How do small CPA firms handle the accountant shortage and burnout?
The accounting profession has lost more than 300,000 accountants and auditors since 2020. Approximately 75% of CPAs are at or near retirement age, and the pipeline of new CPAs is shrinking. Small firms can't compete with Big Four salaries. The 150-hour rule deters new entrants. Burnout-driven turnover runs 15-25% annually. You can't hire your way out of this — you need to automate.
300,000 Accountants Gone. 75% of CPAs Near Retirement. Now What?
These aren't opinions — they're data points from industry research, surveys, and real business outcomes.
300,000+ accountants and auditors have left the profession since 2020
75% of CPAs are at or near retirement age
Public accounting turnover: 15-25% annually, driven by burnout
CPA-credentialed roles take 73 days to fill — 41% longer than non-CPA positions
The 150-hour rule requires essentially a master's degree, deterring new entrants
Small firms can't match Big Four salaries, losing talent to poaching
Staff juggle client communication, billing, scheduling, and actual accounting work
2x
effective team capacity without adding a single hire
AI That Gives Your Small Team the Capacity of a Firm Twice Its Size
KraftAI automates the non-billable work that burns out your staff: client communication, document collection, scheduling, reminders, and reporting. Your CPAs focus on what they're trained for — advisory, tax strategy, and review — while AI handles the rest.
Automate Client Communication
AI handles status updates, document requests, meeting scheduling, and routine inquiries. Clients feel attended to without consuming staff time.
Automate Document Management
Intake, sorting, and filing of client documents. AI validates completeness and flags missing items before the preparer touches the file.
Automate Workflow Routing
Returns and projects are automatically assigned based on preparer capacity, expertise, and deadline priority.
Automate Billing & Reporting
Time tracking, invoice generation, and client reporting run automatically. WIP reports and realization tracking update in real time.
Do More With the Team You Have
See how much capacity AI unlocks — free firm analysis
Businesses using KraftAI recover an average of 2x effective team capacity without adding a single hire.
Get Started Today
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