Finance professionals across Wales say social impact and environmental responsibility now matter as much as pay
WELSH accountants are increasingly demanding careers that deliver social value as well as financial reward, according to a major new global survey.
The findings, published by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), reveal a growing shift within the profession as finance workers across Wales look beyond salaries and seek roles that contribute to society and the environment.
The survey – described as the world’s largest annual talent survey of finance professionals – gathered responses from more than 11,000 people across 160 countries, including Wales.
More than half (54%) of those surveyed said they wanted roles that make a positive social impact, while 47% said they wanted their work to help tackle environmental and climate issues.
The report suggests the traditional stereotype of accountants as purely numbers-focused professionals is rapidly changing, with many now seeing themselves as key drivers of ethical business practice and sustainability.
One in three respondents said their current role already helps their employer address environmental and climate concerns, while 39% said they were actively contributing to social impact work through their jobs.
The shift appears especially strong among younger workers. Nearly two thirds (63%) said an employer’s reputation on social and human rights issues played a major role in deciding where they wanted to work.
Jamie Lyon, Global Head of Skills, Sectors and Technology at ACCA, said accountants were increasingly looking to make a meaningful difference through their careers.
He 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.”
The survey also points to growing pressure on employers to offer more than competitive salaries if they want to retain skilled staff.
Almost half (49%) of respondents said they expected their next career move to take them outside their current workplace, while 48% said they were dissatisfied with their current pay.
Lloyd Powell, Head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, said the profession was being redefined by a new generation of finance professionals.
He 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.”
The report also highlighted wider trends affecting the finance sector across the UK.
Researchers found there could soon be as many as six generations working side-by-side within the profession, although a third of respondents said collaboration across age groups remained a challenge.
Among younger workers, entrepreneurial ambitions remain high, with half of Gen Z respondents saying they hoped to start their own ventures.
Mental health also remains a concern within the profession, with 47% saying work pressures negatively affected their wellbeing.
Despite increasing calls to return to the office, hybrid working arrangements remain the preferred option for most finance professionals surveyed.
