Marble Secures $9 Million to Revolutionize Tax Work with AI Amid Accounting Labor Shortage

Marble Aims to Transform Tax Accounting with AI Innovation

Marble, an emerging startup focused on artificial intelligence solutions for tax professionals, recently announced a $9 million seed funding round led by Susa Ventures, with contributions from MXV Capital and Konrad Capital. This capital injection positions Marble to address the growing challenges faced by the accounting sector, including labor shortages and increasing regulatory demands.

The accounting industry has seen slower AI adoption compared to related fields such as law and software development. Marble seeks to change that by offering AI-powered tools specifically tailored to tax professionals.

Addressing a Critical Labor Shortage in Accounting

The accounting profession has experienced a significant workforce decline, losing approximately 340,000 workers since 2019, a 17% drop that has intensified pressure on firms to meet client needs. Compounding this issue, the number of first-time CPA exam candidates has fallen sharply, with a 33% decrease observed between 2016 and 2021, hitting a 17-year low in 2022. This trend is partly due to a large segment of licensed CPAs reaching retirement age, creating a demographic challenge the industry has yet to resolve.

Bhavin Shah, CEO of Marble, highlights the dual challenge faced by accounting firms: “Fewer CPAs are getting certified year over year. The industry is compressing at the same time that there’s more work to be done and the tax code is getting more complicated.” Legislative efforts, such as Ohio’s relaxation of the 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure, indicate a recognition of these challenges and a willingness to explore new solutions.

Bridging the Gap Between AI and Accounting

While AI has been rapidly integrated into legal and software sectors through companies like Harvey, Legora, and Cursor, accounting has lagged behind. Marble’s executive chairman, Geordie Konrad, explains that unlike law or coding where AI manipulates words or code, accounting requires AI to function as a sophisticated reasoning agent due to the complexity of tax regulations.

Tax codes consist of tens of thousands of interrelated rules and guidelines, often overlapping or conflicting, making it a uniquely challenging domain for AI application. Konrad describes this as an “unbelievable playground” for testing AI’s cognitive capabilities.

Rapid Increase in AI Adoption Among Finance and Tax Teams

Recent studies reveal a sharp rise in AI usage in finance and tax operations. A 2025 survey by Hanover Research and Avalara found that 84% of these teams now heavily employ AI, nearly doubling from 47% in 2024. Additionally, Thomson Reuters Institute reports that 21% of tax firms currently use generative AI, with over half planning or considering adoption.

Major accounting firms are investing heavily in AI infrastructure. Deloitte has integrated generative AI into its audit platforms, BDO announced a $1 billion AI investment plan, EY launched a comprehensive AI platform for tax and transactions, and PwC anticipates a full AI-driven audit solution by 2026. However, smaller firms often rely on open-source tools like ChatGPT, highlighting a market opportunity for specialized AI solutions.

Marble’s Strategic Approach and Market Position

Marble has introduced a free AI-powered tax research tool that simplifies complex government tax data into clear, citation-backed answers for practitioners. This approach reflects their commitment to building trust and demonstrating tangible value without initial cost barriers.

The startup faces competition from established players such as BlueJ, Thomson Reuters, CCH, and Intuit, which possess deep-rooted customer relationships and significant resources. Nonetheless, Marble’s founders emphasize the transformative potential of AI to redesign accounting workflows from the ground up, leveraging new technological capabilities to enhance human productivity.

Reimagining the Accounting Profession with AI

Marble’s leadership rejects the notion that AI will merely reduce accounting jobs. Instead, they envision AI enabling accountants to shift from repetitive compliance tasks to more strategic, advisory roles. They draw parallels to architecture, where computer-aided design replaced manual drafting, allowing architects to focus on creative design.

By automating labor-intensive processes, Marble believes accounting can become a more dynamic and enjoyable profession while improving client service quality. Shah notes, “Not only does the work become more enjoyable because of what you can focus on, but that’s also what your clients are going to value more from you.”

Security and Trust as Pillars for AI Adoption in Accounting

Given the sensitivity of financial data handled by accounting firms, Marble prioritizes security and compliance. The company secured software compliance certifications before product launch and fosters a culture where data privacy is paramount. Shah emphasizes that security considerations are deeply embedded within the company’s operations and employee training.

Looking Ahead: AI’s Potential to Reshape Tax Services

Marble aims to extend beyond research tools towards AI agents capable of analyzing complex tax scenarios, identifying compliance risks, and automating significant portions of tax preparation—all while maintaining practitioner oversight.

The founders frame their mission as rebalancing the tax profession’s focus from predominantly compliance work to strategic advisory services, which offer higher margins and greater client value. This shift could help firms overcome staffing shortages and meet rising client expectations more effectively.

While challenges remain—including entrenched competitors and the inherent complexity of financial AI systems—Marble’s founders are optimistic that demographic pressures and demand for efficiency will accelerate AI adoption in accounting.

Shah concludes, “AI is going to change every industry—in some cases in ways that will help business models and in some cases in ways that will challenge them. We believe AI is ultimately going to make accounting firms’ businesses better and more profitable and at the same time end clients will get better services at better prices.” The accounting profession now faces the critical question of how it will embrace this transformative technology.

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Chrono

Chrono is the curious little reporter behind AI Chronicle — a compact, hyper-efficient robot designed to scan the digital world for the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Chrono’s mission is simple: find the truth, simplify the complex, and deliver daily AI news that anyone can understand.

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