Strategic Evolution in the Accounting Sector
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) have officially launched Rise2040: Shaping the Future of Finance and Accounting. This new initiative aims to provide a framework for how the accounting and finance professions will evolve over the coming decades, addressing the rapid integration of advanced technology and shifting market demands.
The program is built upon extensive research and international consultation. Between June 2025 and January 2026, the organizations gathered input from more than 6,000 accounting and finance professionals across over 25 countries. Participants included certified public accountants, chartered global management accountants, chief financial officers, controllers, and educators, who contributed via workshops, expert interviews, and surveys.
Five Forces Shaping the Profession
The resulting report identifies five primary forces expected to influence the trajectory of the finance profession:
- Technology and data infrastructure: The foundational shift in how financial data is processed and utilized.
- Value model transformation: Changing definitions of what constitutes value in a modern business environment.
- Talent and workforce dynamics: Evolving requirements for skills, recruitment, and professional development.
- Regulatory and trust architecture: The changing landscape of compliance and public accountability.
- Market and societal expectations: The pressure on finance leaders to address broader economic and social concerns.
The Role of Technology and Human Leadership
According to the findings, the consensus among industry participants is that technology acts as an extension of the profession rather than a replacement. By automating routine tasks, professionals are expected to pivot toward high-value activities such as scenario planning, strategic decision support, and advisory work.
Mark Koziel, CEO of AICPA and CIMA, noted that the objective of the initiative is to equip the profession to actively participate in its own evolution. “As AI reshapes how work gets done, our value will increasingly be defined by human judgment, trust and the ability to lead in complexity,” Koziel stated.
Tom Hood, executive vice-president of Business Engagement & Growth at AICPA and CIMA, emphasized that the profession is increasingly moving away from purely compliance-driven roles. “Professionals are already moving beyond compliance to become strategic advisers, data translators and trust architects,” Hood said.
The initiative also features an AI-powered platform designed to help firms assess their readiness for these systemic changes. By focusing on human-led adaptation, the organizations aim to prepare practitioners for a landscape where technical proficiency is paired with complex problem-solving and leadership capabilities.
