UK accountancy firms are making a major capital commitment, with nearly half planning to invest up to £100,000 in AI over the next 12 months. New research reveals this spending is a reaction to client adoption and is driving a seismic shift where AI skills now outweigh traditional technical expertise for career progression.
UK accountancy firms are set to pour significant capital into Artificial Intelligence, with nearly half (48%) planning to invest between £50,000 and £100,000 in AI over the next 12 months. This major financial commitment signals a defining moment for the profession, one being driven as much by internal ambition as by the evolving expectations of their clients.
The striking data, revealed in Ravical’s Accounting in the Age of AI 2025 report, doesn’t just confirm that AI is here; it suggests the UK accounting sector is becoming the test case for how white-collar expertise adapts to a rapidly automating economy.
The report highlights a profession in rapid transition, fundamentally redefining what constitutes ‘expertise’ in an AI-driven environment. The data on skills is perhaps the most compelling evidence of this shift:
This isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about changing the very job description. Ravical CEO Joris Van Der Gucht commented on the findings, urging firms to take the lead: “AI won’t wait, and neither can the profession… The firms that lead now will define what expertise and trust mean in the age of AI.”
The investment is less a proactive IT overhaul and more a necessity to keep pace with clients who are already integrating AI into their operations.
The report details that 64% of clients now turn to tools like ChatGPT before their accountant for general financial questions, and over half (54%) of firms have had to review or correct ChatGPT-generated advice brought to them by clients.
The data suggests that the future accountant is part technologist and part strategist, acting as the human layer of judgement, context, and empathy atop the speed and precision of AI.
While the financial commitment and strategic intent are clear, the report surfaces a critical challenge: culture. Despite 96% of firms claiming they feel prepared for the shift, one in five (21%) cite internal resistance to change as a major barrier to progress and upskilling.
This internal pushback, combined with the pressure of routine administrative tasks—which still take up more resource than advisory work, as detailed in the full report—creates a tension that firms must actively manage. As Mr. Van Der Gucht notes, “The future of the profession lies in AI-powered collaboration between advisors and their clients.”
The firms making these six-figure investments are not just buying software; they are betting on a complete overhaul of their operating model to secure their advisory role in the post-knowledge economy. The full Ravical report delves deeper into the specific AI applications, the changing time allocation of accountants, and the path forward for firms looking to move from trialling to full-scale AI integration.
For a full breakdown of the skills accountants believe will grow in importance, the biggest barriers to upskilling, and a comprehensive look at how the ‘reactive financial advisor’ is transforming into the ‘modern business advisor,’ you can access the complete Accounting in the Age of AI 2025 report.
