Accountants reveal entrepreneurial ambitions in the world’s largest talent survey in finance, as high employability confidence creates retention challenge for employers

Lahore, May 14, 2025: Over half (52%) (Mainland China 38% / HK 28% / India 63% / Ireland 24% / England 32%/ Wales25% / Scotland 25% / Malaysia 46% / Singapore 37% / Africa 80%  / Asia Pacific 50% / Caribbean 68% / Middle East 68% / Canada 56% / US 53%  / Europe 22%  the finance professionals surveyed in ACCA’s annual global talent trends survey have career ambitions to be entrepreneurs, and 62% expect to move roles in the next two years Mainland China33%  / HK 52%  / India 80% / Ireland 56% / England 54%  / Wales 44%  / Scotland 48%  / Malaysia 64%  / Singapore 65%  / Africa 77%  / Asia Pacific 57%  / Caribbean 66% / Middle East 83% / Canada 65% / US 73%  / Europe Mainland 57%

ACCA’s (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) latest annual Global Talent Trends Survey 2025 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 third year, this is the largest annual talent survey of accountancy and finance professionals across the world. Over 10,000 individuals from 175 countries responded to our survey on issues ranging from career ambitions, hybrid working and inclusivity practices to upskilling, mental health and employability issues.

Many respondents see accountancy as a gateway for entrepreneurial ambitions and skills. With over half of respondents (52%)   Mainland China 38% / HK 28% / India 63% / Ireland 24% / England 32%/ Wales25% / Scotland 25% / Malaysia 46% / Singapore 37% / Africa 80%  / Asia Pacific 50% / Caribbean 68% / Middle East 68% / Canada 56% / US 53%  / Europe 22% they have career ambitions to be entrepreneurs, it’s clear that many see accountancy as a natural springboard to eventually their own businesses in the future.  This could also be good news for employers – there’s a growing need for accountants to use their entrepreneurial mindsets in many finance and business job roles where skills such as commerciality and innovation are prized attributes.

This year’s emerging key themes are as follows:

1. 52% see accountancy as a springboard to running their own businesses. This entrepreneurial mindset is highly valued by employers.  Mainland China 38% / HK 28% / India 63% / Ireland 24% / England 32%/ Wales25% / Scotland 25% / Malaysia 46% / Singapore 37% / Africa 80%  / Asia Pacific 50% / Caribbean 68% / Middle East 68% / Canada 56% / US 53%  / Europe 22%

2. Demand for sustainability-related careers is flying high with 67% (China 69% / HK 48% / India 74% / Ireland 53% /  England 51% / Wales 45% / Scotland 51% / Malaysia 71% / Singapore 61% / Africa 75% / Asia Pacific 72% / Caribbean 54% / Middle East 75% / Canada 66% / US 68% / Europe 52% interested in pursuing accountancy careers focused on environmental issues. Globally 48% of wider leadership roles below board level and 35% of middle management roles in finance currently include sustainability responsibilities.

3. Employability confidence is high with 62%   Mainland China33%  / HK 52%  / India 80% / Ireland 56% / England 54%  / Wales 44%  / Scotland 48%  / Malaysia 64%  / Singapore 65%  / Africa 77%  / Asia Pacific 57%  / Caribbean 66% / Middle East 83% / Canada 65% / US 73%  / Europe Mainland 57% expecting to move roles in the next two years and 58% Mainland China 55% / HK 54%  / India 67% / Ireland 56% / England 60% / Wales 50%  / Scotland 49%  / Malaysia 62% / Singapore 53%   / Africa 65% / Asia Pacific 60%  / Caribbean 56%  / Middle East 65% / Canada 43%  / US 43% / Europe 53% expecting their next career role to be outside their current organisation – a retention challenge for employers.

