Enabling accounting transformation and AI adoption in preparation for the new lease accounting standard effective in 2027

TOKYO–Fast Accounting (TOKYO: 5588) (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Keitaro Mori), a company advancing the realization of “Accounting Singularity,” and Layers Consulting (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Takashi Sugino) (Layers), a Japan-based consulting firm with deep domain expertise, have entered into a strategic partnership to address accounting-related challenges, including preparation for the new lease accounting standard effective for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2027. Through this partnership, the two companies will establish a framework that combines Layers’ consulting services for business process transformation and system implementation with Fast Accounting’s AI agent solutions specialized for the new lease accounting standard. This framework is designed to support companies advancing operational reforms and system readiness in response to regulatory changes.

Background and Objectives of the Partnership

The new lease accounting standard, scheduled to take effect in 2027, represents a significant regulatory change that extends beyond accounting treatment alone, impacting contract management, business processes, and systems. As a result, companies are required to undertake a broad and substantial range of considerations and responses, including the redesign of operational processes and organizational frameworks.

Through its consulting services across accounting, business operations, and IT, Layers supports companies in business transformation and system implementation. In this context, the firm has positioned the new lease accounting standard as a key topic in the accounting domain and has been exploring approaches that enable companies to address regulatory requirements while simultaneously advancing operational transformation.

In the preparation phase for adopting the new standard, the formulation of a “basic policy” — including internal training on the new rules, discussions on key accounting issues, and the development of policy documents — represents a critical step. However, in the absence of clear guidelines, many companies have expressed uncertainty about how to begin addressing these requirements.

Leveraging more than 40 years of experience in management accounting and a strong base of specialized professionals, Layers provides end-to-end, hands-on support throughout the entire process of adopting the new standard.

Fast Accounting develops and provides “Deep Dean,” an AI solution specialized for accounting operations, as well as accounting AI agents, supporting both the efficiency and advancement of accounting practices.

In the process of adopting the new lease accounting standard, the use of AI agents specialized for accounting represents a practical approach for addressing operational challenges. Fast Accounting’s solutions are designed to handle a wide range of use cases in this domain.

Through this partnership, Fast Accounting and Layers Consulting will deliver one-stop support to companies facing challenges in the adoption of the new lease accounting standard. By leveraging their respective areas of expertise, the two companies aim to support the sustainable advancement of business operations.

Rintaro Sugino, Director and Head of Management Consulting Division, Certified Public Accountant, Layers Consulting, said, “Addressing the new lease accounting standard presents an opportunity for companies to shift toward balance sheet-oriented management and to reassess contract management and fixed asset management processes. At the same time, however, the need to review a broad range of contracts has placed a significant burden on many companies, leaving limited capacity to fully capture these opportunities.”

Sugino added, “Through our partnership with Fast Accounting, which brings strong expertise in AI and accounting, we aim to significantly improve the efficiency of lease classification processes — one of the most resource-intensive tasks — while also enabling broader operational efficiency and enhanced management practices by leveraging our consulting capabilities.”

Keitaro Mori, President and CEO of Fast Accounting, said, “Responding to the new lease accounting standard, which has become a major topic of discussion, is not merely a matter of regulatory compliance. It represents a significant transformation that requires companies to fundamentally rethink their accounting operations.”
He added, “Our partnership with Layers is designed to deliver practical, execution-driven support that addresses both regulatory requirements and operational transformation.”
He continued, “Going forward, by strengthening collaboration with our partners and reducing the operational burden across accounting and finance functions — including the new lease accounting standard — we aim to create an environment where accounting professionals can contribute more directly to corporate performance and enterprise value.”

About Layers Consulting

Layers Consulting Co., Ltd. is an independent consulting firm founded in 1983 in Japan, with a team of 555 consultants. With a mission to support clients in navigating rapid changes in the business environment, the firm positions itself as a driving force for transformation by promoting open innovation and challenging conventional internal practices.

The firm provides consulting services across a wide range of areas, including the design and implementation of management accounting systems, accounting system transformation, HR and accounting process reform, talent management systems, HR system design, cost planning and management, product development process design, business strategy transformation, new business development, and digital transformation initiatives.

To date, Layers Consulting has delivered approximately 1,000 consulting projects to around 500 leading companies in Japan.

Company Name: Layers Consulting Co., Ltd.
Company Address: Meguro Central Square, 3-1-1 Kami-osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established: December 1983
Board Representative: Takashi Sugino, Representative Director & CEO
URL: https://www.layers.co.jp/
Description of Business
Management consulting service in the following areas
・Global / Group Management Control
・Management Foundation for Corporate Governance
・Re-making / Reformulation of Sales Strategy and Process
・Supply Chain Management
・Human Resources Management
・IT Management

About Fast Accounting

“Empowering accounting professionals by removing constraints through the Accounting Singularity.”

Fast Accounting develops proprietary AI solutions that automate, reconcile, and validate complex accounting tasks using generative AI and computer vision. Its solutions are adopted by major accounting software vendors and large enterprises in Japan.

By realizing the Accounting Singularity, Fast Accounting aims to address the growing shortage of accounting talent and enable accounting professionals to shift from manual processing to higher-value, strategic financial roles that contribute directly to enterprise value creation.

• Company Name: Fast Accounting Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 5588)
• Headquarters: Shiba Park Building A, 2-4-1 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
• Founded: June 2016
• CEO: Keitaro Mori
  https://www.fastaccounting.ai/

Core Offerings

• Robota Series: AI modules for accounting operations
• Remota: Invoice processing platform
• Peppol Access Point: Digital invoice transmission and reception service
• Official note blog: https://note.com/_fastaccounting

Media Contact

Marketing
Layers Consulting
+81-3-5791-1189

Public Relations
Fast Accounting
press@fastaccounting.co.jp

All product names and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.