Almost one in three accountants across Europe (27%) say their role is helping their employer address environmental and climate issues, and the same number, 27%, say they are helping employers deal with social impact issues. This is set to increase significantly in the future – almost 49% identify it as a key factor when considering potential employer.

ACCA’s (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) latest annual Global talent trends survey alerts employers to changing perspectives among accountancy and finance professionals, providing a unique view of how people feel about their life at work and future career aspirations.      

Now in its fourth year, this is the largest annual talent survey of accountancy and finance professionals across the world. Over 11,000 individuals from 160 countries – including nearly 1,500 from countries across Europe – responded to the survey on issues ranging from career ambitions, AI concerns, sustainability, social impact, inter-generational collaboration, entrepreneurial ambitions and returning to the office.

The results underline how the work of accountants is being redefined as they play an increasingly active role in promoting social value and driving sustainability. The findings show that finance professionals are increasingly involved in – and leading – initiatives in these areas within their organisations.

The change in their role reflects a widening view of what business success looks like, combining profitability with ethics, environmental and social sustainability, the ability to leverage new technology and the agility to deal with economic volatility. The real opportunity for ambitious finance professionals lies in using their finance expertise not only to report social impact, but also to help organisations create it.

Caitriona Allis, Head of Europe, ACCA, said: ‘In Europe, environmental and social impact credentials are no longer a nice-to-have – they’re a growing priority. Employers can’t afford to ignore this, especially as up to six generations now share the workplace, bringing new challenges and opportunities for financial professionals navigating cross-generational collaboration.’

This year’s emerging key themes are as follows: 

1. Finance professionals want their work to make a difference with 49% of respondents wanting their future finance jobs to assist in the environmental and climate challenge, and 54% wanting finance roles that make a difference to social impact.
2. 63% have concerns about the use of AI algorithms in hiring processes – a high figure compared with 48% globally – and over half 58% of board-level leaders who took part also have doubts about the growing reliance of AI when selecting talent.
3. 68% agree an employers’ reputation on social and human rights is a key attraction factor. This rises to 77% among Gen Z respondents.
4. Changing demographics meant that there could be up to six generations in the finance workforce – but 38% of respondents say current cross-generational collaboration is a challenge.
5. Entrepreneurial ambitions are strongest among Gen Z respondents (61%), who are also the most open to switching careers at some point (48%).
6.  Nearly half – 49% – say they’re dissatisfied with their current compensation as cost-of-living concerns continue to exert wage pressures.
7. Confidence in the ability to develop AI-related skills remains high among finance professionals at 68%, but 50% of respondents remain worried about the potential impact of AI on their jobs.
8. Just over half – 51% – say their mental health suffers due to work pressures causing mental health progress to flatline this year.
9. Gen Z leads return to office momentum, but hybrid working arrangements remain the preference of most.
10. 45% expect their next career move to be outside their current organisation, and the talent flight-risk demands action on multiple fronts.

Jamie Lyon FCCA, Global Head of Skills, Sectors and Technology at ACCA said: ‘One of the key themes that we continue to see this year is how accountants have ambitions around making a difference on social impact issues through the work they perform. It’s great to see that many say they are actually already contributing to this agenda through their current finance jobs. It’s more evidence of how roles and career paths in accountancy continue to transform and broaden out.’

Explore our interactive report here.

Editor’s Note

Countries covered in the Europe Talent Trends survey are Bulgaria, Cyprus , Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, The Republic of Ireland, Romania, Poland, Switzerland and Ukraine.

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About ACCA

We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), a globally recognised professional accountancy body providing qualifications and advancing standards in accountancy worldwide.  

Founded in 1904 to widen access to the accountancy profession, we’ve long championed inclusion and today proudly support a diverse community of over 257,900 members and 530,100 future members in 180 countries.   

Our forward-looking qualifications, continuous learning and insights are respected and valued by employers in every sector. They equip individuals with the business and finance expertise and ethical judgment to create, protect, and report the sustainable value delivered by organisations and economies.  

Guided by our purpose and values, our ambition is to lead the accountancy profession for a changed world. Partnering with policymakers, standard setters, the donor community, educators and other accountancy bodies, we’re strengthening and building a profession that drives a sustainable future for all.  

Find out more at: www.accaglobal.com