We are entering the Age of Automation-one of the greatest technology shifts of all time. As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning become mainstream, they are beginning to affect virtually every area of our daily lives, including our jobs. These technologies enable data science, automate insights, and eliminate manual tasks, freeing finance leaders and teams to focus on improving and growing their businesses.

The changes mean finance and accounting professionals need to have new skills to understand how machine learning and other advanced technologies impact business performance, compliance, and strategy.

At the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute, we have been gathering research from leading experts and bestselling authors, including Institute for the Future, World Economic Forum, CPA Horizons 2025, The Second Machine Age, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as empirical evidence from thousands of certified public accountants (CPAs) and finance and accounting professionals. Using this data, we have identified seven skills finance professionals will need to master to successfully navigate this new era.