Tech - The Future Of Finance & Accountancy?

Key Tech Skills Driving Demand in Finance

The following technical skills are becoming essential for finance professionals looking to excel in today’s market:

1. Data Analytics and Visualisation

The ability to analyse and interpret data is at the core of modern finance roles. Professionals are now expected to use advanced data analytics tools to make informed decisions and predict future trends.

Tools: Proficiency in tools like Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, and Excel’s advanced features is essential for finance professionals to present data in an easily digestible format.
Skills: Data interpretation, trend analysis, and reporting are key skills that help finance professionals derive meaningful insights from large datasets, empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions.

2. Cloud-Based Finance Solutions

The shift towards cloud computing has revolutionised how businesses manage financial data. Cloud-based platforms such as Oracle NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA, and QuickBooks Online are becoming the standard, allowing businesses to manage finances remotely and securely.

Skills: Professionals must be able to navigate these platforms, implement integrations, and ensure that financial data is securely stored and accessible across various devices and locations.

3. Programming and Automation

The rise of robotic process automation (RPA) in finance means that professionals who can code and automate repetitive tasks are in high demand.

Skills: Programming languages like Python, SQL, and R are increasingly used in finance to automate financial reporting, tax calculations, and auditing tasks. Those who can develop automation scripts or tools will be highly valued, as they help businesses increase efficiency and reduce manual errors.

4. Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies

Blockchain technology is transforming how financial transactions are processed and recorded. Finance professionals with a working knowledge of blockchain systems and cryptocurrencies are well-positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in sectors like investment, auditing, and payments.

Skills: Understanding blockchain protocols, digital wallets, and cryptocurrency exchanges is becoming an important part of financial education, particularly for professionals working in investment banking, asset management, and financial advisory roles.

5. Cybersecurity Awareness

With the increasing reliance on digital platforms comes the heightened risk of cyber threats. As financial data is often a prime target for cybercriminals, finance professionals need to be aware of the latest cybersecurity best practices to protect sensitive information.

Skills: Familiarity with data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regulatory requirements such as GDPR is crucial for those working with financial data.

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The Uncomfortable Truth About AI in Finance That No One Wants to Admit

By Eliot Acton • January 28, 2026

There is a lot of confidence right now in finance. AI will fix reporting. AI will speed up forecasting. AI will improve insight. AI will free finance teams up to be more strategic. Some of that will be true. But there is an uncomfortable truth that rarely gets discussed. Most finance teams are not ready for AI. And AI is not the reason why. The illusion many finance leaders are buying into AI has become a convenient shortcut. A way to believe that technology will solve problems that are actually rooted in people, structure and decision making. If the tools are smart enough, the thinking will improve. If the dashboards are better, decisions will follow. If the output is faster, the function will become more strategic. That logic sounds attractive. It is also flawed. AI does not fix weak judgement. It does not fix unclear ownership. It does not fix poor challenge. It does not fix a finance team that lacks confidence or commercial understanding. It simply accelerates whatever already exists. Why AI exposes finance weaknesses rather than solving them In many organisations, finance already produces more information than the business can properly use. More reports have not led to better decisions. More data has not led to clearer strategy. More analysis has not led to better outcomes. AI increases volume, speed and sophistication. But it does not tell you: Which numbers actually matter What trade offs to make When to challenge a decision When to say no Those are human responsibilities. If a finance team struggles to influence decisions today, AI will not suddenly give it a stronger voice tomorrow. The real risk leaders are ignoring The real risk is not that AI replaces finance professionals. The real risk is that it exposes which finance roles never moved beyond production in the first place. As automation removes transactional work, the remaining roles become more exposed. They require: Judgement Commercial awareness Confidence Influence Accountability for decisions Some people step into that space naturally. Others retreat from it. AI does not create that divide. It reveals it. Where most organisations are getting this wrong Many businesses are investing heavily in tools while changing very little about: How finance roles are defined What finance people are hired for How performance is measured Where decision ownership sits So finance teams are asked to be more strategic without being hired, structured or rewarded to do so. That is not transformation. It is expectation inflation. Why hiring matters more than technology right now Two organisations can implement the same AI tools. One gets better decisions. The other gets faster confusion. The difference is not software. It is capability. The businesses seeing real value from AI are: Hiring people who can interpret and challenge outputs Building finance roles around decisions, not reports Developing commercial confidence, not just technical depth Being honest about who can step up and who cannot They understand that AI raises the bar. It does not lower it. The conversation finance leaders need to have The most important AI question for finance is not: What tools should we buy? It is: Do we have the people who can actually use this well? Because AI does not replace weak finance functions. It makes their weaknesses impossible to hide. And for leaders willing to face that honestly, that is not a threat. It is an opportunity.