Chartered Accountants urge government to build AI infrastructure and foundations as membership passes 40,000.
Chartered Accountants Ireland has called on the Government to step up investment in AI-ready infrastructure and expand supports for SMEs.
The call came as the body marked a milestone of more than 40,000 members and published a new position paper on the future of the profession.
“There is a common belief that AI will replace accountants, but the evidence simply does not support that … the AI economy will run on trust”
Launched in Dublin alongside Deputy Malcolm Byrne, chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, the report sets out how accountants are adapting to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence across finance, audit and advisory services.
It also outlines a series of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Ireland’s position in the emerging AI-driven economy.
Trusted advisors will always be needed
At the centre of the Institute’s message is the role of trust. It argues that while AI is reshaping how work is carried out, it is amplifying rather than diminishing the value of professional accountants as providers of oversight, governance and assurance.
Rosemary Keogh, chief executive of Chartered Accountants Ireland, said the idea that AI will displace the profession does not reflect the reality of modern accountancy.
“There is a common belief that AI will replace accountants, but the evidence simply does not support that. It reflects a misunderstanding of what modern accountants actually do,” she said. “AI is automating routine, rules-based work and most accountants welcome that. It frees them up to focus on higher-value roles like strategy, risk and decision making.”
Keogh added that the growing use of AI across business will increase demand for reliable and transparent financial information.
“The AI economy will run on trust. While AI can process extraordinary volumes of data and generate insights at unprecedented speed, trust in those outputs depends on human oversight, ethical judgement and professional accountability.”
The Institute’s position paper points to strong adoption trends already under way. Research from Chartered Accountants Worldwide shows that 85 per cent of professionals are willing to use AI tools in their work, rising to 91 per cent among younger accountants. AI is now being used in areas such as audit testing, financial reporting and advisory analysis.
The report frames accountants as “trusted advisors” who will play a critical role in helping businesses implement AI responsibly. For many SMEs, the accountant remains the primary external adviser, creating a direct link between the profession and how technology is adopted at grassroots level.
Alongside its assessment of the profession, the Institute sets out a number of policy priorities. It calls for more accessible and affordable supports for SMEs seeking to adopt AI, including expanded programmes through Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices. It also stresses the need for widespread AI literacy among workers to ensure smaller firms can keep pace with technological change.
Infrastructure investment is identified as another key requirement. The paper argues that the effectiveness of AI depends on underlying systems such as energy supply, data centres and national grid capacity. Without these foundations, Ireland risks falling behind in deploying AI at scale.
The Institute also highlights Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency as an opportunity to shape policy at European level. It suggests the country could take a leading role in advancing digital simplification and ensuring AI regulation remains proportionate and practical for businesses.
How accountants are managing the AI shift
Education is another focal point, with the report urging a stronger emphasis on AI skills across secondary, further and higher education. It argues that students should graduate with a clear understanding of both the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.
Chartered Accountants Ireland said it has already made significant changes to its own training programmes in response to these trends. Since 2018, its ACA syllabus has incorporated topics such as robotic process automation, data analytics, cybersecurity and blockchain, with the approach now being cited internationally as a model for professional education.
Keogh said the profession’s evolution reflects its enduring relevance in a changing economy. “Reaching 40,000 members marks a milestone for Chartered Accountants Ireland, reflecting sustained growth and the trust placed in the profession across Ireland,” she said. “For many Irish SMEs, their accountant is their main, and often only, advisor. That puts the profession at the frontline of responsible AI adoption.”
The report’s overall message is that the future of accountancy will be shaped by collaboration between technology and human expertise. With the right supports, infrastructure and policy framework in place, the Institute believes Ireland is well positioned to benefit from that shift.
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