How Are CPA Firms Using AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world as we know it, and the realm of accounting is no exception.

CPA firms, no matter how big or small, face high-stakes deadlines and a busy season that significantly strains their workforce. AI is emerging as an answer to an overworked industry, increasing efficiency and accuracy for the work of accountants.

Let’s explore five ways CPA firms can use AI to enhance their operations. 

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence, or AI, enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. Applications for AI are growing every day, as many types of businesses – CPA firms included – lean on AI to ease the strain on their workforce and streamline operations.

With the convenience and capability that AI brings, firms are wise to continue to strike a healthy balance between AI and human oversight. 

5 Ways CPA Firms Are Using AI 

As businesses and individuals entrust CPA firms with some of their most valuable personal information, it’s natural to feel concerned that AI may replace human work. Smaller accounting firms, specifically, are leaning more on AI as they lack the infrastructure and resources of larger firms. 

Many firms now rely on AI not as a human replacement,but as a human enhancement. Drawing on the power of AI, firms can use algorithms and software to ensure greater accuracy, pull from larger data pools, and ultimately serve more customers with a greater level of service. 

Here are the top five ways CPA firms are capitalizing on the skills of AI to increase productivity and accuracy:

1. Research: Tax codes and laws are constantly changing.  Firms are tapping into AI-powered tax search tools to build algorithms that return data from human-edited, tax-specific content. This increases research output and accuracy.
2. Returns preparation: AI allows firms to automate the extraction and analysis of data from various documents to reduce time and human hours in preparing tax returns. AI can identify deductions and credits and check for compliance and tax liabilities. 
3. Accounting and bookkeeping: When it comes to the often tedious nature of accounting and bookkeeping, AI is a Hail Mary for time savings and productivity. AI-powered software allows firms to automatically reconcile accounts, categorize expenses, and generate financial reports. 
4. Review documents: All CPA firms have a lot of documents cross their desks, with many containing sensitive financial information. Firms can save time by using AI to categorize critical information needed from documents like receipts, invoices, and contracts. 
5. Tax insights and planning: Firms can offer clients value-add services with AI tools that generate predictive insights for future tax implications based on a particular set of financial decisions. 

AI is An Opportunity for CPA Firms

No matter your industry, and no matter whether you are a customer or a business – AI is likely impacting you one way or another.

For CPA firms, AI is paving a new path of productivity and accuracy. Like all technological advancements, AI should be used with thought and care. Used with ethical intentions, AI provides the support many firms need to increase tax return output and support their client base. 

PK Tech was founded with a deep history of supporting CPA firms to maintain client compliance and security. If this blog has inspired you to make a cybersecurity update, we would love to support you. At PK Tech, we work with small to medium-sized businesses – and specifically several CPA firms – in the Greater Phoenix Area to provide IT security assessments, ongoing support, and help on special consulting projects.

If you are curious how your firm could be using AI to improve your operations, schedule a time to chat with our team.
If you are curious about your firm’s current state of compliance, you can evaluate your FTC Safeguards Rule readiness by taking our quiz.