AI, Advisory and Cloud Tech Reshape Global Accounting Firms in 2025: Wolters Kluwer Report

Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting has released its 2025 Future Ready Accountant report, offering a detailed look at how the global tax and accounting profession is undergoing a deep strategic transformation. Based on insights from over 2,700 professionals worldwide, the report highlights how artificial intelligence, advisory-led services and cloud integration are redefining the future of accounting firms.

According to the report, AI adoption has accelerated sharply across the industry. Global usage jumped from just 9% in 2024 to 41% in 2025, signalling a clear shift from experimentation to everyday operational reliance. Nearly four in five firms plan to increase AI investments, while more than one-third are already using AI tools daily to improve efficiency, accuracy and decision-making.

Jason Marx, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, said the profession is moving beyond short-term fixes toward long-term strategic reinvention. Firms are embedding AI and automation into core workflows, changing how value is delivered to clients and how professionals engage with data, insights and advisory services.

Advisory Becomes the New Standard

The report shows that advisory services are now nearly universal. Around 93% of firms globally offer advisory support, compared to 83% last year. Rather than focusing only on compliance, firms are increasingly helping clients with strategic planning, risk management and financial forecasting.

Technology is playing a key role in scaling these services. AI-driven insights and data analytics are enabling firms to personalise advice and deliver faster, more accurate guidance - especially for small and mid-sized businesses navigating complex financial environments.

Operations Shift Toward Real-Time Financial Management

The study also highlights how daily financial operations are being modernised. Automation and cloud-based platforms are streamlining invoicing, reconciliations and reporting. This transformation is particularly relevant for firms offering bookkeeping services in inida, where clients increasingly expect real-time financial visibility, reduced manual errors and faster access to business insights rather than traditional, paperwork-heavy processes.

Cloud Integration Drives Growth

Cloud adoption continues to be a strong growth driver. More than half of surveyed firms expanded cloud-based solutions in 2025, while those with highly integrated technology systems reported significantly higher revenue growth. The report notes that digital maturity is no longer optional - it has become a foundation for resilience, scalability and long-term competitiveness.

Talent and the Future of Work

As technology reshapes workflows, talent strategies are evolving too. Firms are shifting from reactive hiring to skill enablement, focusing on advanced technical capabilities and digital fluency. Over 30% of firms cited developing advanced technical skills as their top staffing challenge, reflecting the growing demand for professionals who can work alongside AI-driven systems.

A Profession in Strategic Transition

Overall, the 2025 Future Ready Accountant report paints a picture of an industry in transition - one that is redefining its purpose beyond compliance. With AI, advisory-first engagement and cloud integration at the centre of this change, accounting firms are positioning themselves as strategic partners rather than transactional service providers.

The findings suggest that firms willing to invest in technology, upskill talent and rethink client engagement models will be best placed to thrive in an increasingly data-driven and advisory-led global economy.