Accounting and finance teams are investing in AI, machine learning, cloud ERP and stronger data capabilities—but adoption does not automatically mean measurable returns. Recent surveys point to a practical challenge: choose technology around a defined business problem, then build the data, security, skills and controls needed to use it well.
What are the biggest technology trends in accounting and finance?
Recent surveys identify several areas of interest, but their results describe different respondent groups and dates—not a single industry-wide adoption rate or a universal technology roadmap.
| Trend | What the survey evidence says | What it means for a finance team |
|---|---|---|
| AI and automation | Deloitte’s October 2025 release on its Finance Trends 2026 survey says 63% of surveyed finance leaders had fully deployed and actively used AI solutions; 21% reported clear, measurable ROI. Deloitte survey release | Deployment and demonstrated value are different measures. Set a measurable objective before expanding use. |
| AI agents | Deloitte reported that 14% of surveyed leaders had fully integrated AI agents. Deloitte survey release | Agentic AI is at an earlier stage than broad AI use in this survey; assess oversight and risk before delegating work. |
| Cloud ERP, generative AI and machine learning | Gartner’s survey of 383 finance leaders, conducted in October 2024 and released March 19, 2025, identified these as expected future investment areas. Gartner finance technology survey | These are investment intentions, not proof that each technology suits every organization. |
| Data, governance and workforce capability | ACCA and CA ANZ’s July 2026 report draws on a global survey of 1,600 finance professionals and emphasizes data and skills gaps, business-problem definition, ROI and governance. ACCA and CA ANZ report | Technology plans need to include people, information quality and accountability—not just software. |
| Cybersecurity and privacy | Deloitte identifies data privacy as a concern among advanced-stage AI adopters; AICPA identifies cybersecurity risk and data privacy as profession-level concerns. Deloitte survey release · AICPA survey release | Access rules, data handling and review processes should be part of implementation from the start. |
Other survey results should be read separately rather than combined into a trendline. Gartner’s November 2025 release says 59% of surveyed finance leaders reported AI use in their finance function, compared with 58% in Gartner’s 2024 survey. The populations, questions and methods differ from Deloitte’s survey, so these figures do not establish a common adoption rate.
How is AI changing accounting and finance?
AI is becoming a technology finance leaders deploy and plan to invest in, but the evidence also points to a gap between use and clearly measured return. Deloitte’s October 2025 survey release reported 63% fully deploying and actively using AI solutions, while 21% reported clear, measurable ROI. That contrast is a reason to treat AI as an investment to evaluate, not as a benefit in itself.
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For a finance team considering AI, start with a specific decision or workflow that needs improvement. Define what a successful result would look like, how it will be measured, who reviews outputs and what information the system may access. The survey findings support the importance of those choices; they do not establish that any particular AI application will produce a given result.
AI agents require a separate readiness check
Deloitte reported fully integrated AI agents at 14% among surveyed finance leaders, lower than its reported share for fully deployed and actively used AI solutions. Because the survey distinguishes these stages, teams should not assume that general AI use means they are ready to let agents act with limited supervision. Consider decision authority, escalation paths, auditability and the consequences of an incorrect action before expanding autonomy.
Why cloud ERP and connected systems are on the investment agenda
Gartner’s October 2024 survey named cloud ERP among the technologies finance leaders expected to invest in. That finding, alongside Deloitte’s identification of legacy technology as a barrier for early-stage AI adopters, makes system modernization and integration relevant considerations. It does not prove that a cloud migration is the right choice for every team.
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Before replacing or adding a system, assess whether it can connect to existing tools and work with reliable finance data. Include implementation effort, security requirements, ownership after launch and the operational need in the decision. A new platform that cannot use trusted data or fit the team’s processes may add complexity rather than resolve a problem.
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Why data, privacy and governance are part of the technology decision
AI and connected finance systems depend on information that is accurate, appropriately accessible and protected. ACCA and CA ANZ’s 2026 report highlights data gaps and governance, while Deloitte reports privacy concerns among advanced-stage AI adopters. AICPA’s 2026 CPA Firm Top Issues release also identifies cybersecurity risk and data privacy as concerns for the profession.
Translate those concerns into concrete controls before deployment. Determine what information the system handles, who can view or change it, how outputs are checked and who is accountable when an exception occurs. Governance should cover ongoing use as well as initial approval, particularly where staff rely on generated outputs or automated actions.
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How technology is changing finance skills and roles
The shift involves people and work design as much as software. Deloitte’s October 2025 release says 64% of surveyed finance leaders planned to prioritize AI, automation and data-analysis capabilities over traditional skillsets in the coming year. Separately, AICPA & CIMA’s Technology, Productivity, and Skills Survey summary says 46% of finance leaders identified generative AI as the most significant skills gap for their teams for 2025. These are findings from different surveys with different questions, not directly comparable measures.
ACCA and CA ANZ’s July 2026 report likewise emphasizes bridging data and skills gaps, defining business problems and ROI, and establishing governance. For implementation, identify who needs training, which processes will change and who will own review and escalation. A technology rollout without time for those responsibilities can leave the team with tools it cannot use consistently.
How to evaluate a finance technology investment
Use a short decision framework before committing budget or changing a core process. The criteria below reflect reported barriers and recommendations; they are not a vendor ranking.
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- Specify the problem. Identify the finance decision or process to improve and the people affected.
- Define value and measurement. Decide what outcome matters, how a baseline will be set and when results will be reviewed.
- Check data and integration. Confirm that needed information is reliable, accessible to the right users and usable with legacy systems.
- Set security and governance controls. Establish access, privacy, output review, accountability and escalation requirements.
- Assess workforce readiness. Identify training, process changes and ongoing ownership needed to operate the technology.
- Match scope to capacity. Weigh implementation complexity and maintenance against the team’s resources and the importance of the problem.
What the survey evidence can—and cannot—tell you
The figures above are survey findings, not population-wide measurements or promises of return. Gartner’s finance technology investment survey covered 383 finance leaders in October 2024; ACCA and CA ANZ describe a global survey of 1,600 finance professionals in their July 2026 report. Deloitte’s October 2025 release reports findings from its Finance Trends 2026 survey, and its percentages refer to surveyed finance leaders. Each study uses its own sample and questions, so percentages should remain attached to the named source and context.
For accounting firms, AICPA’s 2026 CPA Firm Top Issues release places technology change, AI, and cybersecurity or data privacy among profession-level concerns. A separate AICPA & CIMA survey summary reports 1,446 member responses collected in August–September 2025 for its Technology, Productivity, and Skills Survey; the summary does not state a publication date. These sources add context on skills and change management, but they do not determine which technology a particular firm should buy.
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