Trend Report

2025 Accounting and Finance Industry Trend Report

2025 Accounting and Finance Industry Trend Report

Current state

pie graph
$33.4 billion
Market size (AU)
Source: www.ibisworld.com/au/
calculator
36,833
Number of businesses
Source: www.ibisworld.com/au/
team
206,200
Industry employment
Source: www.jobsandskills.gov.au

Average salaries

Assistant accountant

Assistant accountant

Most common salary AUS
$79k
$70k
$93k
Financial analyst

Financial analyst

Most common salary AUS
$112k
$95k
$137k
Financial services manager

Financial services manager

Most common salary AUS
$138k
$110k
$170k

Top industry challenges

Hiring, retaining and training staff
69%
Hiring, retaining and training staff
Time management
39%
Time management
Being paid in a timely way
32%
Being paid in a timely way
Stress and anxiety
31%
Stress and anxiety
Work-life balance
31%
Work-life balance

PART 1

Automation ignites strategic finance

Finance is transforming from a transactional function to a core driver of business value, and automation is leading the charge. Advanced technologies like AI, machine learning and predictive analytics are enabling finance teams to move beyond routine, manual tasks and into the realm of strategic insight.

The accounting function of the future is not just reactive, it’s proactive—using automation to analyze trends, predict future outcomes and guide business leaders in making informed decisions faster than ever before.

n this new reality, ERP systems and cloud-based platforms play a central role, providing real-time data that empowers finanial services teams to act as a strategic advisor rather than a back-office function. Automation enables accounting to focus on forecasting, scenario planning and business modeling, areas that drive growth and innovation. With routine processes streamlined, accounting professionals are freed up to tackle higher-order challenges, driving efficiency and uncovering opportunities for competitive advantage.

Key takeaway:

Automation isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about unleashing the potential of financial services to lead the business. The future belongs to teams that are data-driven and technologically empowered, using insights from automation to push the business forward.

PART 2

Financial services as the agility engine

As the pace of business accelerates, financial services are emerging as the engine of agility, powering organizations to adapt and thrive in rapidly changing environments. In a post-pandemic world where industries converge and competition intensifies, CFOs can no longer afford to operate in a linear fashion. Accounting must pivot quickly, respond to shifting market dynamics and provide real-time, actionable insights to the rest of the organization.

Industry leaders are now expected to anticipate and navigate uncertainty—whether that’s dealing with supply chain disruptions, managing evolving business models or responding to regulatory changes. This requires financial services to be deeply integrated with other business functions, working closely with operations, marketing and IT to provide 360-degree visibility into performance and risks. Accounting is becoming the hub of cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that every decision made is grounded in data and aligned with the organization’s long-term goals.

Companies that empower their teams to be agile and strategic are positioning themselves to lead in this fast-paced world. Real-time reporting and off-cycle insights are no longer just nice-to-haves—they are essential tools that give businesses the agility they need to outpace competitors.

Key takeaway:

Agility is the name of the game. The most successful teams are deeply integrated, constantly adjusting and driving the business forward with real-time insights that fuel smarter, faster decision-making.

PART 3

Digital talent powers finance transformation

The battle for top talent has shifted, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the financial services function. As automation takes hold, accounting professionals of tomorrow must be digitally fluent, analytically minded and strategically savvy. The ability to navigate and harness the power of digital tools—robotics, AI advanced analytics—is now a critical skill set, not an optional extra. Finance isn’t just looking for accountants anymore—it’s looking for data scientists, technologists and problem-solvers who can work across business functions and bring fresh, strategic insights to the table.

This new talent model extends beyond traditional full-time hires. Freelancers, gig workers and remote teams are becoming key components of a modern accounting workforce. Companies can now tap into a global talent pool, accessing specialized skills from around the world to meet the evolving demands of the function. Remote work, once a necessity during the pandemic, has proven its value, and accounting will increasingly rely on distributed teams to execute complex, high-value work efficiently.

At the same time, finance leaders must invest in building a data-driven culture. A finance team that lacks digital skills or strong data governance will struggle to deliver on its promise of strategic insight. With clean, reliable data as the foundation, and the right talent in place, finance will shift from being viewed as a cost center to becoming a catalyst for innovation and growth.

team

Key takeaway:

Agility is the name of the game. The most successful teams are deeply integrated, constantly adjusting and driving the business forward with real-time insights that fuel smarter, faster decision-making.

2025 state of play

  1. The finance factory

    Automation has moved beyond routine tasks like accounts payable or payroll processing. End-to-end automation now integrates critical business functions, allowing finance to play a central role in shaping corporate strategy. By automating workflows, finance not only streamlines processes but also reduces error rates, accelerates cycle times and frees up resources to focus on high-value activities like predictive analysis and strategic planning.

    Example:

    Think about how predictive analytics can forecast future financial performance or detect potential risks before they materialize. Finance leaders can make data-backed decisions on capital allocation, cost-cutting or entering new markets, with confidence that they are minimizing uncertainty.

