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The data-driven accountant: Skills for the future

In this episode of our Learn Better Podcast, our hosts, Caron Betts and Lee Rowlandson, are joined by Chiraag Swaly, Head of Data and Technology at Kaplan.

With nearly 20 years of experience designing and delivering IT qualifications across sectors, Chiraag offers a practical view on how accountants can thrive in an AI-driven world.

AI already at work in learning and business

The discussion opens with Lee sharing how he used AI to create videos for a Kaplan business simulation - a clear sign that AI isn’t just on the horizon, it’s already changing how we teach and learn.

Survey results add further perspective: people are turning to AI for therapy, life organisation, companionship, and even finding purpose. These examples show how integrated AI is becoming in everyday life, well beyond spreadsheets or data crunching.

Overcoming resistance in accountancy

Accountancy is a profession often cautious about change. Many still view AI with suspicion, fearing automation could replace their roles. Chiraag argues that, just as accountants adapted from ledgers to spreadsheets, they can adapt again - but this time by understanding AI as more than a tool.

The challenge is not rejection or blind adoption, but finding a balanced way forward.

Balanced framework for technology adoption

Chiraag introduces his ‘balanced framework’ for thriving with technology, built on five core principles:

  • Curiosity
  • Continuous learning
  • Critical thinking
  • Collaboration
  • Resilience

This framework provides a roadmap for professionals to build confidence and reduce the fear that often surrounds technological change, particularly within the accountancy profession.

Why human skills matter more than ever

Rather than eliminating jobs, Chiraag stresses that AI is likely to evolve roles. While technology excels at repetitive, rule-based tasks, it struggles with activities that rely on human judgement, creativity, empathy, and complex problem-solving.

Chiraag advises that, “AI can’t do things in isolation. It needs someone who drives it, someone with clarity of thought.” This shift creates opportunities for accountants to focus on higher-value work, with AI taking on the repetitive processing.

Navigating AI's limitations and biases

AI systems are only as good as the data they’re trained on, and that data often carries bias. Chiraag emphasises this by suggesting that if you ask an AI tool to write a story about a doctor and a nurse, the chances are it will make the doctor male and the nurse female.

This is why critical thinking remains essential. Professionals can’t accept AI outputs at face value - they must verify, contextualise, and apply their expertise. The “black box” nature of many systems makes this even more important, as it’s often unclear how conclusions are reached.

The learning challenge

AI also brings opportunities and risks to professional development. Personalised learning paths can help accountants focus on targeted skills, but they may also narrow horizons, much like Netflix recommendations that only serve up what you already like.

The takeaway? Use AI to sharpen core skills, but deliberately seek out broader knowledge and perspectives to remain a well-rounded professional. Ultimately, AI should augment, not replace, your capabilities.

The human side of AI interaction

The conversation closes with a thought-provoking reflection: why are people polite to AI, saying “please” and “thank you” to a machine? While it can seem unnecessary, this behaviour reveals something about how we view technology - not just as tools, but as companions shaping how we think, work, and even relate to one another.

Final thoughts

The conversation with Chiraag highlights how AI is already transforming accountancy and beyond. The goal isn’t to compete with machines, but to build the human skills, such as curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, that technology can’t replicate.

With Chiraag’s balanced framework, accountants can embrace AI with confidence and prepare for a future where humans and machines work hand in hand.

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