Transforming Accounting Through Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Literature Review of Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Imperatives

Abstract

This study conducts a systematic literature review to investigate the transformation of the accounting profession through Artificial Intellegence (AI), emphasizing opportunities, challenges and ethical imperatives. Drawing from 20 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2020 and 2025, the research categorizes insights into four thematic domains : AI in accounting education, AI and professional ethics, AI and regulatory standards, and AI in predictive decision-making. The findings reveal that AI has the potential to audtimate routine accounting tasks, enhance financial analysis accuracy, and support real-time reporting and auditing. Furthermore, AI is reshaping accounting education through intelligent learning platform and adaptive pedagogical systems. However, the study identifies key challenges, including algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, limited human oversight, and ethical dilemmas surrounding data privacy and accountability. Despite AI’s technical capabilities, moral judgment and professional responsibility remain irreplaceable human attributes in the accounting domain. The paper emphasizes the need for robust ethical framworks, interdisciplinary governance models, and curriculum reforms to align AI integration with the principles of fairness, integrity , and social responsibility. Future research directions are proposed to address gaps in AI explainability, legal accountability , and implementation models tailored for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This review contributes to a nuanced understanding of AI’s transformative impact on accounting and advocates for a balanced approach that integrates technological advancement with ethical and human-centered considerations.