Accountants want to make a social impact

Accountants and financial professionals are interested in engaging in environmental and social issues, according to a new survey, but are also reporting that their mental health is suffering because of work pressures.

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The survey, released Wednesday by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, found that finance professionals want their work to make a difference, with 59% of North American respondents wishing their future finance jobs will assist in environmental and climate challenges, and 63% desiring finance roles that make a difference in social impact. Over two-thirds (69%) of all the respondents worldwide suggested they want jobs in the future that contribute to social impact.

Social issues seemed to matter to the respondents, with 70% saying an employer’s reputation on social and human rights is a key attraction factor, and half (50%) of North America respondents identified the social aspect of ESG as most important, compared to environmental (20%) or governance (27%).

“One of the key themes that we continue to see this year is how accountants continue to have ambitions around making a difference on social impact issues through the work they perform,” said Jamie Lyon, global head of skills, sectors and technology at ACCA, in a statement Wednesday.  “It’s great to see that many say they are actually 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.”

The annual survey is now in its fourth year and polled more than 11,000 individuals from 160 countries, including over 300 from North America. More North American finance professionals surveyed this year reported their mental health suffers due to work pressures, rising to 56% from 46% in 2025. However, globally, there’s been a slight fallback this year in those saying their mental health suffers due to work pressures: 54% in 2026 versus 52% in 2025

Confidence in the ability to develop AI-related skills remains high among finance professionals at 80%, but 51% of respondents indicated they’re worried about the potential impact of AI on their jobs. 

Regional respondents were split over their concerns over the use of AI algorithms in hiring processes, with 45% indicating they are confident in AI algorithms supporting unbiased recruitment processes, 43% disagreeing, and the remainder expressing uncertainty. Over half (54%) of board-level leaders have concerns around the use of AI in recruitment. 

Some 43% of respondents suggest their employer is providing AI-related upskilling opportunities, and this support is translating into more use of AI by employees. 

Changing demographics suggest there could be up to six generations in the future finance workforce, but 44% of regional respondents said cross-generational collaboration is a challenge.

Entrepreneurial ambitions burn brightly for 56% of North America respondents — driven mainly by Gen Z (74%) and Gen Y (59%) — while over half of overall respondents are considering switching to a different profession or career at some point.

Only 36% in the region say they’re happy with their current compensation, as cost-of-living concerns continue to exert wage pressures, and the effects of a global economic downturn wee listed as the top future workplace concern.

As an outgrowth of the popularity of working from home since the pandemic, hybrid working arrangements remain the preference of 61% of regional respondents, with 44% saying that if their employer required them to spend more time in the office, they would consider moving to another organization. 

Nearly half of North American respondents (46%) expect their next career move to be outside their current organization, and the talent flight-risk demands action on multiple fronts.