jessica Bown Images iStock
Many tasks that made up the bulk of an accounting technician’s workload just a few years ago can now be done by technology.
AI tools can process massive volumes of transactions in a matter of minutes – something that would take a human working in an accounting technician position many hours or even days.
So what does this automation of traditional duties such as invoice processing mean for those training towards and working in the role today?
What does an accounting technician do?
Accounting technicians handle the day-to-day money and finance tasks that ensure the smooth running of businesses of all kinds.
For decades, their main responsibilities have included:
- processing and paying invoices
- recording receipts and payments
- preparing and checking ledgers and other monthly accounts
- completing and submitting tax returns
- handling company expenses
Today, however, technology can handle many of these tasks, reducing the time that needs to be spent on work of this kind.
DID YOU KNOW?
Accountants who use AI support more clients per week and can finalise monthly statements 7.5 days faster than those who stick with traditional methods (Choi and Xie, 2025).
They also spend 8.5% less time on routine back-office processing.
Across the accounting sector, finance professionals are therefore being asked to use this time to add value in different ways.
In some cases, this means taking on a more strategic forecasting and advisory role. In others, it means helping companies to protect themselves from new threats such as cyber fraud.
HOW IS THE ROLE EVOLVING?
The main purpose of accounting technicians, along with other members of the finance team, used to be to manage costs and ensure business or client finances stayed on track and within the confines of relevant regulatory frameworks. Now, however, they can spend more time driving profit-boosting efficiencies such as:
1
Introducing more efficient accounting systems:
updating systems as technologies improve and finding more economical ways to process data can make a big difference to the bottom line.
2
Streamlining the processing of financial information:
fine-tuning existing processes is a great way to add value without trying to push through large-scale change.
3
Providing operational insights and ideas:
financial data can be a valuable source of inspiration when it comes to enhancing business operations and improving everything from customer experience to production processes.
Providing operational insights and ideas:
It is work that many people find more attractive than repetitive number crunching.
A 2025 AAT study found that two in five people would be more attracted to accountancy as a career if administrative tasks were carried out by AI.
What skills do you need to succeed?
Unsurprisingly, given the greater emphasis on forecasting, technical skills such as data analysis and reporting capabilities are becoming increasingly important for accounting technicians. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are also highly prized by employers.
And those who can understand, use and teach others about technologies such as cloud computing and blockchain and their potential in the accounting sphere are likely to be in even higher demand.
There is also value in considering what skills you need to complement the technological advances sweeping through the industry.
While automation reduces the likelihood of mistakes due to human error, the technology is not infallible. AI can make mistakes, too – particularly if the data it is given to work with is flawed.
Accounting technicians therefore need to use logic and numerical skills to double check AI-generated outputs. That, in turn, makes having a keen eye for detail even more crucial than it was in the past.
When it comes to client or business-facing duties, soft skills such as empathy, emotional intelligence and communication come to the fore.
DID YOU KNOW?
More than a third of the tax firms who participated in the latest Future of Jobs report said they now look for GenAI skills when seeking new team members (World Economic Forum, 2025).
What’s next for accounting technicians?
Technologies such as AI, cloud computing and blockchain are reshaping the accounting sector. For accounting technicians, this means not having to do as many “boring” data entry-type tasks.
To stay relevant, however, they need to embrace the potential for growth and innovation by ensuring they have the skills required.
More than a third of the tax firms who participated in the latest Future of Jobs report said they now look for GenAI skills when seeking new team members (World Economic Forum, 2025).
Those who fail to recognise the importance of regularly updating their skillsets could therefore struggle to hit the right note with hiring managers and recruiters.
The growing synergy between AI, technology and the accounting profession is a fantastic opportunity to do more interesting work right from the start of your career. Just make sure you are on the right side of the divide.
References
Choi JH, Xie C. (2025) Human + AI in accounting: early evidence from the field. See: gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/human-ai-accounting-early-evidence-field (accessed 3 November 2025).
World Economic Forum. (2025) The future of jobs report 2025. See: weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025 (accessed 3 November 2025).
The Association of Accounting Technicians. 30 Churchill Place, London E14 5RE. Registered charity no.1050724. A company limited by guarantee (No. 1518983).