Accounting Technology Trends That Increase IT Support Complexity (Not Efficiency)

Accounting firms are adopting new technology faster than ever.

Cloud platforms

Automation tools

AI-driven insights

Specialized apps

Every innovation promises efficiency, scalability, and competitive advantage. But from our vantage point as a managed IT consulting company supporting accounting firms every day, there’s a less-talked-about reality: many of these trends increase IT support complexity far more than they improve operational efficiency.

Technology itself isn’t the problem. The way it’s implemented, integrated, and maintained often is. Below, we break down the accounting technology trends that sound efficient on paper but frequently create hidden IT challenges behind the scenes.

Cloud Sprawl Across Accounting Applications

Moving to the cloud was supposed to simplify IT. Instead, many accounting firms now operate in a maze of cloud platforms: one system for bookkeeping, another for payroll, another for document management, and yet another for practice management.

Each cloud application has its own:

• Login and identity requirements
• Security configurations
• Update cycles
• Support channels

From an IT support standpoint, troubleshooting becomes exponentially harder when data flows across loosely connected systems owned by different vendors. A “simple” issue — such as missing client data or a failed sync — can require coordination across multiple providers, slowing resolution and increasing downtime.

Automation Tools That Still Require Manual Intervention

Automation is one of the biggest selling points in modern accounting technology. However, many automation tools still depend heavily on human oversight to function correctly.

We frequently see:

• Bots that break when a vendor changes a form layout
• Automated workflows that fail silently without alerts
• Rules-based systems that don’t handle edge cases

Instead of reducing IT involvement, these tools often shift IT work from maintenance to constant monitoring and exception handling. When automation fails, it usually fails during critical deadlines like tax season, payroll runs, or audits, when support resources are already stretched thin.

Rapid Adoption of AI Without Governance

AI-powered accounting tools are gaining traction quickly, from invoice classification to financial forecasting. But many firms adopt them without clear governance, security reviews, or data management strategies.

From an IT perspective, this introduces serious complexity:

• Unclear data ownership and retention policies
• Potential exposure of sensitive financial data
• Limited transparency into how AI models process information

When something goes wrong (i.e., incorrect outputs, compliance concerns, or client questions), IT teams are left trying to support systems they didn’t architect and can’t fully control.

Legacy Systems That Refuse to Retire

Despite adopting new technology, many accounting firms still rely on legacy software for specific functions. These older systems often lack modern APIs, security standards, or compatibility with newer platforms.

The result is a fragile hybrid environment where:

• Workarounds replace integrations
• Security risks increase
• Support time skyrockets

Maintaining legacy systems alongside modern tools forces IT teams to support multiple generations of technology at once, increasing both risk and operational overhead.

Security Tools Layered Without Integration

As cyber threats increase, accounting firms are adding more security tools. Think:

• Endpoint protection
• Email filtering
• MFA
• Backup solutions
• Compliance monitoring.

While each tool serves a purpose, layering them without proper integration can overwhelm users and IT support alike.

Common issues include:

• Conflicting security policies
• Multiple dashboards with no centralized visibility
• Increased false positives that interrupt workflows

Instead of improving security posture efficiently, these disjointed tools often generate more support tickets and user frustration.

Efficiency Requires Strategy, Not Just Software

From our experience as a managed IT consulting company, the biggest challenge isn’t that accounting firms are adopting new technology; it’s that they’re doing so without a cohesive IT strategy. Technology trends marketed as “efficient” can quickly become support-heavy, fragile, and costly if they’re not aligned with infrastructure, security, and long-term operational goals.

True efficiency comes from thoughtful integration, governance, and ongoing management. Adding the latest tool to the stack without a plan and a purpose can have grave consequences for your business. For accounting firms looking to scale without increasing IT complexity, the conversation shouldn’t start with what technology to buy, but how it will be supported, secured, and sustained over time.

This is where we, at PK Tech, come in. As a managed IT service provider, PK Tech is proud to offer 15 years of experience with a focus on accounting firms. We boast AICPAs SOC 2 Type II attestation, proving via third-party audit by an independent CPA firm that we passed a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of our security and privacy controls. Schedule a time to talk with our team here.