28 January 2026
AI is reshaping how businesses operate, and it’s not slowing down. For small to medium-sized businesses, the question isn’t if you’ll use AI, but how you’ll do it safely and effectively, and accounting is no different.
“We’re looking at this new change with excitement,” says AR & B Advisors Director, Mark Giglia. “The introduction of AI and AI-powered tools is helping to improve the value we can deliver for our clients - and also what they can achieve themselves.”
Accounting has always led the way
The accounting industry has a history of embracing technology early. And while the rise of AI feels relatively recent, digitisation and automation have been driving process improvements across the board for some time.
“The first exposure to this type of technology was around 2015,” Mark recalls. “It was simple, but superannuation software began offering capabilities to auto-recognise transactions and remunerations, rather than doing it manually.”
AI is the next evolution and it’s even more powerful. Beyond automation, it’s about smarter workflows that free up time for strategy and growth.
AI can deliver big gains - but security comes first
AI can transform efficiency, but caution is essential. Uploading sensitive financial data into large platforms like ChatGPT or Copilot poses a risk most businesses can’t afford. With security front of mind, accounting firms are taking a savvy approach by integrating AI within trusted accounting systems to gain speed without sacrificing privacy.
Rather than wholesale platform adoption, accounting firms are stepping slowly to ensure the privacy of their clients’ sensitive information. “In all the fervour of how AI can change the game, people still need to be sensible with their security,” Mark says. “Providing proper counselling on how to use these tools safely now plays a big part in what forward thinking accounting firms do.”
The benefits of AI are clear but human interpretation is critical
AI-enabled tools allow businesses to increase efficiencies of low-value work. Automating repetitive tasks like data collection, speeding up reconciliation and reporting, and reducing admin costs all free up your time to focus on decisions that drive your business forward.
“Where we don’t believe AI will take over is on the strategic end,” Mark notes. “This requires deep experience and understanding of a client’s business, and the market. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and it is very human-driven. AI can’t replicate that understanding.”
Where AI is making an impact
Keeping in line with the cautious approach, respected accounting platforms are forging ahead with embedding AI into their workflows.
Platforms like Xero now embed AI to automate reconciliation and create real-time dashboards. Tools like FYI and FuseDocs make document sharing and signing seamless.
These integrations save hours without compromising security. And beyond accounting platforms, firms are using AI for document storage, email data gathering, and even voice-to-text for faster note-taking. Every minute saved is money back in your business.
AI is also changing how clients can interact with their financial advisors. Cloud accounting tools like FYI enable accountants to open a digital portal directly between the firm and their client, connecting them with the firm’s data storage to allow faster and more secure transfer of documents and data.
Harnessing AI capabilities is a step in the right direction
Ultimately, the integration of AI tools will improve the efficiency and security of accounting practices. For accounting firms, it gives them more time with their clients to plan strategy and growth.
But AI still needs human interpretation to deliver its full potential.
AR & B Advisors is here to help you make sense of and adopt AI tools into your workflows, and do so safely and effectively. Get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you leverage AI for your business’ efficiency.