After the mandatory KSeF came into force, working in accounting became a big challenge. Although KSeF was supposed to make the task easier for accountants, because data from invoices do not have to be manually entered into the system, in practice the opposite happened. At least for now. There is even two or three times more work, because accountants receive not only invoices from KSeF, but also invoices sent in other ways, and sometimes also transaction confirmations.
From April 1, there will probably be more work due to the extension of the obligation to issue invoices in KSeF to small and medium-sized companies and JDGs. The question is what's next.
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How will the work of accountants change in the era of KSeF and AI
As Tomasz Mamas, a digitalization expert at Symfonia, says, everyday reading of the media paints a picture of “KSeF chaos”: technical problems, uncertainty regarding new obligations and the need to quickly adapt systems burdening both entrepreneurs and accountants. — However, once the first turbulence passes, automation and uniform document flow will begin to work to the benefit of all parties. KSeF may be an impulse for a profound change in the accounting services market – convinces Tomasz Mamy.
Experts indicate that the “moment of truth” is coming on the accounting services market, that this market will change and consolidate.
— In the short term, KSeF will not cause accountants to “disappear” from the market. However, it clearly accelerates the change in their role – argues Rafał Michniewicz, president of Aider Polska (formerly MDDP Outsourcing). He explains that thanks to the standardization and digitization of documents a significant part of the operational work of accountants (like data entry or basic accounting) will be gradually automated. – That means that the demand for these types of tasks will continue to decline. This demand has been clearly decreasing in medium-sized and larger companies in recent years, and thanks to KSeF, this process will also accelerate in smaller ones – says Rafał Michniewicz.
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So what will accounting and bookkeeping offices do?
— Accountants will increasingly be responsible for interpreting financial data, supporting business decisions and ongoing contact with businesses, and not just for processing them. The importance of analytical and advisory competences is growing – responds Rafał Michniewicz.
Tomasz Mamas assesses the current market changes in a very similar way. — Accountants will experience a shift in professional emphasis: less manual data entry, more process control, analysis and consulting, which requires new technological competences. Accounting offices will have to transform into more digital organizations, investing in integration and automation, says Tomasz Mamy.
Who will remain on the accounting services market?
Tomasz Mams points out that the traditional “per document” settlement model will lose its importance, and those offices that offer process and technological support to clients will gain an advantage. — The KSeF system forces change, but at the same time opens the way to more effective and modern accounting. From the initial confusion, a more modern, faster and more valuable market for accounting services may emerge – convinces our interlocutor.
Rafał Michniewicz adds that the current changes related to, among others, with KSeF from the perspective of small accounting offices is a real challenge. — KSeF, combined with automation and increasing regulatory requirements, increases pressure on investment in technology and scale of operations – says Michniewicz.
According to our interlocutor, some smaller entities may have difficulty maintaining cost and operational competitiveness. — However, this does not mean that small offices will disappear. Those that focus on specialization, customer relations and the development of consulting competences can still develop. However, a model based solely on simple accounting at the lowest price without the use of technology will be increasingly difficult to maintain, says Rafał Michniewicz.
He adds that the accounting services market in Poland is highly fragmented and at the same time burdened with growing regulatory requirements, technology costs and customer expectations regarding reporting and data transparency. According to Michniewicz, these factors will accelerate consolidation processes in the sector. — Some entities will decide to invest and build a larger scale of operations, others may consider merging with larger organizations. We see the market's growing readiness for structural changes, says the president of Aider Polska.
Author: Łukasz Zalewski, journalist of the Law section, Business Insider Polska