4. Over 76% Mainland China 79%  / HK 64%  / India 75%  / Ireland 76% / England 69%  / Wales 77%  / Scotland 72%  / Malaysia 80%  / Singapore 79%  / Africa 80% / Asia Pacific 78% / Caribbean 74% / Middle East 75% / Canada 69%  / US 74%  / Europe 72%  want hybrid working arrangements, yet over half of respondents (51%) Mainland China 69%   / HK  63% / India 41%  / Ireland 20%  / England 21% / Wales 14%   / Scotland 25%  / Malaysia 59%  / Singapore 41%  / Africa 69%  / Asia Pacific 61% / Caribbean 64% / Middle East 78%  / Canada 33%  / US 41%  / Europe 24% are still working in the office full time.

5. The recognition of older employees tops the list of diversity concerns, with 45% Mainland China 60%  / HK 55% / India 55% / Ireland 40% / England 35%  / Wales 42% / Scotland 34% / Malaysia 49%  / Singapore 56%  / Africa 39%  / Asia Pacific 56% / Caribbean 27%  / Middle East 43% / Canada 50%  / US 46%  / Europe 36% saying their organisation focuses more on certain aspects of diversity than others.

6. The cost-of-living crisis continues to top our ‘workplace fear’ index with 41% Mainland China 40%/ HK 8% / India 69%  / Ireland 9% / England 14% / Wales 6% / Scotland 10%  / Malaysia 40%  / Singapore 32% / Africa 56%  / Asia Pacific 46%  / Caribbean 32%  / Middle East 55% / Canada 39%  / US 48%  / Europe 20% of respondents expecting a pay rise of at least 11%

7. Half of respondents are concerned they’re not developing the skills required for the future workplace Mainland China 58%  / HK49%  / India 54%  / Ireland 46%  / England 46% / Wales 48%  / Scotland 37%  / Malaysia 63%  / Singapore 65%  / Africa 39%  / Asia Pacific 55% / Caribbean 53%   / Middle East 49%  / Canada 43%  / US 57%  / Europe 44%  and fewer than half (42%) Mainland China 84%  / HK 29%  / India 37%  / Ireland 23%  / England 23%  / Wales 29%  / Scotland 22%  / Malaysia 25%   / Singapore 27%  / Africa 27%  / Asia Pacific 69%   / Caribbean 19%  / Middle East 26%  / Canada 27%  / US  45% / Europe 27%  their organisation is providing opportunities to learn AI-related skills.

8. Mental health indicators are improving slightly compared to previous years data but remain challenging with 52% of respondents agreeing their mental health suffers due to work pressures. Mainland China 57% / HK 56%  / India 51%  /  Ireland 40% / England 52% / Wales 55% / Scotland 40% / Malaysia 59% / Singapore 53% / Africa 49%  / Asia Pacific 54% / Caribbean 54%  / Middle East 47% / Canada 52% / US 32%  / Europe 50%

9. The ‘side hustle’ is on the rise. 39% Mainland China 38%   / HK 37% / India 32%  / Ireland  31% / England 34%  / Wales 41%  / Scotland 31% / Malaysia 35% / Singapore 33%  / Africa 49%  / Asia Pacific 40%  / Caribbean 40% / Middle East 28%  / Canada 42%  / US 43%   / Europe 33% across all generations suggest they’re now engaged in additional employment to their main jobs – another challenge for employers in terms of engagement and retention.

10. Accountancy remains a valued passport to global careers with  Mainland China / HK 71% / India 87% / Ireland 76%  / England 60% / Wales 50%  / Scotland 50% / Malaysia 73% / Singapore 79% / Africa 83% / Asia Pacific 71% / Caribbean 83% / Middle East / Canada 90% / US  / Europe 60% of Gen Z and 52% (global) Mainland China / HK 63% / India 81%  / Ireland 26% / England 26% / Wales 33%  / Scotland 23% / Malaysia 47% / Singapore 44% / Africa 71% / Asia Pacific 58% / Caribbean 53% / Middle East / Canada 47% / US  / Europe 35% of Gen Y respondents citing a desire to pursue career opportunities abroad.

Jamie Lyon FCCA, Global Head of Skills, Sectors, Technology at ACCA said: ‘Our 2025 data continues to show a workplace in transition, but one of the exciting themes emerging this year is how accountancy training can be a brilliant early career pathway for building entrepreneurial skills. There’s no doubt this in part reflects how career ambitions continue to transform at work.’