AI adoption in accounting was widespread among firms represented in a recent Financial Cents survey, but far fewer could identify a measurable return from the technology.
According to the company’s State of AI in Bookkeeping & Accounting: 2026 Report, 95% of firms surveyed were using AI in some capacity, while only about one in five could point to a clear, measurable return. The report drew on responses from nearly 500 accounting and bookkeeping professionals across North America.
The most frequently cited barrier to obtaining more value was the time required to learn and implement a new tool, rather than cost, trust or skepticism. The findings distinguish adoption from demonstrated results: using AI does not necessarily mean a firm is measuring its contribution to the business.
“Almost every firm we surveyed is already using AI, but very few are getting measurable value from it,” said Shahram Zarshenas, co-founder and CEO of Financial Cents.
Financial Cents cited the research in its Sept. 24 announcement of three AI tools for its practice management platform. The tools rename client uploads, check documents against the requested type and accounting period and route files into folders. The company said firms can require staff approval for suggested file names and folder destinations, with low-confidence decisions flagged for review.
