There is a recurring theme in conversations across the accounting profession at the moment – the suggestion that AI is going to replace accountants and finance professionals. It is a view I encounter regularly from candidates and clients alike. From where we sit in the market, the reality looks quite different.

Demand for finance talent in Ireland has rarely been stronger

Whether it is Big Four practice, industry roles in the multinational sector, or senior appointments within SMEs, the brief from clients remains consistent: they need more good people, not fewer. AI is shaping how finance work gets done, but it is not diminishing the requirement for the people who do it.

Accountancy is, at its core, a profession of judgement and accountability. Boards, audit committees, the Revenue Commissioners and regulatory bodies require a named, qualified individual to stand behind the numbers. The profession is built around human accountability and that is unlikely to change in any meaningful way.

This is not the first time technology has changed the finance function

The accounting and finance profession has navigated variations of technological change for decades. Computerised ledgers, ERP systems, cloud platforms, robotic process automation, each iteration was said to render parts of the role obsolete. AI is a continuation of that story, offering genuine enhancements and efficiencies.

Transactional finance work can and will be automated, and we should embrace that. But the parts of the finance function that matter most to business leaders remain deeply human:

  • Commercial partnering and strategic planning
  • Mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance
  • Treasury and risk management
  • Business partnering at senior leadership level

The conversations with CEOs about whether to proceed with an acquisition, or with clients about restructuring their affairs, remain human exercises. That will not change.

What this means for finance hiring in 2026

Salaries for qualified finance professionals continue to rise. Companies are investing in AI capability and, importantly, hiring finance talent to lead those initiatives. The candidates who are in the strongest position right now are those who combine solid technical foundations with commercial acumen and a genuine willingness to engage with new tools.

For CFOs and Finance Directors building their teams, the question is shifting. It is no longer simply about finding a qualified accountant. It is about finding someone who can operate effectively in a finance function that uses AI well, someone who understands what the technology can do, knows where its limitations are and brings the human judgement that sits above it.

What to look for when hiring finance professionals in an AI-driven environment

In practice, this means prioritising candidates who demonstrate:

  • Strong technical foundations such as the accounting and finance knowledge that gives AI outputs their meaning and context
  • Commercial acumen – the ability to translate numbers into business decisions
  • Adaptability – a track record of learning and evolving with new tools and systems
  • Communication and interpersonal skills – the human qualities that AI cannot replicate

These are not new qualities. But they are more important than ever, and they are worth being explicit about when you are briefing a role.

A note to finance professionals

If you are uncertain about what AI means for your career, the advice is straightforward: do not view it as a threat to your role. View it as a tool that can make you better at it. Engage with the technology, understand its capabilities and its limitations, and continue to invest in the commercial and interpersonal parts of your work that no algorithm can replicate.

If you’re thinking about what your finance team needs to look like in the next two to three years, we’re having that conversation with CFOs and FDs across Ireland right now.

We’d be glad to include you in it. Get in touch with the A+F team at afrecruitment.ie or contact us directly to arrange a conversation.