Artificial intelligence is already changing how accounting firms work. CPA professionals are using AI to summarize information, analyze documents, assist with research, organize data, draft communications, and streamline repetitive tasks. The next step is more significant: AI systems that can perform a series of tasks with less direct instruction at every stage.
This is where agentic AI in accounting enters the conversation.
Unlike a traditional AI chatbot that waits for a prompt and returns an answer, an agentic AI system can potentially take a goal, determine a sequence of actions, interact with approved systems, and continue working through a workflow. For a CPA firm, that could mean AI assisting with processes that involve multiple steps instead of simply answering individual questions.
The potential is significant, but so are the considerations. Accounting firms work with highly sensitive financial information, tax records, personally identifiable information, business documents, and confidential client communications. Giving an AI system more autonomy means firms need to think carefully about what the system can access, what it can do, and when a CPA or other authorized professional needs to review its work.
For CPA firms considering autonomous workflows, the question is not simply whether AI can perform a task. It is whether the firm’s technology environment can support that task securely and whether the workflow has appropriate controls around it.
What Is Agentic AI in Accounting?
Agentic AI refers to AI systems designed to pursue a defined objective by taking multiple actions rather than providing a single response.
A traditional generative AI workflow might look like this: a CPA asks an AI tool to summarize a financial document, and the tool generates a summary.
An agentic workflow could involve several connected steps. For example, an AI system might receive a defined assignment, retrieve information from an approved source, organize the information, identify exceptions, prepare a preliminary output, and route the result for professional review.
The exact capabilities depend on the specific technology. Not every AI product marketed as an “agent” has the same level of autonomy, and firms should evaluate what a particular system can actually access and execute rather than relying on the terminology used by the vendor.
For accounting firms, this distinction matters because autonomous workflows can move AI from an information tool into a participant in business processes.
Why Agentic AI Matters to CPA Firms
Accounting firms manage a large number of recurring processes. Tax preparation, document organization, client communications, research, reporting, data entry, reconciliation support, scheduling, and internal administrative tasks can involve multiple steps and systems.
Some of these processes may be candidates for AI-assisted automation.
The goal is not necessarily to replace professional judgment. Instead, CPA firms can evaluate whether AI can handle appropriate portions of repetitive workflows while professionals remain responsible for decisions requiring expertise, interpretation, judgment, and client communication.
AICPA’s 2026 PCPS CPA Firm Top Issues Survey highlights technology and artificial intelligence as major areas of focus for accounting firms, along with cybersecurity and the skills needed for an increasingly AI-enabled profession.
That makes AI strategy increasingly relevant to firm leadership. The technology conversation is no longer limited to whether employees should be allowed to use an AI chatbot. Firms also need to consider how AI tools fit into their broader technology environment.
Automating Repetitive Processes
One potential application for agentic AI is handling repetitive administrative workflows.
For example, an appropriately configured system might assist with organizing incoming documents, identifying missing information, preparing preliminary summaries, or routing work to the appropriate team member.
These tasks may not require the same level of professional judgment as tax positions, audit conclusions, or other significant accounting decisions. Automating portions of the workflow could allow employees to spend more time on work that requires professional expertise.
Connecting Multiple Steps
The defining feature of an autonomous workflow is that it can potentially connect multiple actions.
Instead of asking an employee to perform every individual step, an AI system may be able to move through an approved sequence of tasks.
That could make AI particularly interesting for accounting firms because many internal processes are already structured around repeatable sequences. The challenge is determining which steps are appropriate for automation and which should remain subject to direct professional review.
Supporting, Not Replacing, Professional Judgment
Accounting is not simply a data processing function. CPAs regularly deal with situations where context, professional standards, client circumstances, and judgment matter.
AI can assist with research or information processing, but that does not mean its output should automatically become the firm’s final answer.
AICPA has specifically discussed the importance of review and oversight when emerging technologies are used in accounting and auditing.
That principle becomes even more important as AI systems become capable of taking actions rather than simply generating text.
What Are the Risks of Autonomous AI Workflows?
Greater autonomy introduces a different category of technology risk.
A chatbot that produces an incorrect answer is one problem. An AI system that can access business applications, retrieve client information, modify records, send communications, or initiate other actions creates additional consequences if it behaves incorrectly or is compromised.
