By Agnieszka Jarosz, head of ACCA Northern & Eastern Europe
Until recently, the work of finance professionals was associated with binders, laptops, long hours spent poring over Excel spreadsheets, and flipping through hundreds of pages of tax codes. Today, increasingly, a digital assistant supports them – able to review thousands of invoices and legal interpretations in seconds and to spot details the human eye might miss. In an era where data holds value comparable to gold and its volume resembles the infinite expanse of space, artificial intelligence has ceased to be a futuristic buzzword from tech conferences – it has become a practical tool that is revolutionising finance and accounting before our eyes.
Does this mean that the traditional role of a finance expert is becoming obsolete? Not necessarily. Rather, it is entering a new era.
From routine to strategy
According to ACCA reports[1], one of the most significant changes AI brings is taking over repetitive tasks. Systems can automatically categorise invoices, match payments, and prepare preliminary financial reports. What used to take humans hours now happens automatically in the background. This is a major shift. Finance professionals can increasingly focus not on tedious data analysis but on strategic advising to management boards. Routine tasks are therefore being transferred to machines, while humans gain space for analysis, interpretation, and advisory work.
Although AI in finance is still in its early stages, the first large-scale implementations already demonstrate its immense potential.
- PwC has equipped its auditors with AI assistants that enable the analysis of thousands of pages of documents in hours instead of weeks. The system identifies risk areas, but the final decision rests with humans. The technology relies on a continuously updated database, including external sources like materials from the Ministry of Finance, tribunal and administrative court rulings, as well as internal expert reports from PwC specialists.
- JP Morgan uses AI to assess credit risk. Algorithms analyse clients’ transactional data and market signals, allowing faster and more accurate credit decisions. The company has also helped some corporate clients reduce manual work by nearly 90% using AI tools for cash flow management.
- MasterCard leverages AI to detect payment fraud. Hundreds of millions of transactions are analysed in real time, and suspicious attempts are blocked within milliseconds. The algorithm learns from around 125 billion transactions processed annually across the company’s card network, enabling AI to detect links between merchants and predict potential fraudulent activity.
The future of AI is also confirmed by reports and surveys of entrepreneurs and managers. According to research by Everest Group, generative AI today most often supports customer service – 72% of companies use it this way. IT (30%) and marketing and sales (18%) follow. In finance, procurement, logistics, and Human Resources, AI is present in 12% of companies. This shows that AI is no longer just a technological experiment – it is becoming a practical tool that facilitates daily work across various departments.
Meanwhile, according to PwC’s report in Poland, only 15% of business leaders fully trust AI, and 34% integrate it into daily processes – much lower than the global average. Companies that adopt these technologies more boldly gain a competitive advantage and handle market challenges more effectively.
What AI cannot do
This raises the question: if machines can already do so much, what is left for humans? The answer: still a great deal.
AI excels at data analysis but has limitations. It does not understand business context like a human, cannot make ethical decisions, and cannot take responsibility before clients or regulators. This is where the new role of finance managers emerges – as guardians of trust, quality, and transparency.
History shows that companies that adopt new technologies early gain an advantage over competitors. The same will happen now. AI is not a passing trend but a lasting force that will change how we manage finances. The inevitability of implementing advanced digital solutions is confirmed by tangible benefits. According to McKinsey’s report The future of work after Covid-19, companies can automate up to 42% of finance and accounting tasks – mainly through AI and digital process automation.
For those starting a career in finance, this is an important signal: knowing balance sheets and profit and loss statements is no longer enough. Skills in data analysis, understanding algorithms, and combining technology with business judgment are also essential.
The future of finance will not belong solely to machines. It will belong to those who can make machines work for them. This requires a degree of trust in technology. As Helen Brand, CEO of ACCA, notes: “As AI becomes increasingly significant in the economy, the ability to rely on its actions is not just important – it is crucial from a public interest perspective. This is an area where we must, on one hand, address skill gaps and, on the other, consistently build trust in the entire AI ecosystem. Only in this way can we support sustainable business development.”
Ireneusz Miski, ACCA Poland expert and CEO of 12B, emphasises the opportunities AI brings to ‘human processes’: “Using AI in the daily work of finance professionals provides a huge advantage. Algorithms can perform monotonous tasks with speed and precision beyond human capabilities, but humans bring experience, intuition, and context understanding. We are moving toward an inevitable human-machine symbiosis, which in the financial sector allows faster and more accurate decision-making. We see this already happening with many of our clients. AI becomes a human assistant, providing competitive advantages, increasing productivity, and opening opportunities for development in other, more engaging areas.”
Guide for managers: how to implement AI in finance wisely, according to ACCA experts
- Identify whether you are ready for AI
- Ensure you have the necessary skills and resources
- Plan actions and use proofs of concept to run pilots and tests
- Be prepared for quick pilots, fast failures, and lessons learned
- Start with simple tasks such as automating invoices or reporting
- Leverage the cloud – modern solutions do not require large infrastructure investments
- Train your people: teams must understand how to use AI and interpret its results.
- Ensure security. Financial data is sensitive – no progress without protection policies and regulatory compliance
- Do not give full control: AI should support decisions, not make them for you
About ACCA
We are the largest and fastest-growing global organisation for finance and accounting professionals. ACCA has been operating since 1904 and currently represents a community of over 252,500 members and 526,000 students across 180 countries. In Poland, the organisation counts 2,400 members, with another 5,300 pursuing qualifications.
Our modern qualifications, continuous learning programmes, analyses, and research are highly valued by employers across all sectors. We provide expertise in business, finance, and ethical standards, helping organisations not only create and protect value but also report effectively on their sustainable impact on economies.
Learn more at www.accaglobal.com and www.accapolska.pl
[1] https://stories.accaglobal.com/how-is-ai-reshaping-finance-and-accounting-work/index.html
