From graduate to growth partner: how AI is giving accounting grads a head start

The accounting profession is undergoing one of the most significant shifts in its history. Artificial intelligence is not just automating tasks; it’s transforming career trajectories. For Australia’s newest accounting graduates, this isn’t a threat. It’s an opportunity.

Graduates today are stepping into roles that look nothing like those of their predecessors. While previous generations started in back-office support, today’s early-career professionals are being fast-tracked into strategic, client-facing work, thanks in large part to the rise of intelligent, cloud-based accounting platforms. AI is reducing time spent on manual processes and enabling graduates to deliver insight and value from the outset.

It’s not just the industry that’s evolving. Graduate expectations are too, and AI is helping to meet them.

Graduates want impact – and AI helps deliver it

Gen Z wants flexibility, autonomy, and impact from the start. Many studied through the pandemic and expect workplaces that mirror digital transformation. According to a 2023 study published in the Australian Accounting Review, early-career accountants are motivated by meaning and opportunity, with workplace support seen as critical to career success. The research found that aspiring accountants are increasingly motivated by meaning, opportunity, and alignment with their values – not just job security or pay.

Internationally, this mindset is mirrored. Intuit QuickBooks’ 2025 UK research found that 75 per cent of accounting students plan to start their own accountancy-related business, with 59 per cent saying their training equips them for advisory roles.

AI reduces the learning curve (and elevates the work)

Intuit QuickBooks’ Tech Accounting Survey shows nearly all accountants (98 per cent) used AI in the past year to help clients with data entry and processing (69 per cent), fraud detection and prevention (51 per cent), and real-time insights, topping applications (47 per cent). For graduates, this means less repetitive work and more exposure to dashboards, forecasting, and advisory tasks – accelerating confidence, career progression, and entrepreneurship. With AI lowering some of the traditional barriers to entry, graduates are beginning to see opportunities to establish their own practices or advisory services earlier in their careers – turning what was once a long-term ambition into something that feels increasingly within reach.

Education is catching up – and preparing graduates for real work

According to reporting from The Australian, firms like PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG are widening their graduate recruitment funnels to include candidates with strong AI and data literacy – even if they don’t hold traditional accounting degrees. Employers are looking for adaptable, digital-first thinkers who can work across cloud ecosystems and use automation tools effectively.

Graduates with these skills are finding themselves trusted with bigger responsibilities, earlier – from client contact to strategic reporting – all made possible by AI platforms that support, rather than replace, the human accountant.

Australian Universities are evolving their programs to ensure students graduate with practical exposure to AI tools and workflows. At Swinburne University, the AI for Finance and Accounting unit introduces commerce students to machine learning, prompt engineering, and natural language processing. From 2026, Adelaide University will make AI and data literacy mandatory across all degree programs, including accounting. CA ANZ has launched a Certificate in AI Fluency, aimed at preparing finance professionals for the rise of generative AI.

Tools that empower, not just automate

Accounting platforms themselves are becoming smarter and are playing a key role in how fast new graduates adapt. Intuit QuickBooks Australia recently introduced AI Powered Transaction Categorisation and will soon launch AI-powered onboarding capabilities. These features can automatically interpret uploaded financial statements and financial software, improving bookkeeping accuracy, ultimately saving time. For junior staff, this removes hours of set-up and admin work, letting them focus on delivering insights instead.

Internationally, Intuit is rolling out a suite of AI agents that perform functions ranging from bookkeeping to customer engagement, giving both new accountants and small businesses more time to focus on high-value decision-making.

AI isn’t replacing accountants – it’s removing the barriers that once held graduates back. By automating routine tasks and accelerating access to advisory work, AI is acting as a career catalyst. For today’s graduates, it’s no longer about waiting their turn. With the right tools and training, they’re ready to lead.

Ben Sherer leads the new business sales team across APAC for QuickBooks and Mailchimp.