One place of truth: Dr Kamran Shaikh on AI, efficiency and the future of client experience

The accountancy profession is under pressure. Rising costs, shrinking margins and the demands of compliance are forcing firms to rethink how they work. At the same time, clients expect faster responses, smoother journeys and more advisory support.

Technology is often presented as the answer, but the reality has been messy: disjointed apps, failed integrations and hours lost to admin. That’s why the arrival of AI agents and a unified platform is such a pivotal moment. 

Agentic AI experiences will automate repetitive tasks and complex workflows, empowering you with time savings and actionable insights. A reimagined interface will make finding what you need faster so you can stay on-task. And deeper functionalities will work together seamlessly so you can do more on a single all-in-one platform. 

To understand what this means in practice, we spoke to Dr Kamran Shaikh (Morgan Reach), Ros Hodgson (BCAMS Accounting & Training), Aaron Patrick (Boffix) and Chloe Britnell, (PJCO Chartered Certified Accountants).

For them, they see AI not as a threat, but as an opportunity to reclaim time, scale client relationships and reshape their roles.  Across this series, they share how:

• AI agents can act as silent team members, handling the repetitive work.

• A single “place of truth” transforms client journeys.

• Efficiency becomes the foundation for deeper advisory conversations.

• The profession can attract and train a new generation of talent.

This is Humans + AI — a series of practitioner perspectives on what comes next.

Fragmented tech stacks. Endless admin. Shrinking margins. For many accountants, this is the daily grind. But for Dr Kamran Shaikh, Managing Director of Morgan Reach, the shift to AI and a unified platform could be the most transformative change the profession has seen in years.

Agents as the invisible workforce

Kamran is clear about where the value lies. “The agent element in the QuickBooks platform will be powerful,” he explains. “With AI we will be able to streamline repetitive tasks such as sending emails, reminders, chasers, money chasing, job chasing and documents, regardless of where the clients are. It will also help with workflows, acting as a background agent that is completing tasks for you.”

Instead of spending time double-checking whether something has been done, agents can work as a virtual team member. The result: staff are free to focus on analysis and conversations, not chasing paperwork.

Escaping the app-stitching trap

For Kamran, one of the biggest frustrations in practice is fragmentation. “Right now we stitch several apps together to get one view,” he says. “Sometimes the reporting works, sometimes the sync fails, and sometimes the data is wrong. We are paying for multiple subscriptions, plus the integrators that glue it all together, and we still do not know if ‘create here’ will ‘land there’ overnight. It is fragmented, it confuses clients, and it wastes partner time.”

A single platform — a “one place of truth” — can eliminate that uncertainty. Campaigns, proposals, jobs, and compliance all sit in one ecosystem. Training can become easier, KPI reporting can become more reliable, and client journeys can feel seamless.

From compliance to coaching

The bigger opportunity, Kamran argues, is not just efficiency — it is reinvention. “Technology takes care of the administrative, menial work, which means accountants can work closer with their customers. Most of us have deep knowledge of the industries we serve, and now we can use AI and the platform to become more like a coach or mentor, helping clients fine-tune margins, staffing levels, or marketing decisions.”

In practice, that means scale. “That creates more value, more revenue, and stronger, stickier client relationships,” Kamran says. For smaller firms, the impact can be particularly profound: an end-to-end system from attracting customers to ensuring compliance.

The client experience reset

For clients, the benefits are just as significant. No more jumping between proposals, sign-ups, ID checks and communication platforms. “It looks more linked up, it makes them feel better, and it makes their journey easier,” says Kamran. When clients are satisfied, they trust more, stay longer, and recommend their accountant to others.

The takeaway

For Kamran, AI agents and one unified platform are not about replacing accountants. They are about freeing professionals from low-value admin and unlocking their ability to act as coaches, mentors, and strategic partners. In his words: “We sell time, and really we should be selling value.”

Now available to QuickBooks customers, a powerful, proactive team of AI agents and trusted human experts work together across the Intuit platform to handle repetitive tasks, surface insights, and support collaboration between business owners and their accounting professionals.

Disclaimer: Functionality will vary depending on plans. AI Agents (excl. VAT AI Agent): While available in all QuickBooks supported languages, the AI agent's output are currently in English-only. We recommend you review all outputs carefully. Finance Agent: Not available to customers with multi-currency enabled.

This information is intended to outline our general product direction, but represents no obligation and should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. Additional terms, conditions and fees may apply with certain features and functionality. Eligibility criteria may apply. Product offers, features, and functionality are subject to change without notice.