People who succeed in accounting do two things extremely well: One, they understand and embrace the accounting fundamentals that get them results. Second, they always sweat the little things and reject the idea of taking shortcuts when it comes to bookkeeping, procurement, expenses, invoicing, and any other activity that impacts the bottom line. For years, this combination has given organizations a foundation they can rely on for quality reporting and statements. Today, many researchers & analysts believe that accounting processes and the profession as a whole are in the crosshairs for automated disruption. We’ve all seen it happen with the self-checkout kiosks at grocery stores and the robots that pick up parcels in Amazon warehouses. But most of us never thought that robots would replace humans working in white collar jobs due to their complexity. The discussion has changed. It’s no longer a question of whether automation will play a role in the accounting profession—now it’s a question of exactly how automation will influence accounting. A study conducted by Deloitte on the probability of future automation gives us an idea of what the future holds for accounting roles:In this blog post, we’re going talk about some of the reasons why automation isn’t necessarily a bad thing—and how it could be one of the best things that has ever happened to the accounting profession.In a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal, Charles Holley, former CFO of Wal-Mart, explained a few key things that CEOs want from their financial leaders , including (1) understanding and challenging the business strategy, (2) building strong relationships with business leaders, (3) offering solutions and (4) making sure the financial reporting, controllership and accounting are under control. An increased level of automation allows accounts to focus on these things instead of just number-crunching. Stereotypically, accounting professionals are straightlaced number-crunchers. But the best organizations know their financial talent can offer strategic insight and advice on compliance, cost savings and threats within the company.One of the most exciting aspects of automation is the increase in productivity. Even if your company only has a one- or two-person accounting team, automated finance solutions can free up their time and energy. An accountant who was once tasked with managing everything from bookkeeping to credit card reconciliation can now take care of these tasks through an automated system. With modern computing technology and finance software, it’s easy for receipts to be scanned and filed, purchase orders to be approved with the click of a button and virtual credit cards to be distributed to ensure accountability.