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Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is transforming knowledge-intensive professional services; nevertheless, data from consulting ecosystems in emerging markets is still scarce. This study investigates the organisational and human-centric consequences of RPA implementation in consulting businesses in Johannesburg, South Africa, concentrating on company performance, job security, employee performance, and customer engagement. We performed reliability testing, rotational factor analysis, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression in SAS using a cross-sectional survey of 256 consulting staff. The results indicate a favourable correlation between RPA and employee performance as well as customer interaction, however no statistically significant link was found for business performance or job security. The paper provides context-specific empirical evidence about RPA within the South African consulting ecosystem, indicating that early value realisation may manifest through enhancements in worker efficiency and client interactions rather than immediate increases in firm-level performance. The findings underscore the necessity for change management, reskilling, and appropriate automation governance to maintain human-technology complementarity.

This research highlights the perceptions of accountants and auditors in Romania, offering insights into how the use of Artificial Intelligence is impacting traditional financial reporting. This research addresses an important gap, respectively the lack of Artificial Intelligence in financial reporting in the Romanian context, as prior studies often focus on broader or economically advanced regions, such as more developed countries. The purpose of the study is to contribute to this emerging discussion, presented as a wide limitation of AI adoption in such a regulated sector. Insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with pre-defined affirmations and open questions regarding the regulatory environment and how AI has been used to enhance financial reporting quality and accuracy but also how the regulatory environment limits the scope of AI. Additionally, a subset of international-level participants was interviewed for comparative purposes, enabling cross-border insights. Findings were further contextualized through the review of relevant literature to validate the comparative results by aligning them with perspectives with global trends. The key findings suggested companies often incorporate AI into their global strategies but fail to provide adequate training or support. Respondents also transparently communicated the lack of knowledge surrounding the subject given its benefits in the domain and lack of practical implications. Additionally, there is a clear need for a regulatory framework when applying AI in professions such as accounting.