ACCA - Global Talent Trends 2023

The ACCA Global Talent Trends 2023 report provides insights into the current state of the finance and accounting profession, as well as predictions for the future. The report is based on a survey of 8,405 professional accountants across 148 locations, making it one of the largest ever studies across the profession. The report highlights that concerns related to wellbeing/mental health, long working hours, workload/insufficient resources, and poor career development opportunities are prevalent across various sectors. However, a significant percentage of respondents across sectors identify "purpose - a job that is essential to an organization" as a key benefit of a career in finance and accounting. Leadership accessibility is an important factor for younger generations when considering an organization. However, there are differences by sector, with public sector respondents being less likely to agree that leaders in their organization have integrity and that their organization's culture is inclusive. Younger employees, particularly those in the Big Four accounting firms and academia, express concerns about the speed of technological change in the workplace. The report highlights that organizations are making progress in terms of accessibility of leaders, leadership integrity, and inclusive organizational cultures. However, social mobility remains a challenge, with a significant percentage of respondents indicating that a low socio-economic background is still a barrier to career progression.