CPA firms should therefore evaluate autonomous AI through both an accounting and cybersecurity perspective.
Client Data Exposure
CPA firms routinely handle sensitive information. Depending on the firm’s services, this may include tax documents, Social Security numbers, financial statements, payroll information, banking information, business records, and other confidential client data.
Before connecting an AI tool to firm systems, leadership should understand what information the tool can access, where that information is processed, how it is stored, and what the provider’s security and privacy controls are.
Employees should also understand that copying confidential client information into an unapproved AI service can create risks that traditional cybersecurity tools may not prevent.
Excessive Permissions
An autonomous AI system can only perform actions that its permissions allow.
That makes access control extremely important.
If an AI agent has access to more systems or data than it needs, a compromised account, configuration error, or unintended action could have a larger impact.
CPA firms should follow the principle of least privilege whenever practical. AI applications should have only the access required for their approved workflows.
Incorrect or Unsupported Outputs
AI systems can produce inaccurate information. They can also misunderstand context, omit important details, or generate confident responses that require verification.
This is particularly important in accounting because an incorrect output can affect client communications, research, reporting, or other professional work.
AI should therefore be incorporated into workflows with appropriate review points rather than treated as an unquestioned authority.
CPA Cybersecurity Needs to Evolve With AI
Traditional CPA cybersecurity already requires protecting endpoints, email accounts, networks, cloud applications, identities, and client information. Agentic AI adds another consideration: applications that may interact with several of those systems on behalf of users.
This means accounting firms should consider AI as part of their broader technology and security strategy rather than treating it as a separate experiment.
Accounting firm cybersecurity should account for both approved AI applications and unauthorized or unmanaged AI use.
Establish Approved AI Tools
One of the simplest steps a firm can take is establishing a clear list of approved AI applications.
Employees are more likely to use AI when it helps them complete their work. If a firm provides no guidance, employees may independently choose tools without understanding how those tools handle confidential information.
An AI policy can establish which applications employees are permitted to use, what information can be entered into them, what types of tasks are acceptable, and when professional review is required.
Control AI Access
AI applications should be treated like other business technology.
That means firms should consider authentication, permissions, account management, device security, logging, and access reviews.
When an AI tool connects to accounting applications, document repositories, email, or cloud storage, the firm should understand the permissions associated with that connection.
Access should also be removed when an employee changes roles or leaves the firm.
Monitor the Technology Environment
Security monitoring becomes more important as firms add more connected applications.
IT teams should have visibility into important authentication events, unusual access patterns, endpoint activity, and other indicators of potential compromise.
For firms using autonomous workflows, monitoring should extend to the systems that support those workflows as well.
How CPA Firms Can Evaluate an Autonomous AI Workflow
Not every accounting workflow is a good candidate for autonomous AI.
A useful evaluation should begin with the process itself rather than the technology. Firms can identify repetitive tasks, determine which steps require professional judgment, and then consider whether AI can safely assist with the remaining work.
Before deploying an autonomous workflow, consider questions such as:
- What specific business problem is the workflow solving?
- What information will the AI system need to access?
- Does that information contain confidential client data?
- Which applications can the AI system access?
- What actions can it perform?
- What permissions does it require?
- Where does a CPA or employee review the output?
- Can the firm’s IT team monitor the system?
- Can access be disabled quickly if necessary?
- What happens if the AI system produces an incorrect result?
- Does the vendor provide adequate security and privacy information?
- Is the workflow documented so employees understand how it operates?
This type of evaluation helps separate useful automation from automation that introduces unnecessary risk.
AI Governance Should Be Part of CPA IT Services
AI governance does not have to become a massive administrative project. For many firms, it can begin with a straightforward set of policies and technical controls.
Those controls should cover approved applications, acceptable use, data handling, access permissions, employee responsibilities, professional review, and incident response.
NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework provides organizations with a structured approach for considering AI risks and incorporating trustworthiness into the design, deployment, use, and evaluation of AI systems. Its Generative AI Profile provides additional guidance for risks associated with generative AI.
CPA firms do not necessarily need to implement the entire framework. However, its risk-based approach can provide useful concepts for thinking about how AI should be evaluated and governed.
