The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Accounting Practices and the Future Role of Accountants

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies has initiated profound transformations across business sectors, including the accounting profession. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed the accounting profession, reshaping not only routine practices but also redefining the skills and roles of accounting professionals. This systematic literature review (SLR) investigates the extent to which AI technologies have influenced accounting processes and explores the evolving role of accountants in an increasingly automated and data-driven business environment. The objective is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of scholarly research conducted between 2015 and 2024, identifying key trends, opportunities, challenges, and future directions for research and practice. To ensure methodological rigor, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was employed. An extensive search was conducted across reputable academic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. A total of 347 initial records were identified, of which 57 met the inclusion criteria after duplicate removal, screening, and quality assessment. The selected studies were systematically reviewed and categorized thematically into four major dimensions: (1) AI-driven transformation of accounting tasks, (2) the changing role and skill set of accountants, (3) technological, ethical, and organizational challenges, and (4) implications for accounting education and policy. In conclusion, this review offers a structured and in-depth understanding of how AI is reshaping the accounting profession and provides practical recommendations for educators, practitioners, and policymakers. The findings underscore the need for a proactive and holistic approach to AI adoption one that balances technological advancement with ethical responsibility and continuous human development. This study also highlights the importance of further longitudinal and cross-bencher research to explore the long-term implications of AI on the global accounting workforce.