Where AI can help
AI can classify documents, suggest reconciliations and summarize variances.
Finance · A PICTURE OF THE OCCUPATION
Accountants and Auditors
Prepare, check and interpret financial information. The work combines rules, evidence and communication about the consequences of decisions.
Observed AI exposureNot measured in this editionAnthropic · March 2026 study
Employment projection+5%2025–2035
Education typically neededBachelor’s degreeBLS · 2025
What the work looks like
- 01
Classify and review financial transactions
- 02
Prepare statements, filings or reports
- 03
Check controls and audit evidence
- 04
Investigate differences and explain their effects
- 05
Advise teams on financial rules and decisions
An example of an output
A traceable financial or audit report with documented adjustments and explanations.
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.Work environment
Accounting firms, finance departments and audit teams. Period-end close creates concentrated deadlines and review needs.
O*NET® 31.0 ↗Pay & demand
Mean annual pay$94,750
Median annual pay$83,680
Mean is the arithmetic average; median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. National occupational figures are not starting-salary promises.
10th percentile$56,020
90th percentile$144,090
Percentiles describe the workforce distribution, not junior and senior salary bands. Excludes self-employed workers; see the source for coverage.
BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗People employed in 20251,595,200
Projected openings per year115,300
Includes replacement needs over 2025–2035. These are projections, not open job advertisements.
BLS · 2025–2035 ↗AI & your work
What still needs judgment
Interpreting standards, taking responsibility and checking evidence before sign-off remain essential.
The task discussion is editorial interpretation. Only the exposure percentage is reproduced from the study; we do not assign percentages to individual tasks.
Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗You can also develop within this occupation
Use the exercise below to practice a real task, check AI outputs and identify where you need more depth. A career change is one option, not a requirement.
Use synthetic transactions to build a reconciliation, identify an anomaly and explain what evidence you would request.
What entry usually requires
- Education typically needed
- Bachelor’s degree
- Related experience typically needed
- None specified in BLS classification
- Typical on-the-job training
- None specified in BLS classification
Typical requirements in BLS data, not universal hiring rules. Verify the employer’s requirements and any applicable credential or license.
BLS · 2025 ↗Skills to build on
Evidence disciplinestandardsanalysisfinancial communication
Tools you may encounter
Accounting systems · spreadsheets · audit workpapers · tax databases
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.
Where you could go next
These are researched starting points, not personalized recommendations or promises of lower AI exposure. Check the destination’s requirements and your own circumstances.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$116,800 Mean annual pay
Financial and Investment Analysts ↗
Understanding financial records helps investigate performance before modeling investment decisions.
- What you can carry over
- Numbers, checking and documentation
- What you would need to learn
- Valuation, markets and forward-looking analysis
What to consider
Historical accounting and investment analysis ask different questions and carry different responsibilities.
Explore the work before committing
1
Try a practical task
Use synthetic transactions to build a reconciliation, identify an anomaly and explain what evidence you would request.
2
Read real job requirements
Use the official occupation title below to search current listings. Check duties, location, experience and compensation. External search results have not been verified as active by this directory.
Accountants and AuditorsSearch external job listings ↗3
Check your assumptions with someone doing the work
Ask which tasks take the most time, how AI changed the routine and what evidence of skill helped them enter. Compare their experience with the published data.
My Next Move ↗Sources & data notes
O*NET® 31.0 · 13-2011.00 ↗BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗BLS · 2025–2035 ↗Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗Source & definition ↗
Occupational descriptions adapt the O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. Is my job toast? translated, shortened and supplemented the material. USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed these changes. CC BY 4.0 ↗