The traditional image of the accountant is being dismantled. From mastering real-time data analytics at RSM to championing resilience and diversity at Grant Thornton, Graham Weston and Zeenat Patel represent a new breed of "hybrid" leaders. Discover how they are navigating the shift from manual processing to strategic, tech-led advisory.
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As we move through 2026, the UK accountancy profession is hitting a critical inflection point. With Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax becoming mandatory this April and mid-market firms increasingly pivoting toward strategic advisory, the definition of a “successful accountant” has shifted.
This year’s 35 Under 35 cohort exemplifies this transition. In this follow-up, we look at the careers of Graham Weston and Zeenat Patel through the lens of a profession moving from manual execution to technology-enabled expertise.
In the high-stakes world of UK Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), the “gut feeling” is being replaced by granular, real-time data. Graham Weston, leading Transaction Data Analytics at RSM, is at the forefront of this shift. For Weston, the profession’s future isn’t just about using tools it’s about a “hybrid” identity where digital literacy is as fundamental as the double-entry system.
His experience as a finalist in the 2022 Alteryx Grand Prix serves as a case study for the modern Partner. In an era where 68% of mid-market firms now recognize automation as the key to UK productivity, Weston argues that “getting your digital core in order” is the prerequisite for any high-value advisory. At RSM, he doesn’t just deliver reports; he builds analytics engines that allow clients to stress-test scenarios and model outcomes with precision.
Despite the heavy tech focus, Weston’s primary leadership tool remains distinctly human: Perspective-taking. In a deal environment defined by tighter due diligence and risk-averse buyers, he maintains that understanding a stakeholder’s underlying concerns is the only way to reach a positive outcome. His approach suggests that while AI handles the “heavy lifting” of data categorisation, the accountant’s role has evolved into that of a Data Translator the bridge between complex outputs and practical business applications.
While Weston focuses on the digital front end, Zeenat Patel is redefining the backbone of the profession: Audit. At a time when firms like Grant Thornton are committing hundreds of millions to digital transformation, Patel’s career highlights a vital truth technology is only as effective as the resilience of the people behind it.
Patel’s ascent to Director is a story of “human-first” leadership. Having overcome early career setbacks, she has become a vocal advocate for the idea that Audit is a “backstage pass” to the business world. She views the current wave of automation not as a threat to job security, but as a “liberator” that removes the admin-heavy compliance tasks like manual reconciliations that historically consumed a trainee’s time.
For Patel, the 2026 auditor is an Investigator and Trusted Adviser. By leveraging AI for anomaly detection, her team can spend more time “under the skin” of how a business actually operates. This shift toward relationship-driven work is central to her role on the firm’s inclusion and diversity board. She maintains that an inclusive culture is a strategic necessity for talent retention; by mentoring trainees through their own exam challenges, she is building a resilient workforce capable of navigating the constant regulatory shifts of the mid-2020s.
The journeys of Weston and Patel offer a roadmap for the modern practitioner. To stay competitive in today’s market, consider these five pillars:
Prioritise the “Digital Core”: AI cannot fix a broken process. Ensure your data systems are aligned and integrated before layering on automation.
Pivot to “Advisory-First”: With routine tasks being automated, the “Rise of the Strategic Advisor” is here. Use your time to provide proactive, data-driven forecasting rather than just historic compliance.
Cultivate “Agentic AI” Literacy: Move beyond using AI for emails. Focus on systems that can identify fraud, predict cash flow, and handle complex admin workflows autonomously.
Invest in Relationship Capital: Technology increases your capacity for human interaction. The next generation of leaders will be defined by their ability to build trust and navigate stakeholder politics.
Embrace Career Resilience: Professional “non-linear” paths including exam failures or lateral moves often build the emotional intelligence and grit required for high-level leadership.
