Business

More than just numbers: the journey—and impact—of accounting

Published

5 months ago

September 7, 2025

Accounting wasn’t supposed to be exciting—or so the story goes. For decades, the profession has been stereotyped as a world of calculators and spreadsheets, quietly humming in the background of business. But today, that perception couldn’t be further from the truth.

The pace of change in the business world is relentless, and accountants are continually challenged to adapt. Evolving risks, shifting business models, emerging technologies—especially the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)—and increasing regulatory complexity require professionals in this field to be agile lifelong learners and critical thinkers. The demands on accountants continue to evolve, but this is also what drives opportunity. Today, accountants are often expected to go beyond understanding the numbers by providing insights and interpretation within a rapidly changing environment.

Recent surveys show a positive perception shift about accounting careers, with recent graduates citing long-term earnings potential, work-life balance, and ability to make valuable contributions, as key benefits. These rewards come with the responsibility to stay ahead of the curve—constantly growing, learning, and responding to new challenges.

Accounting is not a static career path; it’s an open-ended journey that can take professionals across industries and around the world. With access to cutting-edge tools like AI, accountants today are empowered to analyze vast amounts of data, streamline processes, and deliver strategic value. Whether working with major sports teams, financial institutions, or tech innovators, accountants are often at the center of business issues and transformation.

Professional objectivity, trust in data, and ethical judgment have always been essential, and remain especially important in today’s complex environment. Accountants can deliver these vital skills to help organizations navigate uncertainty, build trust, and meet the moment. Far from being just about numbers, accounting is a profession where adaptability, insight, and integrity are in high demand—and where those who possess these skills can continue to thrive.

Yet, for all its importance and evolving demands, accounting is still often misunderstood. It’s time to close the books on the old “number cruncher” stereotype and open a new chapter—one where accountants are tomorrow’s trusted leaders.

Accounting is the bedrock of modern business. The profession today is as dynamic as the world we live in. Organizations are always trying to anticipate where markets, technology, and talent are going and figuring out how to adapt.

For most, doing this without accountants would be nearly impossible. Accountants today aren’t just looking backward at financials — they’re playing a vital role in moving organizations forward. As an accountant, you might find yourself in the fast-paced world of M&A and valuations or helping a company plan and measure the impacts of going fully digital. Or you could be guiding a business through evolving regulations so they stay transparent and compliant as rules become more complex.

Our work is critical for capital markets. Whether it’s independent auditing or technical accounting, without accountants the financial sector would likely lose one quality that’s essential to its success: public trust.

Because accountants can develop unique expertise in so many domains, there will likely always be a demand for their skills. Despite the many anticipated changes to business and society in the years to come, accounting is projected to add over 130,000 new jobs annually through 2033.

From the big game to the C-suite, it’s a launchpad for an exciting career. Accounting gives you a foundation that can unlock doors to nearly any industry or path you want to explore. Fascinated by emerging tech? Work with companies on integrating AI responsibly and ethically. Want to work in sports or entertainment? They need accountants too! (Did you know Deloitte tabulates the ballots for Heisman trophy voting?)

The nature of the work means that you constantly hone intellectual skills like critical thinking and problem solving. You may also get to work with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), thought leaders, regulators, and technologists, learning from their expertise and perspectives. Accountants help other leaders understand complex situations so they can make critical decisions.

For some, it’s often also a path to the C-suite. In fact, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) often start their careers as accountants, and — as some research shows — in recent years more CFOs are being tapped to become CEOs. Because accountants cultivate trust and play an essential role in key business decisions, they can naturally develop leadership qualities.

It’s a destination for experienced innovators. Accounting’s expanding, interdisciplinary nature welcomes professionals with experience in areas such as technology, , strategy and more — enabling them to contribute at critical moments throughout a business’ lifecycle, from startup and growth to transformation and compliance.

This collaboration works both ways: accountants and specialists teaming up to drive impact. For example, as technology specialists are increasingly embedded within accounting teams to help companies understand impacts from adopting AI and other emerging tools. Similarly, business strategists and accountants work together on the financial and risk implications of organizational transformations such as IPOs, and other growth strategies.

What ties all of this together is a shared commitment to upholding quality, integrity and public trust. By bringing together specialized experiences to pivotal business moments, the profession is redefining how organizations operate and drive innovation.

A career that fuels your curiosity

So, if you’re just starting out, or looking to make a change, here’s what I hope you remember: accounting is a career for the curious. It’s truly a profession where you get the opportunity to choose your own path.

Looking back, I never imagined that saying “yes” to accounting would lead to such a multifaceted journey. And looking forward, I’m more energized than ever. If you’re searching for a career that can challenge you, evolve with you, and give you the chance to make a real impact every single day — then accounting might just be the journey you didn’t know you were looking for.

