Future-ready finance survey
With every end of year AI survey, we’ve always tried to highlight a unique insight it brings. So far, we have covered pre-processing technologies to rationalize data and discussed the barriers to large-scale adoption. Every so often, these surveys mention a lack of skills without going into any detail about which skills are needed to thrive in an AI-driven workplace.
Until now.
This review looks at the results of the recent AICPA and CIMA Future-Ready Finance: Technology, Productivity and Skills survey, which collated 1,446 member responses from finance and accounting professionals in managerial and leadership positions during August and September of this year. It covers a variety of topics but our focus will be on what skills accounting and finance professionals should hone in on in the coming months.
Lets dig in.
As mentioned earlier, the report is based on 1,446 member responses and the first task was to identify which technology trends they believe will affect the profession in the next 12 to 24 months. Unsurprisingly, AI took the top spot at 88%, with data analytics a not-so-close second at 59% and cyber security at 54%. All three make up what the report refers to as the ‘top tier’. The second tier is comprised of machine learning and blockchain, while quantum computing and IoT were next with 17% and 11%, respectively.
Future trends that will affect the profession in the next 12-24 months
It is no surprise AI leads the pack
Having identified AI as the key technology, 50% of survey respondents said, a lack of human capital skills and talent are the most significant barriers to the technology’s adoption.
Barriers to technology adoption
A lack of human capital and skills and talent tops the list.
The most prominent skills gap is in generative AI—being able to use Microsoft Copilot/ ChatGPT/Deep Seek and other tools to improve task performance. Interestingly, communication, influencing and critical thinking are also prominent (more on this to follow).
Barriers to technology adoption
A lack of human capital and skills and talent tops the list.
If we look at the table below, we see that Communication, influencing, thinking and IT/Tech skills are the two areas which have grown in priority since 2021, and Gen AI makes its debut at 56% in 2025—showing that as technology automates more routine tasks, human skills such as professional discretion, persuasion and collaboration become increasingly important. Note also a downward trend in traditional and reactive competences such as financial and regulatory reporting and business planning/budgeting, reflecting increasing automation and a shift away from backward-looking compliance and towards forward-looking advisory roles such as being the ‘human in the loop’ that assesses accuracy of automated reports.
The evolution of skills gap
How have the perceived importance of key skills changed over time?
Loading..........
The Data is Not Available
Overcoming the skills gap
It comes as no surprise that companies have opted for internal and external training programs as their preferred solution to solving this problem, rather than hiring staff as domain expertise and knowledge of legacy systems is key.
How skills gap are addressed
% of total respondents
The same applies for the learning and development approaches, a significant 61% of respondents have pointed to on the job training, while in-person workshops and online courses are at 46% and 45%, respectively.
Effective learning and development approaches
On the job training comes out tops
If you are interested in in-house training for your staff get in touch with us to find out more about our courses.