This is also an area where CPA IT services can extend beyond traditional troubleshooting. IT support teams can help firms evaluate technology configurations, manage user access, secure endpoints, maintain networks, monitor systems, and establish practical controls around the applications employees use.
The Role of Managed IT Services for CPA Firms
As accounting firms adopt more cloud applications and AI-powered tools, their technology environment can become increasingly difficult to manage internally.
A firm may use tax software, accounting platforms, document management systems, Microsoft 365, cloud storage, client portals, communication tools, AI applications, and other specialized services. Each application can introduce its own accounts, permissions, integrations, and security considerations.
Managed IT services for CPA firms can help provide ongoing oversight of the technology environment surrounding these applications.
That can include:
- Network monitoring and support.
- Endpoint security and management.
- User and access management.
- Security updates and patch management.
- Backup monitoring.
- Microsoft 365 and cloud technology support.
- Security awareness support.
- Technology troubleshooting.
- Ongoing cybersecurity monitoring.
- Technology planning and strategic guidance.
The objective is not for an IT provider to make accounting decisions. Instead, the provider helps maintain the secure technology foundation that allows the accounting firm and its professionals to use those applications effectively.
Why Network Support Matters for AI-Enabled Accounting Firms
AI adoption can add another layer to an accounting firm’s existing network and cloud environment.
Employees may access AI applications from laptops, connect cloud applications through integrations, and move information between multiple systems. If the firm’s network and endpoints are poorly maintained, adding more technology can increase complexity without improving security.
Network support for CPA firms should therefore focus on reliability, security, visibility, and appropriate access.
For Dallas accounting firms in particular, having a technology environment that can support both everyday accounting operations and newer AI applications can make technology planning more important. A growing firm may need IT infrastructure that scales as employees, clients, applications, and workflows increase.
What CPA Firms Should Do Before Giving AI More Autonomy
There is no requirement for a CPA firm to jump directly from basic AI experimentation to fully autonomous workflows.
A gradual approach can provide an opportunity to learn where AI creates value while identifying security and workflow issues before the technology is given broader permissions.
CPA firms can start by:
- Creating an inventory of AI applications currently being used.
- Identifying which applications are approved by the firm.
- Documenting what types of client information may be entered into AI tools.
- Reviewing permissions for AI applications and integrations.
- Establishing human review requirements for important outputs.
- Training employees on AI security and acceptable use.
- Testing AI workflows with lower-risk information first.
- Monitoring the technology environment for unusual activity.
- Reviewing vendor security, privacy, and data handling practices.
- Updating policies as AI capabilities change.
This approach gives firms room to adopt useful technology without treating automation as an all-or-nothing decision.
Agentic AI Is a Technology Decision and a Security Decision
Agentic AI in accounting has the potential to change how CPA firms approach repetitive workflows. Instead of using AI only as a question-and-answer tool, firms can explore systems that assist with connected processes and take action within defined boundaries.
But greater autonomy requires greater attention to the environment surrounding the AI.
Firms need to understand what information AI systems can access, what actions they can take, which users can control them, and where professional oversight belongs. They also need technology infrastructure capable of supporting secure access, reliable connectivity, endpoint protection, monitoring, backups, and appropriate identity controls.
For CPA firms, the most useful AI strategy may not be about adopting the most autonomous technology available. It may be about identifying the right workflows, applying the right controls, and creating a technology environment where AI can be used responsibly.
Preparing Your CPA Firm for the Next Stage of AI
AI is becoming another part of the technology landscape that accounting firms need to manage. As autonomous workflows become more capable, the line between an AI tool and a business application may become less obvious.
That makes strong IT infrastructure increasingly important.
CPA firms need reliable networks, secure endpoints, controlled access, protected client data, monitored systems, and clear technology policies. They also need a practical way to evaluate new applications before employees begin using them throughout the firm.
Whether your firm is experimenting with AI today or preparing for more autonomous workflows in the future, your IT environment should be ready to support that transition securely.
For accounting firms looking for ongoing technology guidance, security, and support, explore IT Support for CPA Firms from LG Networks. The right IT support can help your firm maintain a secure technology foundation while your team evaluates new tools and workflows for the future of accounting.