AI is the Slowest Change Will Ever Be: Talent, Transformation, and the Future of Careers in Australia

The story of finance is inextricably linked to the story of information. Historically, the earliest written documents were tax records. Today, finance is again at the forefront of a monumental technological shift: the Generative AI transformation. But this isn’t just an efficiency drive, or a finance issue; it’s fundamentally reshaping job roles, talent requirements, and the career paths of professionals across Australia.

We recently hosted the “AI in Finance Reality Check 2025: AI Salaries and the Future of Finance” event. It provided critical insights not just for finance, but for HR leaders and hiring managers in sectors such as Financial Services, Government, Energy, and Retail, where we seeing a lot of clients navigating urgent transformation briefs.

It also offered a clear roadmap for professionals looking to advance their careers. The core message from our expert panel? The clock is ticking on routine tasks, but the value of human-centric expertise is rising fast.

AI Adoption: Faster, Deeper, and More Challenging

AI adoption is accelerating at a pace unlike previous technological revolutions, such as the computerisation era or the spreadsheet revolution. Nick Munroe, Head of AI at a major Australian bank, put it plainly: This rapid evolution directly impacts AI recruitment in Australia as demand for new skills outstrips supply.

The finance function is already leading the way:

• Daily Use: 46% of accountants now use AI tools daily, significantly higher than the 28% seen across other white-collar professions.
• Time Savings: Finance roles are saving an average of 79 minutes daily using AI, compared to 49 minutes for other professional roles.
• Proof of Concept Graveyard: Despite the clear appetite, over 80% of AI initiatives are currently failing, ending in a “proof of concept graveyard.” This points to a critical need for proper governance, project management, and specialised transformation jobs talent.

The Automation Spectrum: What Stays Human?

AI is a tool for augmentation, not replacement. The focus for hiring managers should be on where AI drives capacity for higher-value human work.

High Likelihood of Automation

• Data entry from source documents
• Bank reconciliation matching
• Routine journal entry posting
• Payroll calculation
• Initial invoice processing

Medium Likelihood of Automation (30-70%)

• Audit procedures
• Preliminary financial analysis
• Tax planning for standard scenarios

Low Likelihood of Automation

• Strategic decision-making
• Understanding business context & relationshops
• Building stakeholder relationships
• Navigating complex regulatory requirements
• Leading organisational change

Historically, technology has expanded, not shrunk, the scope of finance roles. Accounting jobs grew 200% between the 1950s and 1980s despite computerisation, and saw a 12% increase during the Excel adoption period. Deloitte’s analysis shows the scope of CFO roles expanded 19% over the last five years. The automation of the mechanical “grunt work” simply clears the path for professionals to focus on strategy and value.

Talent & Career Implications for the AI Era

For Hiring Managers, especially those in mid-large enterprises in sectors such as Financial Services, Government, and Tech, the challenge is twofold: managing urgent high-stakes hiring for AI integration and upskilling existing staff to prevent the “proof of concept graveyard.”

For those in professions like marketing, data, software engineering and finance, the disruption to junior career paths, where entry-level tasks are being automated, proactive upskilling is needed to secure career advancement and salary premiums.

Critical Growth Areas and Salary Value

The high-stakes roles that command significant salary premiums are those that intersect traditional finance expertise with new technical and regulatory mandates.

• ESG Reporting and Compliance: A rapidly expanding field driven by regulatory and investor demand.
• FP&A with Data Specialisation: Moving beyond reporting to true predictive analytics and strategic foresight.
• Digital Transformation Roles: Leading the integration of AI across finance and business functions.
• Cyber Risk Management: Essential for safeguarding AI systems and sensitive data.
• Strategic Advisory Services: Providing high-level insight that leverages AI-generated data.

Essential Skills for Success

Mike Boutel, Head of Training at PM Partners, highlighted the shift in required capabilities: it’s no longer just about technical finance knowledge.

