AI Will Force 60% of Finance Professionals to Seek New Jobs, Says Vista Equity CEO at SuperReturn 2025

Vista Equity Partners CEO Predicts 60% of Finance Professionals Will Be Job Hunting Next Year

At SuperReturn International 2025, the largest private equity event with over 5,500 attendees, Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert F. Smith delivered a stark warning for finance professionals. He predicted that by next year, 60% of attendees will be out of work, while 40% will be actively using AI agents in their roles.

AI’s Transformative Impact on Finance Jobs

Smith highlighted that artificial intelligence will change “all” knowledge-based jobs, especially in finance. While some employees will boost their productivity by integrating AI into their work, many others will face layoffs and need to seek new employment opportunities.

He explained, “We think that next year, 40% of the people at this conference will have an AI agent and the remaining 60% will be looking for work.” AI agents are autonomous programs capable of performing complex, multi-step tasks without human intervention.

What This Means for Finance Professionals

Finance roles are particularly vulnerable to AI-driven automation and augmentation. A June 2024 Citigroup report found that 54% of finance jobs have a high potential for automation, with another 12% likely to be enhanced by AI tools. This shift could increase the global banking industry's profit pool from $1.7 trillion to nearly $2 trillion by 2028.

Additionally, a January 2025 Bloomberg Intelligence survey indicated that AI could lead to up to 200,000 job cuts on Wall Street within five years.

• Understand AI Agents: These are software systems that automate complex workflows, reducing the need for manual intervention in many finance tasks.
• Prepare for Change: Finance professionals should consider developing AI skills to remain relevant and productive.
• Consider Reskilling: Those at risk of displacement may need to explore adjacent roles or new career paths.

How to Stay Ahead

Adapting to AI is no longer optional. Learning how to work alongside AI tools can significantly increase your value in the finance sector. For those interested in acquiring practical AI skills relevant to finance, resources like Complete AI Training’s finance-focused AI tools can be a good starting point.

Staying informed and upskilling with targeted AI courses can help finance professionals protect their careers and find new opportunities as the industry evolves.