Finance

Choosing practical AI tools for accounting firms

AI can be adopted in accounting firms by focusing on specific tools that deliver practical value in real workflows, helping firm owners avoid generic advice and start with the highest-impact options.

Why the human is still essential here

Accountants still need to judge which tools fit their firm, clients, compliance obligations, and day-to-day workflows. Human experience is essential to decide what is genuinely useful in practice.

How people use this

Client email drafts

AI drafts client follow-up emails, deadline reminders, and information requests so accountants can respond faster while still reviewing tone and accuracy before sending.

ChatGPT / Microsoft Copilot

Tax research Q&A

AI helps accountants ask tax questions in plain language and get a first-pass answer with sources that can speed up research before professional verification.

Thomson Reuters CoCounsel Tax / Blue J

Meeting notes and action items

AI records client or internal meetings and turns them into searchable notes, summaries, and task lists for the engagement team.

Otter.ai / Fireflies.ai

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Opinion
LinkedIn

Most AI advice for accountants is rubbish.

I’m going to say something that might annoy a few people.

Most AI advice for accountants is rubbish.


Not all of it. But most of it.


Here’s why.


It’s either too generic... “AI will transform your firm!” Great. How? Which tools? What do I do on Monday morning?


Or it’s too technical... written by people who’ve never sat across from a client, never managed a team of accountants, never dealt with the reality of running a firm.


Or it’s just hype... designed to sell you a course, a software subscription, or a conference ticket. All sizzle, no substance.


What’s missing is practical, specific, honest guidance from someone who actually works with accountants.


That’s what I’ve tried to provide.


I wrote a free guide covering the 5 AI tools I’ve found genuinely useful in practice. Not in theory. In practice.


It’s 32 pages. It tells you what each tool does, how I use it, where it falls short... and what to focus on first so you don’t waste time on the wrong things.


No hype. No jargon. No “AI will revolutionise everything” waffle.


Just the tools that work... and how to get started.


I’ll put the link in the first comment.


Am I being too harsh here? Or does this match your experience? I’d love to hear whether you’ve found genuinely useful AI advice... or mostly noise. 👇


#AI #Accountants #AIforAccountants #PracticalAI

MW
Mark WickershamChartered Accountant, Public Speaker
Jul 14, 2026