NAIROBI, Kenya — The accounting profession is at a crossroads, and experts say there are only two choices: embrace artificial intelligence (AI) or risk becoming obsolete.
As AI-driven automation rapidly reshapes industries, accountants worldwide are being urged to integrate new technologies—or watch their jobs disappear.
The urgency of this transformation was underscored at the 2025 Africa Accountants Meeting in Nairobi, where professionals from across the globe gathered to discuss AI’s impact on the financial sector.
AI’s Disruption: Inevitable and Accelerating
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has been sounding the alarm for years.
In its latest Future of Jobs Report, WEF predicts that machine learning, big data, and automation will drastically reduce the share of tasks handled by humans—from 44pc today to just 28pc by 2030.
And if you thought AI’s rise was slowing down, think again. Just weeks ago, DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, made global headlines for launching a cost-effective AI model that outperformed its American competitors.
The pace of innovation is relentless, and accounting is squarely in its path.
“We cannot wish away AI,” said Juan Carlos Lara, Chief Digital Officer at Crowe Global, one of the world’s largest accounting networks.
“It is here with us, and newer, more advanced versions will continue entering the corporate world. Accountants must learn to leverage these tools—ethically and within the law,” he added.
Job Loss or Job Evolution?
AI isn’t just about disruption; it’s also creating opportunities. The WEF report estimates that while 9 million jobs will be displaced by automation, 11 million new roles will emerge—but only for those willing to adapt.
At the Nairobi conference, Erastus Omollo, Managing Partner at Crowe Kenya stated, “Those who refuse to learn how to use AI will be the ones who get replaced.”
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) echoed this sentiment in a recent report, emphasizing that accountants must view AI as an opportunity, not a threat.
“With automated accounting software on the rise, redundancy fears are real. However, businesses that integrate AI early will stay ahead of the curve,” ICPAK noted.
It’s not just AI that’s reshaping accounting—Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting is also becoming a game-changer.
Firms are under growing pressure to develop effective ESG strategies that track progress, report outcomes, and maintain accountability.
“Businesses need to implement the right tools to enhance ESG compliance,” said Filipa Correia, Regional Director for Crowe Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
With Kenya’s corporate sector increasingly adopting sustainability-driven reporting, integrating AI into ESG tracking could be the next big shift in financial management.
AI in accounting isn’t a distant future—it’s here now. Accountants who learn to use AI effectively will thrive, while those who resist risk being left behind.
With automation, machine learning, and AI-driven analytics advancing rapidly, the accounting industry must decide: evolve or become extinct.
