Accountants like Dan Luthi, a partner at Ignite Spot Accounting in Utah, have spent long hours organizing fragmented data, chasing client documents and reconciling accounts. Crunching numbers and staying compliant have always defined their work, but artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping that definition and changing the profession’s daily reality.
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Here’s how accountants harness AI to deliver results for business owners
By Satta Sarmah Hightower, for Intuit
The key to unlocking AI’s full potential in accounting?
Human intelligence.
AI is helping accountants serve business owners more effectively, improve client management and collaboration, and deliver timely business insights and higher-value advisory services.
AI is changing the landscape of what we do every single day, from the standpoint of not [only] cutting down the amount of work and detail, but also getting better visualization and better understanding.”
Dan Luthi, a partner at Ignite Spot Accounting
Yet there’s no AI without HI — human intelligence.
The technology works best as a complement, not a replacement, for human judgment and expertise. By blending human and artificial intelligence, accounting firms can deliver more value, streamline operations and thrive in the new AI era.
Accounting firms of all sizes face several challenges. There’s a growing workforce shortage1 and talent gap,2 as fewer graduates are entering the profession and more professionals are set to retire. These gaps often mean accounting teams must do more with less at a time when client expectations for faster service, more personalization and digital access and strategic advisory are growing.
The American Institute of CPAs reports the number of accounting graduates dropped more than 7% in recent years, while more than 75% of firms say finding qualified talent is a top concern.3
Transforming the AI-human relationship
According to the AICPA’s 2025 Trends Report, more than 75% of accounting programs now include AI or data analytics and automation in their curriculum — evidence that firms and universities alike are preparing for a tech-driven future.4
75%
ACCOUNTING PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE AI OR DATA ANALYTICS
Simon Williams, vice president and leader of the accountant segment at Intuit, said accounting firms are interested in using AI to address these needs, but struggle to integrate it effectively. They often juggle multiple tools and disconnected systems that prevent them from fully benefiting from AI innovation.
To close that gap, Intuit created Intuit Intelligence, a new system of intelligence that helps accounting teams work smarter. The company also has unveiled embedded AI agents that automatically and accurately execute a range of end-to-end workflows for accountants.
“It's AI plus human intelligence (HI), coming together with your data to create a system of intelligence," Williams said.
Simon Williams, vice president and leader of the accountant segment at Intuit
There's significant interest in the capabilities and the ability to remove some of the drudgery and some of those manual tasks that AI is so well equipped to deal with,” Williams explained. “But there's a concern about how you control that and how you deploy it in a meaningful way.”
Simon Williams, vice president and leader of the accountant segment at Intuit
It's AI plus HI, or human intelligence, coming together with your data to create a system of intelligence.”
At its annual Intuit Connect conference in Las Vegas, Intuit introduced the Intuit Accountant Suite, an all-in-one, AI-native platform built on its system of intelligence. The event brought together more than 2,400 accounting leaders eager to see how data, AI and human expertise combine to shape the industry’s future.
A new era unveiled at Intuit Connect
Intuit Accountant Suite
client management collaboration service delivery business planning / team management training and certification
Intuit Accountant Suite lets firms manage clients, practices and teams in one place. It supports five core areas of firm operations — client management, collaboration, service delivery, business planning and team management — and integrates training and certification to help build a future-ready workforce.
Michael Hitchcock, vice president of product management, Intuit, said the suite gives firms the ability to consolidate data across different QuickBooks Online Accounting realms to break data silos, surface insights across their client base and free up more time to advise clients.
“With all of that data consolidated — all their client data, all their team data, all their firm data — it's just exciting to think about how this comes to life for a firm,” Hitchcock said. “They’re able to start talking to their data. That's going to unleash greater firm efficiencies and enable the delivery of better services for clients. Because that's why they're in this, to help their clients succeed.”
Michael Hitchcock, vice president of product management for Intuit QuickBooks Accounting
They’re able to start talking to their data. That's going to unleash greater firm efficiencies and enable the delivery of better services for clients.”
