Former Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) president Charanjot Singh Nanda said artificial intelligence will strengthen the chartered accountancy profession rather than replace it.
This shift represents a critical turning point for the industry as automation transforms traditional bookkeeping. The ability of accountants to pivot from manual data entry to high-level strategic advisory will determine their relevance in a tech-driven economy.
Speaking at the NDTV Education LearnNXT Conclave 2026 [1], Nanda said that while AI can handle repetitive tasks, it cannot replicate the nuanced decision-making required for complex financial oversight. He said, "AI will strengthen the chartered accountancy profession, not replace it."
Nanda said that the integration of AI tools and data analytics allows professionals to move beyond basic bookkeeping. By leveraging these technologies, accountants can provide deeper insights, and more accurate forecasting for their clients.
Despite the rise of automation, Nanda said that the core of the profession relies on professional ethics and expert intuition. He said, "Human skills are irreplaceable; AI cannot substitute the judgment and advisory role of chartered accountants."
The discussion also touched upon the scale of professional outreach, noting the potential for these advancements to reach thousands of villages [1]. This expansion suggests that AI could democratize access to high-level financial expertise in underserved regions.
To remain competitive, Nanda said CAs should adopt new technical skills and embrace an advisory-first mindset. The transition requires a commitment to lifelong learning to keep pace with the rapid evolution of generative AI and automated auditing systems.
“"AI will strengthen the chartered accountancy profession, not replace it."”
The insistence that AI is a tool for augmentation rather than replacement reflects a broader trend across professional services. By automating the 'bookkeeping' aspect of the role, chartered accountants are being pushed toward a consultancy model where the primary value is derived from interpretation and strategic guidance—tasks that current AI models cannot perform with human-level accountability or ethical judgment.
