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Businesses must strike the right balance between technology and talent, says CPA Australia

CPA Australia

28 October 2025

Businesses must strike the right balance between technology and talent, says CPA Australia

• Survey shows some businesses have cut entry-level accounting roles
• Businesses urged to balance AI efficiency with human talent in accounting
• Australian businesses intend to ramp up their AI investments in 2026

Australia’s largest accounting body, CPA Australia, is urging businesses not to cut junior finance and accounting roles in favour of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that an overreliance on technology could undermine long-term competitiveness.

CPA Australia’s Business Investment and International Lead, Gavan Ord, said businesses should strike an appropriate balance between technology and talent to maximise the value they get from their investments, without losing equally valuable human skills.

“There is a clear link between AI adoption and successful business performance, but an overreliance on new technology could ultimately backfire,” he said.

Mr Ord’s comments follow today’s release of CPA Australia’s 2025 Business Technology Report, which found 19 per cent of businesses across the Asia-Pacific say they have reduced or ceased filling junior or entry-level accounting roles because of the introduction of AI tools. In mainland China, this rises to 32 per cent.

Mr Ord said: “Harnessing AI for many routine and mundane tasks is improving business efficiencies and outcomes. This creates opportunities for businesses to invest in training their accounting and finance teams, including entry-level accountants, to perform higher-level and more complex strategic tasks.

“Businesses must not underestimate the importance of keeping people in the loop. Specialist human oversight remains essential. Turning over finance functions that require accuracy, assurance and verification to technology leads to elevated risks.

“We are now seeing many high-profile examples of businesses and organisations suffering financial and reputational damage because they have swung the balance too far in favour of poorly verified AI.

“Becoming too dependent on AI could ultimately leave businesses with a knowledge and experience chasm that AI is not yet capable of filling.”

Mr Ord said the survey showed the proportion of businesses cutting entry-level accounting roles in Australia is currently lower than in other Asia-Pacific markets at 8 per cent, but the regional experience suggests this will swiftly increase as Australian businesses ramp up their investments in AI tools.

“Previous survey data shows that Chinese businesses have been ahead of Australia in adopting AI and automation,” he said. “However, Australian businesses have now caught the AI bug. They are now the most likely among the surveyed markets to be planning AI investments in 2026, although automation remains unpopular.”

The survey of 1,117 accounting and finance professionals across the Asia-Pacific found that businesses are not actively seeking AI-skilled talent in these fields, with only 6 per cent reporting increased recruitment of professionals with such expertise.

The survey also identified the challenges associated with the use of AI. One of the most common concerns raised by respondents was that businesses are becoming too dependent on AI with reduced human oversight.

“Businesses still need accountants for many critical functions, especially providing strategic advice and insight that supports senior leaders and ensures sound financial oversight,” Mr Ord said.

“There is no doubt that businesses are embracing AI to augment the capabilities of their accounting and finance teams. A key consideration is striking the right balance between efficiency gains and the human expertise essential to drive and supervise AI.

“The key to technology is understanding the problem you want it to solve – not chasing the latest shiny thing. Some businesses seem to be experiencing FOMO when it comes to AI – and they are the ones who risk being behind the eight ball if they don’t invest wisely in their people and fail to follow appropriate processes to identify the right AI solutions for their needs.”

About us:

About CPA Australia   

CPA Australia is Australia’s leading professional accounting body and one of the largest in the world. We have more than 175,000 members in over 100 countries and regions. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. A CPA is a Certified Practising Accountant. Find out more at cpaaustralia.com.au

Contact details:

Simon Downes, External Affairs Lead, [email protected] or 0401 461 503