Accountancy redefined

The world needs accountants now, more than ever. They are drivers of sustainable business, promoters of social value, and enablers of new technologies. Their financial and ethical skills are being sharpened for a changed world of ever-shifting opportunities and challenges. They innovate with new business models and fresh thinking about what success looks like. They focus on people, planet and prosperity to create value for all. 

In short, accountancy is being redefined in ways that are expanding and reshaping the role of the profession. Exploring and driving the changes that are needed is core to our strategy. This report explores all this redefinition, bringing together findings from our recent research reports based on insights from our quarter of a million members in 180 countries across the world, and our wider community of employers, policymakers and forward-thinkers.

At ACCA, the world’s only truly global accountancy body, we’re leading the way by equipping our members and future members for this exciting new future that will bring them wider and more varied opportunities.

We’re redesigning the ACCA Qualification to help future members look beyond the bottom line and bring more value than ever to their employers.

And we’re introducing new and enhanced learning opportunities for members, as well as working to drive and influence positive change across the profession and beyond.

It’s time to shift our thinking away from traditional stereotypes and outdated ideas of what accountants do. It’s time to think ahead and embrace and recognise the much broader contribution they make to businesses, organisations, economies. It’s time to redefine accountancy.

What is accountancy redefined?

Environmental and social sustainability: creating value for all  

Financial success remains critically important, but a new approach to business is taking hold that focuses on environmental and social sustainability too. Accountants recognise this wider perspective is critical for success and are pushing it forward, acting as catalysts for change by driving rounded decision-making, ethical approaches, and more meaningful ways of corporate reporting. 

A force for good in a changed and complex world 

Powerful forces have changed our world and will continue to do so, from the climate crisis to ground-breaking advances in AI to economic volatility. Accountants are shaping bold strategies and guiding organisations through this disruption. They’re a force for good, standing for trust, transparency and ethics – qualities that are increasingly important in this complex and often challenging world in which the pace of change is speeding up. 

Driving success by pioneering AI and tech 

Forward-thinking accountants are leading the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies, harnessing them to drive analysis and innovation that improves performance and customer experience, transforms organisations, and creates new business models. And they’re leading work on the better management of data, resulting in improved data quality, an ethical approach and better management of risks.  

New and expanding roles mean more choice than ever 

Accountancy roles are broadening with greater focus on sustainability, data and technology, driving wider skillsets which are opening up opportunities in a wider range of roles. This means more career choice in a profession already known as a launchpad for all kinds of business careers, the flexibility to work across sectors and geographies, and the ability to flex based on lifestyle and personal ambitions.