AI adoption surges in Chinese Mainland: CPA Australia survey reveals shifting talent demands in accounting and finance

More Chinese Mainland companies used artificial intelligence (AI) in the past 12 months, with a significant rise in the maturity of its application, according to the 2025 Business Technology Survey conducted by CPA Australia, one of the world’s largest professional accounting bodies.

The rapid development of AI is transforming the skillsets required of accounting and finance professionals. At the same time, organisations are placing increased emphasis on achieving stronger returns on investment (ROI) from their AI initiatives.

The survey reveals that AI, data analytics and visualisation software, and cybersecurity tools were the top three technologies used by businesses in the Chinese Mainland over the past 12 months. Notably, 92 per cent of companies reported using AI tools such as DeepSeek, a sharp increase from 72 per cent in the previous year.

AI adoption in the Chinese Mainland is expanding in both breadth and depth. According to the latest survey, 21 per cent of respondents reported that AI is extensively integrated across their organisations, combining third-party solutions, custom-built tools and in-house developed systems. This marks a significant increase from 9 per cent in the previous survey and represents the highest adoption rate among all surveyed markets.

In addition, 30 per cent of companies primarily used third-party AI tools across multiple functions, while 40 per cent used free or off-the-shelf AI tools on an occasional basis.

Looking ahead, 65 per cent of respondents expect their organisations to further increase AI use in the next 12 months, a 17-percentage point jump from last year, signalling strong growth momentum and continued confidence in AI’s strategic value.

Mr Collin Jin FCPA (Aust.), President of CPA Australia’s East and Central China Committee, said: “The survey results shows that the usage of AI in businesses has accelerated significantly across Asia-Pacific over the past two years, and its popularity is set to grow further.”

“In the Chinese Mainland, companies are becoming sophisticated in integrating technologies such as AI into their business models and applying them across a wide range of scenarios to drive innovation.”
   
“The Chinese government has outlined its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), emphasising the comprehensive implementation of its AI Plus initiative. This strategy is expected to fuel economic growth, foster new quality productive forces and promote the deep and widespread integration of AI across various areas.”

As digital transformation accelerates across industries, employers in Chinese Mainland are reshaping their human resource strategies to meet evolving business needs. According to the survey findings, 32 per cent of respondents reported a reduction in hiring for junior accounting and finance staff in the past 12 months due to AI, reflecting a shift away from traditional talent model. 

At the same time, 18 per cent of organisations actively expanded recruitment of professionals with AI expertise within the accounting and finance team, underscoring a growing demand for digital capabilities within finance and accounting functions.

“The growing maturity of technologies such as agentic AI is driving the transformation across the accounting and finance sectors in the Chinese Mainland. These technologies are streamlining repetitive tasks and greatly boosting productivity across organisations,” Mr Jin said.

“In line with this digital evolution, the Chinese government has introduced a guideline aimed at building a modernised financial management system. These initiatives emphasise the transition toward digital and intelligent finance, with a focus on cultivating multidisciplinary talent.”

“As a result, professionals who can leverage technology to perform advanced accounting and finance functions, such as strategic decision-making, innovation and risk management, are increasingly in demand. Many employers are actively seeking such talent to accelerate their organisations’ digital transformation and strengthen their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.” 

Mr Jin emphasised the importance of upskilling in response to the rapid advancement of AI technologies: “As the demand for multidisciplinary talent grows along with digital transformation, organisations should not only focus on filling new roles but also invest in upskilling and reskilling their existing workforce. Empowering employees to use AI tools ethically and effectively, underpinned by clear company policies, is essential.” he said. 

“At the same time, employees should also embrace this shift by leveraging AI to improve productivity and drive innovation. They should deepen their accounting expertise to take on more advanced, strategic roles that AI enables. Ultimately, accountants who combine traditional expertise with technological capabilities, global experience and lifelong-learning mindset will be well-positioned to thrive in an evolving job market.”

While many respondents acknowledge the efficiency brought by technology, two-fifths expressed concern about the low return on investment, especially among small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often face constraints in resources and technical expertise. 

Mr Tony Chan FCPA (Aust.), CPA Australia’s South China Committee President, explained: “Many companies remain in the exploratory phase when assessing the return from AI investments. Variations in organisational infrastructure and workforce capabilities can significantly impact to the outcomes of such initiatives.”

“Before making decision on investment in new technologies, companies should first identify the core challenges that are critical to their businesses. Engaging with technical experts to evaluate and select the most suitable solutions is essential. Establishing a ‘Point-to-Effect’ ROI evaluation framework will enable companies to measure performance, gather feedback to assess effectiveness and drive continuous improvement aligned with strategic objectives.”

“For SMEs, it is vital to strike a balance between technology investment and long-term businesses strategy. Without digital capabilities, SMEs risk losing their competitive edge. To maximise impact, they should prioritise technical solutions that enhance core operations and consider phased investments. Regular reviews of technology performance, benchmarked against previous results, will help ensure continued alignment with strategic goals.” 
 
The rapid pace of digital transformation has also intensified concerns about cybersecurity. According to the survey, 74 per cent of respondents in the Chinese Mainland consistently use cybersecurity software within their organisations in the past 12 months. Notably, 35 per cent indicated that cybersecurity has fully integrated into company’s strategy and operations, surpassing the survey average of 28 per cent. 

Mr Chan emphasised the growing importance of data protection: “Over one-third of companies have fully integrated cybersecurity into company strategy, which reflects a high level of data protection maturity in the Chinese Mainland. Yet, with the increasing use of generative AI and other public large-language models, companies are exposed to heightened risks of data leakage and more complex cyber threats.”

“It is crucial to raise staff awareness around cyber and data security and establish company guidelines for the responsible use of AI to increase productivities and further safeguard organisational data assets.”

“Meanwhile, SMEs often rely on third-party software, but they must remain vigilant and conduct regular assessments and updates to stay protected against evolving threats. Additionally, Security Operation Centres (SOC) model adoption or other technical outsourced solutions could be an option to monitor and respond effectively to cybersecurity threats.”   

CPA Australia collected 1,117 responses from accounting and finance professionals across various industries in nine Asia-Pacific markets, including Australia, Singapore, with 244 responses from the Chinese Mainland. The survey was conducted between July and September 2025. About 47 per cent of respondents held manager-level positions or higher, and 29 per cent held C-suite or other senior positions.
 

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