Updated February 2023

You may have heard that thanks to artificial intelligence, bookkeepers and accounting technicians are being automated out of existence.

The World Economic Forum identified accounting, payroll and bookkeeping clerks as the second most at-risk jobs in Canada, set to become increasingly redundant by 2025.

But that's based on the notion that bookkeepers are little more than data entry clerks. For those who are eager to take on more analytical and advisory responsibilities, the move to automation can actually be a good thing.

"The current automation of accounting is mostly on repetitive tasks,” says Cindy Cao. She’s a curriculum designer who has developed college courses for accounting and payroll as well as business administration programs.

“This can be a positive change for students who want to pursue a career in accounting. They can focus more energy on analyzing the accounting information rather than being trapped in repetition."

The bottom line? Accounting professionals are still in demand, but the way they do their jobs is changing.

Here’s how.