How technology could rewire corporate reporting

The accountancy profession stands at a crossroads in the evolution of corporate reporting, with technology offering transformative potential—if the sector is willing to adapt.

That’s the message from the British Accounting and Finance Association’s Financial Accounting and Reporting Special Interest Group (FARSIG), which hosted its 2025 symposium earlier this year.

While opportunities abound, the promise of real-time, high-quality data that satisfies stakeholder needs remains more aspiration than reality.

The symposium—attended by academics and professional accountants—examined how technologies like AI, blockchain, big data, and cloud accounting are reshaping reporting expectations across the sector.

“Corporate reporting fuelled by technology will transition from a conventional compliance exercise to a value-creating exercise,” said Christian Stadler, Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Royal Holloway, University of London and Chair of FARSIG.

“As the role of accountants expands to include advisory and business partnering, data-driven insights enhance the relevance and credibility of the advice they can provide to their colleagues and clients alike.”

However, Stadler warned that the profession must strike a balance between innovation and oversight.

“Balancing optimism with governance helps accountants to stay level-headed and build a culture of experimentation while respecting the ethical use of technology and data protection,” he said.

Themes covered at the event included the valuation and disclosure of AI capabilities, the intersection of AI with blockchain, and the implications of cloud accounting for financial planning.

A particularly pointed discussion raised the question of whether the traditional annual report is still fit for purpose in a world of real-time reporting and integrated financial systems.

Sharon Machado, Head of Sustainable Business, Policy and Insights at ACCA, noted the strong alignment between FARSIG’s academic research and ACCA’s professional insights programme.

“FARSIG’s work always gives a fascinating glimpse of the key emerging issues in financial reporting,” she said.