Overview
- KPMG China said AI will augment staff rather than replace them, with no plans to cut hiring, according to partner Andrew Wong.
- Deloitte China confirmed an October plan to add about 1,000 Hong Kong hires and invest HK$500 million over four years to build fintech, capital markets and AI capabilities.
- EY’s Derek Lai plans to expand the Asia-Pacific turnaround and restructuring team from 80 to 130 in 2026, anticipating greater demand for debt workouts and liquidations tied to a weak economy.
- Firms report using AI to parse large datasets, detect anomalies, summarise documents and transcribe meeting minutes, reducing time on high-volume tasks.
- Hiring pitches now emphasize AI-enabled workflows to attract younger accountants, with industry voices citing survey data that employees want faster adoption.