Expert insights from Accounting Today
“Accounting technology strategies in 2026 will be defined by consolidation. After years of layering new tools onto existing systems, many firms, particularly those with sizable audit and TAS practices, will prioritize rationalizing their tech stacks. The objective will be to reduce complexity, integration gaps, and redundant workflows that slow engagement delivery and frustrate staff. Firms will gravitate toward platforms that support multiple use cases across audit, analytics, document management, and workflow rather than relying on disconnected point solutions. For TAS teams, interoperability between analytics tools, valuation models, and reporting systems will be critical to meeting compressed deal timelines and client expectations.”— Justin Pulgrano, Crunchafi, quoted in Accounting Today
Read the full article on Accounting Today →
Industry leaders shared their perspectives on what’s next for accounting. A few themes came through loud and clear.
AI is no longer a side project. In 2026, it’s embedded directly into core accounting workflows, handling repetitive tasks and surfacing insights accountants can actually use.
Manual data entry, reconciliations, and one-off workpapers continue to disappear. Firms are prioritizing automation to reduce rework, increase consistency, and protect margins.
Disconnected tools slow teams down. The focus is shifting to platforms that move clean, structured data across audit, accounting, and advisory workflows without constant handoffs.
Technology is evolving beyond historical reporting. Firms are using data to anticipate risks, trends, and opportunities earlier in the engagement lifecycle.
As accounting systems become more powerful, security and data governance become non-negotiable. Firms are treating these controls as part of delivering quality client work.
These trends point to a clear shift. The future of accounting isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about building smarter workflows that start with clean data and scale across services.
Firms that invest now in automation, data quality, and integrated platforms are setting themselves up to move faster, deliver better insights, and adapt as client expectations evolve.
Standardizing how financial data is captured and structured
Reducing manual touchpoints across audit and accounting workflows
Enabling teams to use AI responsibly and consistently
Choosing technology that supports growth without adding complexity
Interested in how firms are applying these trends today? Click here to explore how Crunchafi helps accounting teams turn clean data into scalable, audit-ready workflows.