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The drivers that will exert the most influence on the accountancy profession are:

  • regulation and governance
  • digital technologies
  • expectations on professional accountants to look beyond the numbers
  • globalisation

Why is this research important?

This research identifies the main drivers for change that will have the most impact on the profession. Plus, it reveals to professional accountants the technical, ethical and interpersonal skills and competencies they need.

What does this research tell me that I didn’t know before?

Accountancy professionals can expect the following factors to have the highest impact on them:

  • development of intelligent automated accounting systems
  • rates of change and economic volatility
  • greater harmonisation of accounting and business standards
  • adoption of cloud computing by business
  • different aspirations and expectations of coming generations.

Graph showing external factors expected to have the highest impact in the next three to 10 years. Development of automated accounting systems is the factor expected to have the greatest impact. Graph showing external factors expected to have the highest impact in the next three to 10 years. Development of automated accounting systems is the factor expected to have the greatest impact.

How will reading this benefit me?

This report identifies the main drivers for change that will have the most impact on the profession, plus the technical, ethical and interpersonal skills and competencies that will be required in the future across the profession and in various technical areas.