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Overall Outlook: Transformation, Not Elimination

Accounting support work is not vanishing, but it’s changing rapidly due to automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based accounting systems.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 employment projections:



• The demand for “Accounting Clerks and Bookkeepers” is expected to remain steady through 2030.
• Routine, repetitive tasks will decline.
• Demand for roles that combine data, systems, and analytical skills will grow.

While fewer people may be doing traditional data entry, new kinds of support roles will emerge that bridge finance, technology, and process improvement. The key Drivers Shaping the Future

Automation & AI. So many repetitive tasks (invoice processing, reconciliations, data entry) are being automated via platforms like Xero, MYOB, and SAP with AI add-ons. However, automation still requires human oversight — support staff will shift toward exception management (handling the transactions that the system can’t process automatically). Skills in using automation tools, APIs, and workflow systems will become valuable.

Digitalisation of Finance means Cloud accounting and integrated ERP systems mean finance data is more accessible and real-time. And support staff will need to be digitally literate — comfortable working with dashboards, spreadsheets, and data validation tools.

Despite automation, compliance workloads (e.g., GST/BAS reconciliation, ESG reporting support, internal control documentation) are increasing. Support staff with understanding of compliance processes will remain in demand. More routine functions are being outsourced or offshored (e.g., AP/AR processing centres). And In-house support roles will increasingly focus on business partnering, communication, and quality control.

Australia continues to have a shortage of qualified accountants. And organisations may rely more heavily on capable support staff to handle transactional work and assist accountants — creating opportunities for those upskilling into assistant accountant or analyst positions. Employers are increasingly seeking tech-savvy, process-minded support staff who can do more than just process transactions.

In short, the future for accounting support roles is secure for those who adapt. Routine data entry will fade, but roles blending finance, systems, and analytics will thrive. Upskilling in software and digital finance tools is the best way to future-proof your career.