Despite growing fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will eliminate junior roles, Accenture chief Julie Sweet said the consulting major is expanding hiring for entry-level talent across global markets this year, arguing that college graduates may actually be better positioned for an AI-driven workplace.
âAccenture is hiring globally in all our major markets, more entry-level jobs this year than we did last year,â she said, speaking to host Bob Safian at the Rapid Response podcast recently.
Sweet said recent college graduates bring AI readiness and are already exposed to the technology.
âThe number one advantage for the college graduates we are bringing is that they are much more AI-fluent than someone who has even been here two or three years. Because they are using it every day,â Sweet mentioned.
For its own workforce, the Accenture CEO said the shift means redesigning roles rather than eliminating them. The firm has âreconstituted jobsâ by removing tasks likely to be automated and emphasising skills that remain human-driven.
âEntry-level jobs are important economically. Itâs how we create more experienced people,â Sweet said.
Training has also been revamped for new recruits, with greater focus on communication and strategic thinking alongside AI fluency, she added.
Accenture's leadership advantage
The hiring push comes as Accenture doubles down on becoming an AI-first company, a shift Sweet acknowledged is challenging because it requires leaders, not just engineers, to understand how AI transforms work.
âLeader learning is a huge unlock,â she said. âAI-first means asking yourself: is this something AI could do, instead of approaching work the same way as before.â
Julie Sweet became CEO in September 2019 and assumed the additional position of chair in September 2021. Previously, she looked after Accenture's business in North America and was Accenture's general counsel, secretary, and chief compliance officer for five years.
Before joining Accenture in 2010, Julie was a partner for 10 years in the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
AI adoption for businesses
The Dublin-headquartered firm added that AI adoption is not just about deploying advanced models. Much of the real value, according to Sweet, comes from rethinking how businesses operate before spending heavily on AI systems.
âThe technology is changing fast, but it is still really early,â she said. âIn three years, CEOs should be able to say what they used AI for to make the impossible possible.â
The clients at Accenture are first cleaning up fragmented processes and standardising operations before layering AI on top. âIf you spend money on your current structure and just replace it, you are at best going to get incremental value,â she added.
This comes as advanced AI bookings for the first quarter of FY26 were $2.2 billion, up about 76-83% year-on-year (YoY), with AI revenues reaching $1.1 billion, a rise of around 120% YoY for the company.
Across FY25 to date, Accenture has booked $11.5 billion of advanced AI work across roughly 11,000 projects, generating about $4.8 billion in revenue.
Accentureâs growth prospectus
The global IT major reported revenue of $18.7 billion for the quarter, up 5% YoY in constant currency terms, beating street estimates.
Accenture maintained its FY26 constant currency revenue growth guidance at 2-5%, excluding a 1% drag from the US federal business and including about 1.5% from acquisitions, implying organic growth of 0.5%-3.5%.
Consulting revenues rose 3% YoY, while managed services revenue grew faster at 7%, indicating continued traction in outsourcing-led deals. Growth among verticals was led by financial services, which expanded 12% YoY in constant currency terms.
Also Read: IT services sector can thrive in the AI age if they reinvent: Julie Sweet, Accenture
âAccenture is hiring globally in all our major markets, more entry-level jobs this year than we did last year,â she said, speaking to host Bob Safian at the Rapid Response podcast recently.
Sweet said recent college graduates bring AI readiness and are already exposed to the technology.
âThe number one advantage for the college graduates we are bringing is that they are much more AI-fluent than someone who has even been here two or three years. Because they are using it every day,â Sweet mentioned.
For its own workforce, the Accenture CEO said the shift means redesigning roles rather than eliminating them. The firm has âreconstituted jobsâ by removing tasks likely to be automated and emphasising skills that remain human-driven.
âEntry-level jobs are important economically. Itâs how we create more experienced people,â Sweet said.
Training has also been revamped for new recruits, with greater focus on communication and strategic thinking alongside AI fluency, she added.
Accenture's leadership advantage
The hiring push comes as Accenture doubles down on becoming an AI-first company, a shift Sweet acknowledged is challenging because it requires leaders, not just engineers, to understand how AI transforms work.
âLeader learning is a huge unlock,â she said. âAI-first means asking yourself: is this something AI could do, instead of approaching work the same way as before.â
Julie Sweet became CEO in September 2019 and assumed the additional position of chair in September 2021. Previously, she looked after Accenture's business in North America and was Accenture's general counsel, secretary, and chief compliance officer for five years.
Before joining Accenture in 2010, Julie was a partner for 10 years in the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
AI adoption for businesses
The Dublin-headquartered firm added that AI adoption is not just about deploying advanced models. Much of the real value, according to Sweet, comes from rethinking how businesses operate before spending heavily on AI systems.
âThe technology is changing fast, but it is still really early,â she said. âIn three years, CEOs should be able to say what they used AI for to make the impossible possible.â
The clients at Accenture are first cleaning up fragmented processes and standardising operations before layering AI on top. âIf you spend money on your current structure and just replace it, you are at best going to get incremental value,â she added.
This comes as advanced AI bookings for the first quarter of FY26 were $2.2 billion, up about 76-83% year-on-year (YoY), with AI revenues reaching $1.1 billion, a rise of around 120% YoY for the company.
Across FY25 to date, Accenture has booked $11.5 billion of advanced AI work across roughly 11,000 projects, generating about $4.8 billion in revenue.
Accentureâs growth prospectus
The global IT major reported revenue of $18.7 billion for the quarter, up 5% YoY in constant currency terms, beating street estimates.
Accenture maintained its FY26 constant currency revenue growth guidance at 2-5%, excluding a 1% drag from the US federal business and including about 1.5% from acquisitions, implying organic growth of 0.5%-3.5%.
Consulting revenues rose 3% YoY, while managed services revenue grew faster at 7%, indicating continued traction in outsourcing-led deals. Growth among verticals was led by financial services, which expanded 12% YoY in constant currency terms.
Also Read: IT services sector can thrive in the AI age if they reinvent: Julie Sweet, Accenture
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