Welsh accountants are demanding their roles drive societal change, ACCA report finds

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Welsh finance professionals are increasingly seeking careers that deliver social and environmental impact, according to new research from ACCA.

The organisation’s annual Global Talent Trends survey, which gathered responses from more than 11,000 finance professionals across 160 countries, found that purpose is becoming a major factor in career decisions alongside salary and progression opportunities.

More than half (54%) of finance professionals surveyed said they wanted roles that make a difference to social impact, while 47% said they wanted their work to contribute to tackling environmental and climate challenges.

The findings reflect a broader shift within the accountancy profession, with finance teams increasingly playing a role in helping businesses balance commercial performance with environmental and social responsibilities.

The survey found that one in three respondents said their current role is helping their employer address environmental and climate issues, while 39% said they are already contributing to social impact work.

Younger finance professionals were particularly focused on purpose-led employment, with 63% saying an employer’s reputation on social and human rights issues was a key factor when deciding where to work.

The survey also highlighted wider workforce pressures facing employers. Nearly half (49%) of respondents said they expected their next career move to take them outside their current organisation, while 48% said they were dissatisfied with their current pay.

Jamie Lyon, global head of skills, sectors and technology at ACCA, said: “One of the key themes we continue to see across Wales and the globe 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 are 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.”

Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Cymru / Wales, said: “What this survey tells us is that the most ambitious finance professionals in Wales are no longer willing to separate their technical expertise from the broader impact of their work.

“Accountancy is being redefined, and the opportunity is for employers to harness that and to use their finance function not just as a reporting engine, but as a driver of social value.”