iscoverAustralian accounting firms are increasingly using AI not just to streamline back-office tasks, but to transform how they partner with clients through proactive insights, real-time analysis, and refined communication.
Are accountant-client relationships set to be redefined by AI?
15 September 2025
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6 minute read
A recent KPMG Global Tech report found that more than 70 per cent of financial services leaders expect AI to reshape compliance and reporting within three years. For accountants, this is already shifting the profession’s value proposition from data crunching to timely advisory.
CPA Australia’s Public Practice Manager, Kristen Beadle CPA, said members are experimenting with AI in both operations and client engagement. “Some members are already using the technology for marketing materials, saving them time to focus on client-facing work. Others are looking into it as a means to assist with staff shortages, to undertake repetitive tasks and free up staff for more complex work” .
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One of the clearest shifts is in real-time analysis. Instead of waiting weeks for management reports, firms can now deliver daily or even live dashboards. Cash flow alerts, payroll cost spikes and KPI variances can be flagged as they happen, giving clients a chance to act before issues spiral.
For partners, this changes the tone of client meetings. Conversations are no longer retrospective, they are about decisions in the moment, backed by numbers that update automatically. This immediacy positions accountants as proactive advisors who can guide clients with confidence, not hindsight.
Ethics and governance remain in sharp focus. CA ANZ has warned that many firms lack AI governance policies, leaving them vulnerable to bias or fairness concerns. Those who set boundaries early will be better placed to protect client trust while embracing new efficiencies.
Adam Franklin, AI and marketing expert, said the change was overdue. “Accountants have always prided themselves on judgement and trust,” Franklin said. “AI clears the clutter so those strengths can shine. When firms show up with timely advice instead of just reports, clients notice.”
To help firms bridge capability gaps, AI Edge for Accountants will run in Sydney this October. Facilitated by Franklin, the one-day program gives partners and directors a compliance-safe roadmap for AI, with practical tools that can be applied immediately. Waitlists for Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are also open.
For more information and to register, click here.
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