ITB December 2024/January 2025 - Magazine - Page 23
Experts predict savvy
accounting and finance
professionals will focus on
strengthening relationships
and driving better results
in the next 10 years.
Expect to see more hires
for accounting roles that
blend technology, strategy
and sustainability skills.
While accounting roles will
evolve, the number of people
working in accounting will
continue to grow.
be in greater demand than ever as they test, question
and act on the results of algorithms. “Such a skill will
be paramount for accounting,” she says.
WILL JOB TITLES REALLY MATTER?
The alphabet soup of potential job titles is likely
to expand by 2035 to include chief automation
officer (CAO), chief data officer (CDO), chief value
officer (CVO) and a twist to the chief ecosystem
officer role. The positive news is that accountants
will still be needed, according to Scott Copeland,
program director of accounting at University of
South Australia. “Some people say we won’t need
accountants in the future and that the profession
is dying. I can’t see that happening.”
This observation is backed by official projections
from Jobs and Skills Australia, and Australia’s
Victoria University. They forecast that the number
of accountants in Australia will grow from 238,000
in May 2023, to 259,000 by May 2028, and reach
280,000 by 2033. These predictions don’t include
the related area of finance manager, which is
expected to record even stronger growth.
Copeland is unsure if the specific titles of
executives will overly matter, but he does foresee
that the current chief information officer (CIO) role
will become more significant. Rather than simply
managing technology and hardware, he expects
CIO equivalents will develop more strategies around
the information and data at their disposal. Likewise,
CEOs and CFOs will draw more heavily on data and
technology specialists.
“A blend of skills will occur, and I can definitely see
somebody coming up with titles similar to CVO,
CAREERS intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 23
