Deloitte UK has radically overhauled its graduate scheme, as AI takes over audit ‘grunt work’.
The Big 4 firm has said it will push its new recruits to sit 12 of the 14 ACA exams in their first year, something that was previously spread across the first three years.
To make this happen the firm is increasing protected study days from 113 to 135. At the same time junior auditors will be taught communication and problem- solving skills rather than being forced to undertake repetitive tasks.
Professional education advisor Stuart Pedley-Smith felt this was the most dramatic change the profession has seen in response to the impact AI is having on accountancy.
In another comment, Glen McCracken said: “While it’s tempting to see this as progress it may also be one of the most quietly dangerous shifts happening inside professional services.”
He said audit ‘grunt work’ is something that helps create professional judgement, adding: “Fast tracking graduates into client-facing roles risks producing professionals who can explain conclusions clearly, while losing the instinct to challenge whether those conclusions are actually right.”