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This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication.” As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte & Touche LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of our legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Copyright © 2025 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

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Business

Fortune Article | Fortune

Published

18 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Jace Porter

Bitcoin is one of the world’s most battle-tested pieces of software. Launched in early 2009, the network has run continuously without being hacked, and today feels more secure than ever. There is, however, a threat on the medium-term horizon that threatens not only Bitcoin but every other type of software that relies on current encryption technology. That threat is quantum computing and, on Wednesday, Coinbase announced it has created a board of outside experts to prepare for its eventual arrival.

The board includes academics from Stanford, Harvard, and the University of California with specialties in fields like computer science, cryptography and fintech. Formally known as the Coinbase Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain, it is also composed of experts in blockchain and security from the Ethereum Foundation, the DeFi platform EigenLayer and from Coinbase itself.

In an interview with Fortune, Coinbase Chief Information Security Officer Jeff Lunglhofer explained how the arrival of quantum computing could defeat current encryption mechanisms, including the ones employed to protect the wallets and private keys held by Bitcoin owners.

“In simple terms, modern cryptography relies on hard math problems that would take thousands of years for a modern computer to solve,” he said. “But when we have a million times the horsepower [with quantum computing], that will provide the computation power to solve them.”

While the security threat of quantum computing is real, it is unlikely to be an urgent issue for at least a decade, according to Lunglhofer. His view is consistent with other experts who note that, while companies like Google and IBM have been building quantum computers for years, the current generation of these machines can only operate at a small scale and are not close to being able to crack the algorithms that protect Bitcoin and other networks.

The purpose of the new Advisory Board, says Lunglhofer, is to explore the coming impact of quantum computing in a “non-hype based way.” This will include promoting efforts by the blockchain industry, which are already underway, to update Bitcoin and other networks so that they are resistant to quantum-based attacks.

Currently, the Bitcoin network secures wallets by means of private keys, which are long strings of random numbers and letters that are visible to their owners, but that can only be guessed by means of an impossibly long series of trial-and-error attempts. When the quantum computing era arrives, it will be possible to guess a private key using trial-and-error. In response, Lunglhofer says, blockchain experts anticipate that Bitcoin and other networks will respond by creating larger keys and, at the same time, introducing “noise” to make the location of the key harder to detect in the first place.

All of this will require blockchain networks to introduce and deploy these defensive upgrades, a process that is likely to take years. In the interim, the new Advisory Board will begin publishing research papers and issuing position statements to help the crypto industry prepare for the arrival of quantum computing. The group plans to publish its first paper, which will focus on quantum’s impact on the consensus and transaction layers of blockchain, in the next month or two.

“Quantum computing is both a technological opportunity and a security challenge. By bringing together the foremost experts in the world, Coinbase is ensuring that the blockchain ecosystem is prepared, not just reactive,” said Yehuda Lindell, Head of Cryptography at Coinbase, in a statement.

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Business

The Walmart C-suite reshuffle shows how the retailer sees itself now: as a tech company

Published

49 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Jace Porter

When Walmart last week announced that David Guggina, its U.S. e-commerce chief executive, would become CEO of its nearly $500 billion U.S. division, one thing stood out in his résumé: Unlike his predecessors, Guggina has no experience running stores and has never held a merchandising role, at Walmart or elsewhere. These are two classic job requirements in retail. Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner, for example, who has run U.S. operations since 2019, began his Walmart career as an hourly associate in 1993, and held roles in merchandising, operations, and sourcing.

But there’s another realm of experience that Guggina does have in spades: e-commerce, automation, and supply chain. And by putting him atop the division that generates 69% of company revenue, Walmart is signaling that it now sees itself as a tech company, as well as a retailer. Guggina has spent eight years at Walmart, after nine years at arch-rival Amazon.com. In its announcement, Walmart touted Guggina’s work in building delivery capabilities to serve 95% of U.S. households in under three hours, and said his appointment “positions him to continue to drive our goal of being America’s favorite place to shop.”

In the last decade, after years of fits and starts, Walmart has emerged as a formidable e-commerce player, with U.S. digital sales of almost $100 billion a year—still far behind Amazon, but well ahead of any other U.S. retailer. In its most recent quarter, Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce rose 27%. That has been the result of billions in investments to integrate Walmart’s 4,600 stores with its e-commerce operations. This work has helped ensure faster shipping while also integrating technology more effectively into things like inventory management, supply chain, and in-store customer service. Guggina was instrumental in those achievements, working under Furner, who will become Walmart Inc’s new CEO next week.

