Chartered accountants call for urgent practical AI training

Chartered Accountants are signalling strong demand for practical artificial intelligence training, as new research points to a widening gap between willingness to adopt AI and day-to-day capability in the profession.

Global survey data cited by Chartered Accountants Worldwide shows 92% of Chartered Accountants want AI training, but only 30% have received any. Confidence is also limited at the top of organisations, with 45% of senior decision-makers not confident using AI.

Concerns about data security, governance, and limited formal upskilling underpin much of this caution. Member feedback and discussions among emerging leaders also point to a need for clearer guidance on safe and ethical use, alongside training tailored to specific accounting roles.

Skills gap

The figures point to uneven adoption across the profession. Younger practitioners appear more prepared to use AI tools in their work: among 18 to 25-year-olds, 91% say they are willing to use AI, according to Ipsos UK research referenced in the analysis.

This generational difference is part of a broader workforce planning challenge. Firms and finance functions face pressure to lift baseline skills, while ensuring leaders have the confidence to set policy, assess risk, and supervise work involving AI systems.

The Chartered Accountants Worldwide Global Future Leaders Think Tank echoed that message. The group included 27 participants from institutes in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Scotland, and Pakistan. They favoured hands-on training that can be applied immediately, rather than general awareness sessions.

Changing work

AI is increasingly framed as a tool that shifts the balance of work, rather than a direct threat to core roles. Research and Think Tank discussions described AI as a way to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and increase time for judgment-led and strategic activities.

Use cases raised included automated financial analysis commentary, faster audit planning and risk assessments, streamlined month-end reporting, and data cleaning to support a single source of truth. Delegates also cited technical research support and more efficient client communications as near-term applications.

Time savings are a clear driver of interest. A PwC GenAI leader at the event said one to three hours a day could be saved with the right setup. That reflects wider expectations that firms will seek productivity gains as AI tools mature and become more integrated into finance processes.

Governance focus

Alongside productivity, the debate is increasingly centred on oversight and trust. Data security, cyber risk, and ethical governance remain among the most frequently cited barriers to adoption.

Proposed responses include clearer AI governance frameworks, greater transparency on data use, and defined human-in-the-loop decision protocols. Ethical guidelines for emerging technologies are also rising on the agenda, as firms try to balance experimentation with professional obligations and regulatory expectations.

Training expectations now extend beyond tool use. Practitioners want more structured learning on applying professional judgement alongside AI outputs, and on evaluating AI-generated work in high-stakes settings such as audit, tax, and advisory.

Think Tank findings

Think Tank feedback highlighted the role of practical exposure in building confidence. Participants wanted role-specific guidance for audit, tax, and advisory, and expressed interest in peer-learning communities for sharing prompts, workflows, and examples of good practice.

Many also expect professional bodies to take a leading role. The discussion found 67% want their professional bodies to set the pace on AI. That could mean updated competency frameworks, continuing professional development aligned to AI use cases, and clearer guardrails for data handling and accountability.

Organisers also recorded higher confidence during the event. Participants reported that confidence in AI's role in accounting rose from 8% to 25% in a single day after working through real use cases and structured learning. The shift suggests guided practice has a measurable effect on readiness.

Next steps

Priorities for the profession include modular, accounting-specific AI training, practical build-along sessions, and role-based deep dives. The framework also calls for connected learning communities, such as alumni networks and peer groups, to share case studies and reusable tools.

Governance is presented as a parallel track, not a later-stage activity. Recommended actions include clearer guidelines on ethical and safe AI use, and equipping leaders to champion adoption within firms.

Another proposed step is a more consistent measurement of progress, including tracking confidence, capability, and real-world adoption outcomes, then reporting insights back to members as patterns evolve.

"AI isn't reshaping the accounting profession for CAs - it's reshaping it with CAs," said Chartered Accountants Worldwide.

The organisations involved are expected to expand training and guidance for members as AI tools become more common across audit, finance operations, reporting, and advisory work.