Despite industry concerns, from regulatory uncertainty to staffing shortages, AICPA President and CEO Mark Koziel says the outlook for accountants remains strong.

“Every time there’s a new development in technology, they want to put us out of business,” Koziel said during his keynote address at ENGAGE 2025. But historically, technology hasn’t replaced accountants, it’s made them more efficient. Accounting Today reported that Koziel cited everything from Excel to blockchain as once-feared tools that ultimately made the profession stronger.  

Even in downturns, the profession tends to be resilient. “Typically, we are the last to fall into a recession, and the first to come out of them,” he said, noting that businesses turn to CPAs and CGMAs early in a recovery.  

That doesn’t mean the profession is without its challenges. Koziel noted that the IRS faces a reduction in staffing heading into the fall busy season, raising questions about service levels. And the potential elimination of the PCAOB, currently part of the Trump administration’s budget bill, could shift oversight responsibilities to the SEC. Koziel sees this as a moment for the profession to help shape future inspection frameworks, according to Accounting Today. 

He also addressed the rise of private equity in accounting, saying that while quality must be preserved, firms could learn from PE’s approach to partner accountability. On tariffs, he encouraged firms to lean into uncertainty as an opportunity: “This is like the Paycheck Protection Program at the beginning of COVID—we take complex things and make them simple.” 

Finally AICPA Chair Lexy Kessler shared positive enrollment data and emphasized the importance of continuing outreach. “We’re seeing results, but we’re not done yet.” She urged attendees to change how they talk about the profession. “Talk about the impact you have, not all the work it takes to make that impact.”