Solid • Mid-Level

Accountant.

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

Salary$81,680per year
Openings124,200per year
Growth+5%10 year

Example job titles

AccountantAccounting OfficerAudit Partner, AuditorCertified Public Accountant (CPA)Cost AccountantFinancial AuditorGeneral AccountantInternal AuditorRevenue Tax SpecialistStaff AccountantSenior AccountantAudit Associate

Why This Rating.

[01]

This role is solid

Much of traditional accounting work-bookkeeping, reconciliation, and routine audits-is highly automatable, which puts downward pressure on this role. However, licensed accountants carry real legal liability for the accuracy of financial statements and tax filings, which keeps a human in the loop. AI will likely handle the grunt work, freeing accountants to focus more on advisory and complex judgment calls, but the profession will need far fewer people for the same volume of work.

Risks & Opportunities.

[02]
[01] Risks
44%

of tax and accounting firms using AI deploy it daily[1]

The tasks with the clearest AI signal, analyzing business trends and maintaining accounting systems, already show automation rates near 40%. BLS still projects faster-than-average employment growth (6%) for accountants and auditors through 2034, but that headline number masks a shift toward higher-complexity work as software handles routine analysis [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sep 2024]. Thomson Reuters found that 44% of tax and accounting firms using AI deploy it daily, accelerating the compression of routine analytical work that occupies much of the mid-level accountant role [Thomson Reuters, Jun 2025].

[02] Opportunities
93%

of accounting firms use AI to enhance advisory services[2]

Audit judgment, fraud detection, and internal controls assessment sit in the no-AI-signal bucket, and there is a structural reason: these tasks carry personal legal accountability that cannot be delegated to software. CPA licensure creates a credential barrier that self-service tools cannot cross. The Intuit 2025 survey found 93% of accounting firms now use AI to enhance strategic advisory services, and firms making this shift report both efficiency gains and higher revenue per engagement [Intuit QuickBooks, Aug 2025]. The AICPA reports that AI is accelerating the profession's shift from transaction processing to advisory work, a transition that amplifies the value of accounting credentials rather than undermining them [CPA.com / AICPA, Jun 2025].

Observed AI Impact.

[03]

AI is starting to automate these

Share of AI conversations where this task is handled solo, with little human involvement.

Examine financial reports
Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
58.5% automated
Med usage
Prepare journal entries
Prepare adjusting journal entries.
54.2% automated
Med usage
Prepare/verify financial statements
Prepare, analyze, or verify annual reports, financial statements, and other records, using accepted accounting and statistical procedures to assess financial condition and facilitate financial planning.
52.8% automated
Med usage

AI assists but needs guidance

Share of AI conversations where this task is handled collaboratively, with a human steering.

Analyze business operations
Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.
67.2% augmented
Med usage

AI hasn't figured these out

Low or no AI usage recorded for these tasks.

Supervise/scope audits
Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
No data
Reconcile accounts
Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
No data
Inspect accounting systems
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
No data
Report finances to management
Report to management regarding the finances of establishment.
No data
Detect fraud/non-compliance
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
No data
Develop recordkeeping systems
Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology.
No data

Data: Anthropic Economic Index (Jun 2026) · Real-world Claude usage patterns across occupations

How to Adapt.

[04]
[01] Already in this role?

Focus your development on the tasks where AI signal is absent: audit judgment, internal controls review, fraud detection, and management reporting. These are your durable edges. In the near term, use AI-assisted tools for financial statement analysis and reconciliation so more time goes to the judgment work [Intuit QuickBooks, Aug 2025]. Over the next six months, pick a specialization, ESG reporting, cybersecurity audit, or forensic accounting, where the complexity is high enough that AI is a tool rather than a substitute. The AICPA notes that credentialed accountants who specialize are positioned above the automation floor [CPA.com / AICPA, Jun 2025].

“AI isn't taking over our jobs. It's giving us more room to do the work that matters.”

Dan Luthi, Partner, Ignite Spot Accounting Services

“AI is fundamentally reshaping the accounting profession, accelerating the move toward more strategic advisory services.”

Erik Asgeirsson, President and CEO, CPA.com

[02] Thinking of entering?

The CPA credential remains the clearest path to the durable part of the role. Candidates who sit for the exam immediately after completing 150 credit hours gain access to the audit and advisory work that software cannot do. BLS data shows accountants and auditors are expected to add roughly 91,000 positions over the next decade despite AI automation, concentrated in audit, tax advisory, and financial management [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sep 2024]. Thomson Reuters data shows professionals who pair technical credentials with a visible AI strategy are twice as likely to see revenue growth than those without one [Thomson Reuters, Jun 2025].

“AI is not going to disrupt the accounting profession, but it will change what an accountant does.”

Mark Koziel, President and CEO, AICPA

“Organizations with visible AI strategies are twice as likely to experience revenue growth compared to those with informal or ad-hoc approaches.”

2025 Future of Professionals Report, Thomson Reuters

The Career Map.

[05]

The full BLS career track, plus relevant emerging AI-native paths. Click any role to see how to transition to it.

Entry

Bookkeeper

43-3031.00

Risky

Tax Preparer

13-2082.00

Risky
Mid-Level

Accountant

★ This Role

Senior

Loan Officer

13-2072.00

Solid

Credit Analyst

13-2041.00

Exposed

Financial Advisor

13-2052.00

Strong

Financial Risk Specialist

13-2054.00

Solid

Credit Counselor

13-2071.00

Strong

Insurance Underwriter

13-2053.00

Shifting

Financial AI Systems Auditor

✦ Emerging

Continuous Audit Strategist

✦ Emerging

Lead or Specialist

Fraud Investigator

13-2099.04

Solid

Financial Examiner

13-2061.00

Shifting

Predictive Accounting Analyst

✦ Emerging

Principal

Financial Manager

11-3031.00

Solid

Sources

0.Accountant Occupational Data- O*NET Online

  1. 1.2025 Future of Professionals Report- Thomson Reuters, Jun 2025
  2. 2.The Future of Accounting: How Intuit's AI Innovations Are Reshaping the Profession- Intuit QuickBooks, Aug 2025
  3. 3.Future of Jobs 2023- World Economic Forum, May 2023
  4. 4.State of FP&A 2024- LinkedIn Economic Graph, Jan 2024