Geopolitical uncertainty, talent shortages, and regulatory change are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence in tax and finance departments, according to the latest edition of the international EY Tax and Finance Operations study. Nearly nine out of ten leaders (86%) in these areas prioritize the use of advanced technologies for predictive analytics or automated reporting. At the same time, as shown by the study How Polish Companies Implement AI, artificial intelligence is still used far less frequently in finance in Poland (35%) than in IT (51%) or customer service (48%).
“To stay ahead and respond to a rapidly changing regulatory environment, finance teams must evolve their operating models. These departments help companies process financial data so that it is clear, understandable, and quickly accessible to decision-makers. This enables management boards to use data for fast and precise strategic decision-making,” says Jerzy Toczyński, Partner in the Tax Reporting Team within the Tax Advisory Department at EY Poland.
The fourth edition of the international EY Tax and Finance Operations survey included 1,600 executives responsible for tax and finance functions. Their responses indicate that the implementation of advanced technologies in tax departments remains challenging. More than half (51%) of tax and finance functions are still at an early stage of data management maturity.
The study also shows that companies struggle with both the quality and the volume of data. Nearly half (45%) of tax directors point to the inability to implement a sustainable data, AI, and technology plan as the biggest obstacle to achieving their departments’ vision and objectives.
Data Fragmentation Is a Major Barrier
Eight out of ten respondents (80%) say that an insufficient amount of AI-ready data is the biggest barrier to developing artificial intelligence in their organizations. According to 91% of respondents, their organizations’ data is stored in too many silos, particularly on local hard drives.
This challenge is also highlighted in the EY report How Polish Companies Implement AI. It shows that in 2025, only four out of ten companies have data that is genuinely ready for AI use. Most organizations either see clear quality gaps or do not yet have full visibility into the condition of their data assets.
As a result, in 2025 only 35% of medium-sized and large companies operating in Poland have implemented AI in finance—an area that is particularly sensitive to data quality issues. Artificial intelligence is far more commonly deployed in IT departments (51%), customer service (48%), marketing and market analysis (47%), and sales (42%).
These are not the only pressing issues. Another key challenge identified by the EY Tax and Finance Operations study is the shortage of talent. As many as 61% of respondents fear a weakening of their departments as senior specialists retire, while 66% believe that the declining number of new accountants entering the profession will negatively affect staffing capacity.
“To meet the challenges of workforce transformation, tax and finance teams should support the development of skills in analytical thinking, data work, and modern technologies. Combining the experience of existing specialists with new competencies will enable effective use of artificial intelligence and ensure teams remain agile and prepared for future change,” adds Jerzy Toczyński.
About the Study
This year’s edition of the EY Tax and Finance Operations survey was conducted between July and September 2025 among 1,600 tax and finance leaders representing 30 regions and 22 industries.
The study How Polish Companies Implement AI was commissioned by EY and carried out by CubeResearch among 499 Polish companies: 45% in manufacturing, 33% in services, and 22% in trade. Of the respondents, 56% represented medium-sized companies and 44% large enterprises. The third edition of the study was conducted in the last quarter of 2025.
Source: CEO.com.pl
