Accountants seen as central to SME digital shift, ACCA research shows

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could reach AI-enabled maturity if finance teams lead their digital programmes, global research from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) suggests.

The findings draw on responses from 1,026 finance professionals in more than 100 markets and outline six stages of digital development, from paper records to AI-supported operations.

The study reports that only 4% of organisations use advanced automation today, although 41% expect to reach that point within three years.

Respondents identified cost, skills and time as the largest barriers to progress, while ACCA noted that transformation becomes easier as experience grows and concerns about cost fall.

The publication – Digital Pathways Playbook: Accountants as leaders in digital adoption for SMEs – includes case studies from Malaysia, Africa, the UK and the UAE showing how finance teams are adopting AI, integrating systems and supporting growth. It also features a directory of funding and training schemes to help SMEs and advisers advance digital adoption.

Head of SME in ACCA’s policy and insights team, Aleksandra Zaronina-Kirillova, said: “Accountants sit at the heart of business data and decision-making. Their understanding of process integrity, financial impact and governance makes them uniquely placed to guide SMEs through digital transformation with confidence and care.”