“This is a unique moment in retail,” Guggina said in a LinkedIn post about his appointment. “AI is changing how people shop, and customer expectations are higher than ever. But no one is more prepared to usher in the next era of retail.”

The timing of Guggina’s promotion was fitting: It came soon after Walmart moved its shares from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq exchange, where tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft list their shares. In December, Walmart said the move underscores its “technology-forward approach.”

Guggina isn’t the only techy whose star is rising at Walmart. The company also appointed Seth Dallaire chief growth officer for Walmart U.S., charging him with pushing Walmart U.S. further beyond traditional retail into tech-heavy lines of business—including its booming advertising, media, and online marketplace ventures. Dallaire is a veteran of Instacart and Amazon.

Walmart is considered by analysts to be well ahead of other retailers in AI-assisted shopping. In October, it announced a partnership with OpenAI to allow shoppers to browse and buy Walmart products directly inside ChatGPT, using a built-in instant checkout feature. Last week, Walmart and Google announced their own shopping tool. Also last week, Walmart’s executive vice president for AI acceleration, product and design, Daniel Danker, suggested at a conference that the company was developing auto-ordering for the replenishment of staples.

Bolstering Walmart’s tech and AI aura has had the additional benefit of lifting the company’s stock: In the last year, Walmart shares have risen 27%, double the S&P 500’s growth and trouncing Amazon’s 1% increase.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Business

The rise of on-demand leadership in the AI economy

Published

1 hour ago

January 21, 2026

Jace Porter

A quiet but consequential shift is underway in the executive labor market. Companies are rethinking how they access senior judgment in the AI era.

Rather than defaulting to full-time executive roles that command lofty salaries and long-term overhead, companies are increasingly turning to experienced consultants, strategists, and advisors to provide leadership on a limited and targeted basis.

This is not a dilution of leadership, but a recalibration of where experience delivers the most value.

According to LinkedIn’s latest Jobs on the Rise report, the fastest-growing roles in the U.S. economy sit at the intersection of AI and strategy. AI engineers claimed the top spot, while AI consultants and strategists ranked No. 2 overall. Strategic advisors and consultants also placed in the top 10. Together, the data show that as execution becomes cheaper, human judgment becomes more valuable.

The underlying driver is the implementation gap. After years of AI experimentation, organizations are struggling to convert tools into returns. While they do not lack models or software, many lack orchestration. Companies are increasingly turning to AI consultants and strategists to align technology with business realities, governance, and incentives, work that requires credibility, cross-functional fluency, and the kind of judgment typically associated with senior leadership roles.

The labor market now reflects a clear division of labor. Demand is rising simultaneously for full-time technical AI talent and for senior professionals who can translate those capabilities into business outcomes. As companies scale internal AI teams, they are increasingly relying on external advisors and consultants to provide the judgment required to direct that work at critical moments.

The supply side of this shift is shaped by organizational reality. Executives continue to make daily decisions, but AI has concentrated risk into fewer, more complex, and higher-impact choices around operating models, capital allocation, and governance. Rather than expanding permanent headcount, companies are bringing in experienced external leaders to guide those decisions when the stakes are highest.

The economics reinforce the model. Although senior advisors and consultants often command higher hourly rates, their total annual cost is typically a fraction of a comparable full-time executive role because they are engaged for a limited scope and time. Just as important, this approach allows organizations to draw on multiple forms of expertise rather than binding themselves to a single permanent hire.

The talent profile filling these roles is equally telling. Many of these advisors are former founders, CEOs, and COOs. Experience functions as a filter. LinkedIn’s data shows that many of the fastest-growing strategic roles carry a median of eight or more years of experience. These are not entry-level positions, but mid- or second-act careers for professionals with deep industry context.

The rise of founders and independent consultants on the Jobs on the Rise list also signals that this shift is driven by talent behavior, not just employer demand. Senior professionals are increasingly opting for career paths that offer autonomy, variety, and the opportunity to leverage their skills rather than committing to a single organization in an uncertain environment.

As AI automates and cheapens execution, the market value of human judgment, strategy, and accountability rises. As a result, pricing power shifts from doing the work to deciding what work should be done and how it should scale.

In this environment, experience is the moat. What is often described as “fractional leadership” is better understood as the unbundling of executive judgment from full-time roles. Over time, this model is likely to become not a stopgap but a structural response to the redistribution of value, risk, and expertise in the AI economy.

Join us at the Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit May 19–20, 2026, in Atlanta. The next era of workplace innovation is here—and the old playbook is being rewritten. At this exclusive, high-energy event, the world’s most innovative leaders will convene to explore how AI, humanity, and strategy converge to redefine, again, the future of work. Register now.

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