Accountants and Auditors

How AI is changing accountants and auditors work

10 of 30 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 33% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.

Tasks in this job and recorded AI use

• Develop, put in place, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
• Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
• Prepare, analyze, or verify annual reports, financial statements, and other records, using accepted accounting and statistical procedures to assess financial condition and help with financial planning (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
• Develop, maintain, or analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports that compare budgeted costs to actual costs (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Prepare detailed reports on audit findings (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Review data about material assets, net worth, liabilities, capital stock, surplus, income, or expenditures (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to make sure system reliability and data integrity (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Examine records and interview workers to make sure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations (main task) — some recorded AI use
• Process invoices for payment (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Prepare adjusting journal entries (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Report to management regarding the finances of establishment (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Evaluate taxpayer finances to determine tax liability, using knowledge of interest and discount rates, annuities, valuation of stocks and bonds, and amortization valuation of depletable assets (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Talk with company officials about financial and regulatory matters (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Review taxpayer accounts, and conduct audits on-site, by correspondence, or by summoning taxpayer to office (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Represent clients before taxing authorities and provide support during litigation involving financial issues (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Direct activities of staff engaged in filing, recording, compiling, and transmitting financial records (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Audit payroll and staff records to determine unemployment insurance premiums, workers' compensation coverage, liabilities, and compliance with tax laws (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Examine whether the organization's objectives are reflected in its management activities, and whether employees understand the objectives (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Conduct pre-implementation audits to determine if systems and programs under development will work as planned (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Advise clients in areas such as compensation, employee health care benefits, the design of accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Examine inventory to verify journal and ledger entries (main task) — no recorded AI use
• Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities (main task) — no recorded AI use

Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).

Your first steps (guidance)

1. Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
2. Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Develop, put in place, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems, making use of current computer technology”. Try the prompt for: “Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice”.
3. Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.

Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.

Questions about AI and accountants and auditors

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