Junior Hires to Become Instant Managers Due to AI, Says PwC Leader

The rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace is set to dramatically reshape the career path for new employees, according to Jenn Kosar, the AI assurance leader at PwC. In a recent article by The Times of India, Kosar states that as AI takes over routine, lower-level tasks, junior hires will be catapulted into managerial roles almost "instantaneously."

Kosar's comments highlight a significant shift in the accounting industry, where entry-level professionals are traditionally expected to spend years on tasks like data gathering and processing. She predicts that with AI handling these functions, a first-year employee will soon be operating with the responsibilities and skills of a fourth-year employee or even a manager from the pre-AI era.

This change is prompting PwC to overhaul its training programs. The firm is moving away from teaching basic audit tasks and instead focusing on core principles like:

Critical thinking

Professional skepticism

Negotiation

Advanced analytical skills

These skills, once taught at later stages of a career, are now being emphasized from day one. Kosar argues that far from stifling critical thinking, AI will help to create "better-informed professionals who develop faster," enabling them to focus on high-value tasks and strategic oversight rather than manual data entry. The evolution of the modern workplace, driven by AI, is redefining what it means to be a junior employee, pushing them to take on greater responsibilities sooner than ever before.