1. AI Literacy and Prompt Engineering: The ability to effectively communicate with and utilise Generative AI tools.
2. Critical Thinking: Interpreting, validating, and applying AI outputs to complex business problems.
3. Leadership and Change Management: Guiding teams through the emotional and operational shifts of transformation.
4. Technology and Innovation Mindset: Treating AI as a “team sport,” requiring cross-functional collaboration, as Nick Munroe advises.
5. Domain Specialisation/Niche Expertise: Finding your “secret sauce” to become the go-to expert in a complex area (e.g., specific regulatory compliance or M&A financial integration).

Expert Advice: Tools, Training, and Mindset

The experts shared pragmatic advice for both individuals and Talent/HR Leaders facing these challenges. The overarching theme is to treat AI as a powerful tool with inherent governance requirements.

• Embrace Daily Usage: Nick Munroe stressed the need to “use AI daily in personal life to build familiarity.” Leaders should model AI adoption for their teams.
• Prioritise Business Value: Avoid “chasing the shiny” new tool. Mike Boutel emphasised that AI initiatives must be treated as proper projects with governance, focusing on return on investment.
• Human-in-the-Loop: Both speakers agreed that the principle of “human-in-the-loop” is essential for compliance, governance, and mitigating the non-deterministic nature of generative AI.
• Transparency and Readiness: Finance professionals should be transparent about AI usage in the workplace and ensure interview readiness by demonstrating tangible AI-enhanced skills.
• Training Matters: Pursuing targeted certifications is recommended over long, traditional degrees, or just completing online courses that quickly date. Don’t forget to bring junior staff on the AI journey to future-proof their careers.

Accelerate Your AI Capability: A Solution for the Skills Gap

Addressing the acute skills gap in AI skills is a critical differentiator for organisations and a career accelerator for professionals. This is where Bluefin’s sister company, PM Partners, is stepping in with targeted, Australia-focused training.

PM Partners, with over 25 years in operation and training more than 15,000 individuals annually, has a clear vision to be Australia’s leading AI training organisation. Their courses are designed to move finance teams beyond the “proof of concept graveyard” to real-world business value.

For HR Leaders and Hiring Managers in search of a rapid upskilling solution for their teams, PM Partners offers high-impact, face-to-face courses. For professionals seeking a competitive edge, these are the essential certifications that validate your expertise and position you for high-value roles.

Featured Courses and Exclusive Offer

PM Partners currently offers multiple AI courses, constantly updated, and expanding to 27 by the end of 2026. As one of the first in the world to be a Chartered AI Native delivery partner, their training is cutting-edge and industry-recognised.

• AI Native Foundations (2-Day): The starting point for building comprehensive AI literacy.
• AI Native Change Agent (Advanced Course): Designed for transformation leaders and strategic function leads/ heads of departments.

The first public session is scheduled for January 29-30, 2026.

Exclusive Promotion: 20% Off All PM Partners AI Courses

To support the Australia’s urgent upskilling need, we are offering an exclusive 20% discount on all PM Partners AI certification courses. Use the code BF20 at checkout. Invest in your team’s or your own future today.

Partnering for AI-Driven Recruitment Australia

The transition to an AI-augmented teams is no longer a future possibility, it’s a present mandate, driven by M&A, digital transformation, and shifting regulatory risk. This shift creates a significant demand for niche technical specialists, transformation leaders, and professionals skilled in Responsible AI governance.

At Bluefin Resources, we leverage the insights from our network to connect our clients with the talent they need to thrive. Our specialisation in high-stakes roles in Australia, across areas like data, projects, change, transformation, risk, and tech recruitment means we understand the specific capabilities required to lead your AI uplift initiatives.

Are you a Hiring Manager seeking a Chief Risk Officer with demonstrable AI Governance experience, or a Finance Professional ready to secure a strategic, high-value FP&A role?

• For Employers: Partner with Bluefin Resources to secure the critical transformation jobs talent that turns AI experiments into successful, governed business value.
• For Professionals: Secure your career and salary advantage by upskilling with PM Partners’ AI certifications.Don’t just adapt to the change, lead it.