  2. Cloud-based ERP systems

    The shift to cloud-based ERP systems marks a pivotal change. Cloudbased platforms provide continuous real-time updates, enabling financial services to act faster and smarter. What’s more, integrating AI and machine learning capabilities into ERP platforms brings automated decision-making closer to reality. These systems are no longer passive tools—they actively generate insights by analyzing patterns and trends, helping teams stay ahead of the competition.

    Key point:

    As ERP systems grow more sophisticated, financial services must leverage their full power, transforming how they handle everything from financial close to budgeting and forecasting.

  3. Self-service intelligence

    Self-service tools are revolutionizing how financial data is consumed across the organization. These tools provide real-time, user-friendly dashboards that allow managers and executives to access critical financial data at their fingertips. Instead of relying on finance or accounting to generate static reports, self-service intelligence enables decision-makers to interact with data directly, drilling down into metrics to get the answers they need instantly.

    Future self-service platforms will go even further, using push technology and natural language processing to anticipate questions and proactively deliver insights. Imagine a CFO receiving an alert that forecasts a potential shortfall in next quarter’s cash flow, along with suggested remedies—all delivered without even having to ask.

  4. Faster, smarter finance cycles

    The traditional monthly or quarterly financial close is no longer enough. With industries evolving at breakneck speed, there’s a growing need for off-cycle reporting and real-time insights. Finance functions are moving toward a continuous accounting model, where actuals and forecasts are updated in real time, providing executives with the ability to make decisions based on the latest financial and operational data.

    Real-world impact: In a world where businesses need to pivot quickly—whether due to new competitors, regulatory changes or unforeseen crises—finance must be able to deliver insights when they matter most. This agility can be a key differentiator between businesses that simply survive and those that thrive.

    Real-world impact:

    In a world where businesses need to pivot quickly—whether due to new competitors, regulatory changes or unforeseen crises—finance must be able to deliver insights when they matter most. This agility can be a key differentiator between businesses that simply survive and those that thrive.

  5. Finance as a strategic partner

    More than ever, CEOs and other senior leaders are looking to financial services for strategic insights, not just numbers. These teams are increasingly expected to serve as trusted advisors, providing an integrated view of the business and helping executives understand the financial implications of strategic decisions. This means finance must go beyond simply reporting results to actively participating in scenario planning, what-if analysis and complex forecasting.

    Real-world impact:

    Financial services teams that excel in business partnering will not only help their organizations navigate uncertainty but will also be instrumental in driving long-term growth. By linking financial metrics to business operations, these teams can help steer the company toward its strategic objectives.

  6. Hybrid operating models

    The hybrid operating model is here to stay. The pandemic has proven that remote work is not only feasible but often more efficient. Finance teams are now embracing distributed workforces, utilizing global talent and cloud-based collaboration tools to keep operations running smoothly from anywhere in the world. This new model also allows businesses to tap into niche skills and expertise, enabling financial services to operate with greater flexibility and adaptability.

    Real-world impact:

    The center-office model, where finance coordinates end-to-end processes and external partnerships, is gaining traction. This model allows finance to manage not just financial performance, but also critical business functions, driving efficiency across the entire organization.

  7. The new finance skillset

    Traditional finance roles are evolving, and the most successful finance professionals are those who can combine financial acumen with digital expertise. Skills in areas like robotics, AI and data analytics are no longer a ‘nice-tohave’ but a ‘must-have’. Additionally, the ability to tell a compelling story with data will differentiate top-tier talent, as businesses increasingly look for finance teams that can communicate insights clearly and persuasively to stakeholders.

    Real-world impact:

    This shift means that finance departments will spend less time on transaction processing and more on business analysis, focusing on strategic tasks like predictive modeling, budget optimization, and risk management.

  8. A new talent model

    Finance’s talent strategy is expanding beyond traditional full-time hires. The future of work includes a mix of freelancers, gig workers, and specialists, allowing finance and accounting to scale quickly and efficiently. This flexible talent pool means finance can bring in specialized expertise when needed, enabling faster innovation and more dynamic problem-solving.

    Real-world impact:

    By embracing this model, financial services can become more nimble, accessing the right skills at the right time, and ultimately improving both agility and performance.

  9. Data as the powerhouse

    Without reliable data, none of this transformation is possible. Financial services must have clean, standardized data to drive automation and analytics. The emphasis on data quality means finance leaders must invest in robust data governance frameworks to ensure accuracy, integrity and accessibility of information across the enterprise.

    Real-world impact:

    A financial services team that masters its data infrastructure becomes a true business strategist—able to tell the organization not only where it stands financially, but also how it can improve margins, optimize processes and create value in a rapidly changing world.

In 2025, the future of finance is automated, agile and driven by digital talent. Finance leaders who invest in these areas—automation and data insights, real-time agility and the cultivation of digital-savvy professionals—will be at the forefront of innovation, steering their organizations toward greater efficiency, resilience and growth.

building

Want to build a dedicated team in the Philippines?

Get in contact today, and we’ll get back to your inquiry within one business day.