By AAT Comment Artificial intelligence The seven AI skills accountants should master 10 Jul 2026 The seven artificial intelligence skills needed to get ahead in accountancy. From automated data entry to AI-driven forecasting, accountancy is undergoing one of the biggest changes since the introduction of Excel spreadsheets. Learning how to work alongside AI can help professionals with their job security and performance, says Kate Slingo, Manager (qualified interim finance) at Robert Walters London. Developing the right AI-adjacent skills can help you move faster, add more value, and position yourself for further progression. Here are the key areas to lean into. Carousel of talents Scroll through all seven slides of this carousel by pressing the arrows in the top right corner. The seven AI skills to develop 1 Become data literate Accountants don’t need to become data scientists, but they should work on becoming more fluent in data. AI systems rely on structured, high-quality data and accountants are uniquely positioned to understand what the numbers really mean. Data literacy is about understanding data flows through systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and payroll, identifying data quality issues like biases and gaps, and interpreting AI-generated outputs critically for any errors or hallucinations. An accountant who can unpack the ‘how’ and ‘why’ when forecasts don’t make sense will immediately stand out. AI may produce the insights, but data-literate accountants validate and contextualise them. 2 Get proficient in AI-enabled tools Getting ahead increasingly means knowing how to work with AI tools embedded in accounting software. This includes platforms that automate reconciliations, flag anomalies or generate draft reports. Key competencies include implementing AI features into accounting and audit software such as automated risk detection, using generative AI to assist in first drafts of memos, narratives and management commentary, and crafting overall workflows where AI handles the routine tasks and humans have the final judgment. Competitive edge is not just about knowing one specific tool, you must have a bird’s eye view across the range of them. AI tools change quickly and having the confidence to experiment, learn and integrate new AI capabilities into everyday work will get you far. 3 Develop critical thinking and professional scepticism As AI handles more transactional work, human judgment becomes more valuable, not less. While AI can identify patterns, it cannot understand issues on a deeper level, unpacking things like business intent, ethical nuance or regulatory interpretation. Accountants should understand the limitations of AI models, identifying when outputs may be misleading, and should always apply professional standards to AI-generated analysis. The ability to unpack business intent, ethical nuance or regulatory interpretation remains critical in audit, tax and advisory roles. Regardless of how central a role AI will come to play in workflows, accountability ultimately rests with humans. 4 Translate data into business and strategic insight AI accelerates reporting, which means stakeholders expect more insight and less delay. Today, accountants aren’t paid to just be scorekeepers, they must also be strategic partners. Accountants should be able to translate AI-driven insights into business implications, explain why numbers are changing and connect financial data with operational, market and strategic decisions. AI can now produce dashboards in seconds, so value is shifting to interpretation. The professionals who will rise the fastest are those who can sit at the table with leaders and help them make better business decisions. 5 Learn to communicate and tell stories with data AI can generate charts and summaries, but effective communication still requires human skill. Key stakeholders such as senior leaders, boards, and clients won’t understand the raw numbers; the value for them lies in the stories the data tells. Strong communicators can describe AI insights with clear narratives, tailor messages for non-financially literate audiences and give transparent analysis of action points from the data. This is where accountants can differentiate themselves from purely technical professionals. The ability to ‘tell the story behind the numbers’ with clarity and confidence is a complete career accelerator. 6 Understand governance, ethics and risks As AI becomes embedded in financial processes, issues of governance, bias, transparency and compliance grow more important. Accountants already have a strong ethical foundation that positions them well to lead in AI oversight. Career-advancing skills include understanding AI risks in financial reporting and decision-making, helping design controls around AI-driven processes, and ensuring compliance with regulations, standards and internal policies. Organisations need professionals who can ask the right questions: Should we use AI here? How do we control it? 7 Learn and adapt One of the most important AI skills isn’t technical at all. It’s the willingness to continuously learn. AI tools are always evolving and static skillsets age quickly. Accountants can stay agile through regularly experimenting with new tools and features, staying informed about AI trends affecting finance and viewing AI as an extension of their expertise, not a threat. By switching mindsets from ‘AI will replace parts of my job’ to ‘AI will help expand my impact’, accountants can differentiate themselves as future leaders rather than those who risk getting left behind. Conclusion The routine, manual aspects of almost all white-collar roles are shrinking while elements such as judgment, insight and communication are becoming increasingly essential. By developing these key skills, accountants can move beyond just staying relevant and actively lead the profession toward better ways of working. AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.