As someone in this situation myself who has used AI tools, Claude Code/Codex are useful for doing certain laborious tasks like bookkeeping errors/reconciliation issues but they don't replace a professional accountant.
It's not just about being able to balance Xero but knowing rules, procedures and the way the tax office works.
For how long though? I like my accountant, but I use Claude Code enough to know the SOTA and potential, read through the Claude for Small Business skills and texted a friend "How long do you think accountants have?"
- an Aussie half-wog
Honestly, I think we'll have professional accountants for decades into the future, but they'll become significantly more productive and better at spotting issues.
Claude still isn't at the point where I would personally trust it to be expert level in a field I'm not (very different story when I'm getting it to do something I do know about myself), and the risks of screwing up your reports far outweighs the cost of getting a human to go over things.
But 100%, I can see accountants that use Claude replacing accountants that don't.
(Also, if we're counting, I'm only 1/4 Wog. 3/4 grandparents are Anglos!)
The point of an accountant is accountability. Its in the name. Who do you go after if Claude messes up your books?
>but knowing rules, procedures and the way the tax office works.
Those three letters "CPA" in one's email signature basically expand to "I won't fall for your low effort form letter bluff, you can't get one over on me that easily" as far as the auditor who's following up on the form letter cares.