Advancetrack®

Different waves of new technology have arrived with the same headline: this 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be the end of accounting. And historically, the profession has adapted, grown and come back stronger after each new wave of technology. Ahead of the Accounting Excellence Awards, Vipul S. sat down with Bobby Lane, who has seen each of these shifts firsthand. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰. "The accounting profession will continue to pivot and continue to evolve as it always has." Bobby sees accountants stepping even further into their role as translators of the numbers, helping businesses make sense of their figures and shape the strategic direction that moves them forward. AI opens the door to more of that valuable work, with skilled professionals guiding it and making sure the output is right. "The firms set to succeed are the ones that marry up human capital with technology." That's an exciting future, and one we're proud to be part of at Advancetrack. How is your firm embracing AI? Share your thoughts in the comments. #Accounting #AIinAccounting

This November, our team is on the road, and we'd love to meet you in person. 3 November: Alternative on Tour, Manchester 12 November: 2020 Annual Conference, Park Plaza London Riverbank 25 to 28 November: MGI UK & Ireland Conference, Brighton If capacity, hiring or retaining great talent is on your mind heading into the new year, come and find us. We're always happy to share what's working for firms right now, or simply to discuss a few ways to get more time back for your existing team. Swipe through to see where we'll be, and find full details at advancetrack.com/events

73% of accounting firms are now turning away potential clients because talent shortages are constraining growth across the profession. Click the download button or search “Accounting Talent Index 2026” to download the report for all findings and regional insights.

Workload pressure is becoming a retention risk for accounting firms. 74% fear increasing workloads could lead to staff leaving, 70% say pressure is rising on senior employees, and 35% report increased stress or anxiety among their teams. Click the download button or search "Accounting Talent Index 2026" to download the report and uncover the latest workforce insights from across the profession.

Accounting firms know that solving the talent challenge requires more than hiring alone. Nearly three-quarters (72%) are investing in training and development, and 71% now place as much importance on retention as recruitment. However, with only 29% developing junior staff internally, many firms still face barriers to creating sustainable capacity. Click the download button or search "Accounting Talent Index 2026" to access the full report and uncover the latest workforce trends shaping the profession.

Despite the buzz around AI, many accounting firms remain cautious. Only 16% are actively investing in AI, while concerns around data privacy, compliance and governance continue to shape decision-making. Meanwhile, 21% believe AI is over-hyped. Click the download button or search "Accounting Talent Index 2026" to access the full report and discover how attitudes toward AI are evolving across the accounting sector.