AI and Accounting
Quebec AI in accounting observatory: Actual figures (2026)
July 23, 2026
At a Glance. In a nutshell. AI in accounting has moved from experimentation to everyday use: recent public studies report that up to 98% of surveyed professionals use it every day, but only 21% of accounting firms have a formal policy in place to govern this use. AI speeds up accounting work without replacing verified human judgment, which is what constitutes professional responsibility.
At a Glance. AI in accounting has moved from experimentation to everyday use. Recent public studies report that up to 98% of professionals surveyed use it every day, but only 21% of accounting firms have a formal policy in place to govern its use. In practice, AI speeds up accounting tasks (data entry, reconciliations, drafts, summaries) without replacing verified human judgment, which remains the basis of professional liability.
This page serves as a reference point. It brings together what verifiable public data reveals, what Bankeo observes based on its own actual requests, and how all of this impacts entrepreneurs and accounting firms. For more in-depth coverage of the topic, see our report AI and Accounting.
We clearly distinguish between three types of information, because they do not have the same evidentiary value:
Rule applied across the board: every figure is either sourced data or an actual figure from Bankeo. No statistics are fabricated.
The most noticeable shift over the past two years has been in frequency of use. According to the report State of AI in Accounting 2026 by Karbon (nearly 600 professionals across six continents), 98% of respondents use AI daily or several times a day. The reported time savings amount to approximately 60 minutes per employee per day, or about 21 hours per month.
But the same study points to a significant discrepancy: only 21% of firms have a formalized AI policy or strategy, and Less than half invest in training of their teams. In other words, the tool is everywhere, but guidance is rarely available.
On the U.S. side, the survey 2025 Intuit QuickBooks Accountant Technology Survey (700 professionals in the United States, April 2025) points in the same direction: 46% of accountants use AI every day, nearly double the rate observed among small business clients (28%). And 81% say AI has had a positive impact on their productivity.
The use of AI has moved beyond simple data entry. According to the Intuit 2025 survey, 93% of accountants have used AI to enhance their strategic consulting services, and 79% expect this support work to increase in scope within the year. The underlying trend is therefore not “AI is replacing accountants,” but rather “AI is taking over repetitive tasks, allowing accountants to move into consulting.”
This aligns with what an entrepreneur should be looking for today: an accountant who automates what can be automated and frees up time for what matters, relationships, planning, and analysis.
Here, the figures take a back seat to the broader picture. In Quebec, the Ordre des CPA du Québec has published a Guide to Best Practices in Artificial Intelligence, designed by CPAs for CPAs, which sets concrete benchmarks: ethical obligations, governance, protection of confidential information, and reduction of the risk of erroneous results. The message is clear: AI is a tool; responsibility remains with humans.
At the Canadian level, CPA Canada documents automation and AI for the profession and incorporates digital skills into its professional curriculum. Internationally, the IFAC emphasizes the same point: AI increases capacity, but professionals remain accountable for their conclusions.
Taken together, these sources paint a stable and reassuring picture: the profession isn’t hiding AI, it’s regulating it. This is exactly the verification approach that Bankeo applies to its network, as measured by the Bankeo Trust Index and its more than 20 criteria.
This opposition is a false debate. The real question is the division of roles. Here’s how work is distributed in a firm that uses AI properly:
(see comparison table)
The bottom line is simple: AI generates results, humans validate them, and answers of the conclusion. That is what distinguishes a draft from a signed statement.
Bankeo is not an accounting firm: we connect entrepreneurs with the right accountant. Our focus is on 15,000+ requests received since 2023 and the 1,248 contracts signed. Here are our actual figures and observations, presented as such.
Our Actual Figures: A Network of 1,500+ accountants, a note from 4.7/5 based on 180+ Google reviews, and a price range documented in the Bankeo Fee Barometer (median around $3,000 per year, ranging from $500 to $6,000 depending on the sector and complexity).
What we’re seeing on the demand side (qualitative observations, not percentages):
That is precisely the role we play: matching these needs with the right accountant, for free for the business owner. To submit a request, see Find an Accountant ; for the perspective from accounting firms, see Bankeo for accountants.
Three concrete points. First, an AI-powered accountant should save you time, not erode your trust: fewer back-and-forth exchanges of paperwork, more advice. Second, insist on knowing who validates the work: a deliverable generated by AI without human review doesn’t have the same value as verified work. Finally, the price shouldn’t skyrocket just because of technology; use the Bankeo Fee Barometer as a point of comparison.
AI is reshaping the accounting landscape. But it doesn’t change what you should be looking for: the right human partner, someone you can trust, who’s there to support you every step of the way.
According to Karbon’s “State of AI in Accounting 2026” report (surveying nearly 600 professionals across six continents), 98% of respondents use AI daily or several times a day. The Intuit QuickBooks 2025 survey (700 professionals in the United States), meanwhile, reports 46% daily usage. These are international data that should be interpreted as industry trends, not as a strictly Quebec-specific survey.
Studies do not point to job replacement, but rather a shift in work: AI takes over repetitive tasks, and accountants move into advisory roles. In the Intuit 2025 survey, 93% of accountants are already using AI to enhance their advisory services. The responsibility for the final conclusion, however, remains with humans and requires their full commitment.
Nothing spectacular so far. The cost of an accountant in Quebec depends mainly on the complexity of your case. Our benchmark remains the Bankeo Fee Barometer: a median of around $3,000 per year, ranging from $500 to $6,000 depending on the sector. AI should save time, not inflate the bill in the name of technology.
The risk isn’t the tool itself, it’s the lack of oversight. Yet studies show a gap: only about 21% of firms have a formalized AI policy. In fact, the Ordre des CPA du Québec has published a best-practices guide specifically to provide guidance on this use. The right question to ask your accountant: Who verifies the results, and who takes responsibility if the tool makes a mistake?
No. Bankeo has not conducted a survey on AI adoption and does not make up any percentages. The adoption statistics come from cited public sources (Karbon, Intuit QuickBooks, CPA Canada, IFAC). What Bankeo provides are its actual operational figures (15,000+ requests received, 1,248 contracts signed, 1,500+ accountants, 4.7/5) and qualitative observations presented as such.
Bankeo doesn’t employ accountants: we match entrepreneurs with the right professionals, for free. The quality and reliability of the network are measured by the Bankeo Trust Index, a rating system based on more than 20 criteria. You can submit a request through “Find my accountant” and receive ongoing support.
General information provided for informational purposes only, based on known 2026 tax rules. It is not a substitute for the advice of a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA): always consult a professional regarding your specific situation.
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