--- title: "The program does not replace people: why accountants do not disappear, but become more expensive?" date: 2022-04-08T12:52:50Z modified: 2024-05-21T15:10:40Z permalink: "https://grow.ee/programm-inimest-ei-asenda-miks-raamatupidajad-ei-kao-vaid-lahevad-rohkem-hinda/" type: post status: publish excerpt: In the labor demand study, experts predicted that accounting knowledge would become more necessary in the future. wpid: 7379 featured_image: "https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Blogi-1.jpg" featured_image_alt: Capital raising timestamp: 2024-05-21T15:10:40Z tags: - Accounting --- ![Capital raising](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Blogi-1.jpg) In the 2020\. workforce needs survey, experts predicted that accounting knowledge would become more necessary in the future. However, according to the Unemployment Insurance Fund, accountants are losing their jobs as technology takes over their profession. According to one of Estonia's most successful accounting companies, [Grow Finance](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/front-page-3-2.md), this is far from true. The profession of accountant has changed over time. With today's increasingly automated accounting, one might get the mistaken impression that accountants will soon no longer be needed. In fact, the profession of an accountant is no longer just about entering data or adding up amounts - this work is largely done by computer programs. However, technology is far from being at a point where a computer can replace a person. However, it can be said that an accountant has changed from a data entry person to a tax specialist. This does not mean at all that the profession of an accountant will disappear anywhere in the near future. In the [study](https://oska.kutsekoda.ee/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/OSKA-finantsvaldkond_aruanne_LOPLIK.pdf) "Future outlook for workforce and skills needs: financial sector" conducted by the Kutsekoda Foundation in 2020, experts in their field predicted that, among other professional knowledge, accounting knowledge will become more necessary in the future than before. The value of accountants is also recognized by [Grow Finance](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/front-page-3-2.md), which has been operating in the Estonian accounting and financial management market since 2000. According to the company, there is a complete drought in finding good accountants, which has lasted for at least three years. "The beginning of 2020 brought people to the labor market for a while due to the pandemic, but the resource quickly disappeared," says Grow Finance partner **Helari Pallas**. Good chief accountants, who are currently hard to find, are in particular demand. The situation is better with junior accountants. "At the same time, younger accountants are often still searching for the right choice and are therefore not always permanent," admits Pallas. However, Grow Finance is always ready to recruit junior accountants who are focused on development. ’We have many positive examples where they have grown into good accountants,“ confirms Pallas, who says that a good accountant must know customer service, speak English and be ready to come up with new digital solutions and implement them for clients. Considering this, it is surprising that according to the Unemployment Insurance Fund, there are too many accountants in Estonia. According to the latest labor demand barometer [study](https://www.tootukassa.ee/et/uudised/varske-toojouvaajuse-uuring-naitab-oskustooliste-pouda) of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, it is more difficult to find work in some sectors, because there is a small surplus of labor. This mainly concerns administrative positions, which are gradually being taken over by technology. ”For example, it has been seen for several years that the labor market no longer needs so many accountants, data entry workers, secretaries-administrators,“ the Unemployment Insurance Fund claims. ## How are things really? According to the Tax and Customs Board's employee register, there were 13,333 accountants in Estonia at the end of 2021, including nearly 5,300 people working in accounting firms. According to **Margus Tammeraja**, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Accountants' Association, this number is likely to be increased by a number of people who provide [accounting services](https://grow.ee/services/raamatupidamine/) in one way or another, but may not be registered in the employment register. Tammeraja explains: "4,423 accountant professional certificates have been issued, meaning there is a shortage of accountants with higher qualifications and there may be a "surplus" of people working in accounting with lower levels and limited skills." The Association estimates that approximately 450 more people are needed in the accounting field every year. However, the number of accounting graduates has decreased significantly in recent years – while in 2015 529 people started vocational training in accounting, the year before last this number was only 266. How is it possible that the Unemployment Insurance Fund is unaware of the shortage of accountants? The reason may lie in the fact that the accounting field is unregulated. ”Anyone who has completed a short course in accounting can offer themselves as an accountant or even offer accounting services, which in some cases can also end up with unemployment. Then they will probably be registered as an accountant by the Unemployment Insurance Fund,“ suggests Tammeraja. However, this does not mean that the profession of accountant has no prospects in 2022 and the future. On the contrary – journals and paper checks may be a thing of the past, but the nature of an accountant’s work is constantly evolving. Today’s accountant must be an open person who understands tax laws, but also clients. A good accountant needs both digital knowledge and analytical skills. A good example is [Grow Finance](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/front-page-3-2.md) – a forward-looking, innovative company with long-term experience that offers [accounting services](https://grow.ee/services/raamatupidamine/) in all Baltic countries. The Grow Finance team has over 40 capable specialists who are familiar with nearly 20 different programs and are always ready to learn new ones. They are looking for accountants to join their team who have education and professional knowledge, computer skills, but also excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt quickly in a changing work environment. Check out the job offers [here](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/tule-meile-toole.md). [ ![](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Praktika-Blogi_Mathias-300x169.jpg) ](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/mathias-valtsovi-raamatupidamispraktika-grow-financeis.md) ##### [Mathias Valtsovi's accounting internship at Grow Finance](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/mathias-valtsovi-raamatupidamispraktika-grow-financeis.md) July 21, 2026 Experience story from the Grow internship: How did the internship become a solid step in an accountant's career? [ ![](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kuhu-riiki-ma-sotsiaalmaksu-tasun-300x167.png) ](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/mis-vahe-on-sellel-kuhu-riiki-ma-oma-sotsiaalmaksu-tasun.md) ##### [Does it matter in which country I pay my social tax?](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/mis-vahe-on-sellel-kuhu-riiki-ma-oma-sotsiaalmaksu-tasun.md) June 26, 2026 Your social tax determines your health insurance and pension – does it go to the right country? [ ![Working abroad](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Tootamine-valismaal-300x163.png) ](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/millega-peab-tooandja-arvestama-kui-tootaja-tahab-teise-riiki-kaugtood-tegema.md) ##### [Working from abroad: what does the employer need to know?](https://grow.ee/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/millega-peab-tooandja-arvestama-kui-tootaja-tahab-teise-riiki-kaugtood-tegema.md) May 21, 2026 Working from abroad brings with it tax and legal issues that the employer needs to be aware of.