Within the platform, accountants can access key features, such as a client-insights module that tracks dozens of key performance indicators (KPIs), a batch-processing books-close module to speed month-end tasks, and performance dashboards that monitor their entire client portfolio. Anomaly detection can alert accountants to potential issues before they become problematic, and a conversational AI interface lets users ask questions about their data, client accounts, and firm performance. Robust security bolsters these capabilities, with role-based access controls and multi-entity management that enables firms to securely manage multiple client accounts.
According to CPA.com’s 2025 AI in Accounting Report:
Firms that have embraced AI report up to 70% reduction in time spent on manual tasks, 5× faster review cycles for tax/prep and audits, and a 2–3× increase in client capacity without additional headcount.5
70
reduction in time spent on manual tasks
%
faster review cycles for tax/prep and audits
x
5
increase in client capacity without additional headcount
x
2-3
Intuit Intelligence, Intuit Accountant Suite, and Intuit’s embedded AI agents are designed to help accounting teams enhance performance and client service.
Luthi said his firm now uses AI agents to surface insights, gather metrics and streamline reviews.
“It's going to help pinpoint things that people don't often see,” he said.
AI also is encouraging Ignite Spot’s clients to ask more insightful questions. Before, clients would ask Luthi’s team more “how to” questions about navigating certain processes. Now, they ask more analytical questions.
From compliance manager to strategic advisor
“Now, it's, ‘I have this information. It's verified this, it's confirmed, but it's telling me something looks wrong. How do we now decide what's going on?’” Luthi explained.
Jordan Fladell, managing director of technology advisory services at Aprio, a leading business advisory and accounting firm that works with clients in more than 50 countries, says Aprio’s customers are using Intuit’s AI agents to retire manual collection processes and collect late payments faster. Over the next year, Aprio plans to use Intuit’s AI tools to optimize tax preparation and automate data gathering and analysis.
“Tax team members can spend less time doing data entry and spend more time getting your taxes reviewed and giving you advice. We think that's transformational,” said Fladell. “The ability to become proactive advisors and deliver value faster versus being reactive is the massive opportunity that's sitting in front of the CPA profession."
Jordan Fladell, managing director of technology advisory services at Aprio
The ability to become proactive advisors and deliver value faster versus being reactive is the massive opportunity that's sitting in front of the CPA profession."
A 2025 Deloitte survey supports that view: Accounting leaders say AI and automation will increase advisory opportunities and free teams for higher-value work.6
AI gives accountants the tools to work faster and smarter, but it doesn’t replace human insight. Accountants still interpret results, guide clients and apply ethical judgment.
“Don't forget the power of the human being in this artificial intelligence,” Fladell said. “Human beings need to be your anchor. They are the driving force for this change. So, get your human beings excited about AI, because that's what's going to drive the end outcome." The future of accounting will rely on technology that amplifies people, not replaces them. When AI and human intelligence work together, firms can focus less on manual tasks and more on strategy, relationships and growth.
Human intelligence at the core
Ready to see how AI + HI can transform your firm? Discover the Intuit Accountant Suite today.
Learn more
https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/research/the-accounting-talent-shortage
https://www.aicpa-cima.com/professional-insights/download/2023-trends-report
https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/pool-of-accounting-graduates-continues-to-shrink-in-u-s-aicpa-report-finds; https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-grad-numbers-continue-to-decline-despite-hiring-push; https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2025/oct/the-accounting-graduate-pipeline-where-do-things-stand/
https://www.aicpa-cima.com/professional-insights/download/2023-trends-report
https://www.cpa.com/sites/cpa/files/2025-06/CPAcom-2025-AI-in-Accounting-Report.pdf
https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/programs/center-for-controllership/blogs/future-of-accounting-profession.html?; https://www.internationalaccountingbulletin.com/news/deloitte-ima-survey-accounting/?cf-view; https://www.cpa.com/sites/cpa/files/2025-06/CPAcom-2025-AI-in-Accounting-Report.pdf
This story is paid for by an advertiser. Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.
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