Incorporating NQ magazine
July 2026
www.pqmagazine.com/www.pqjobs.co.uk
DRIVING SOCIETAL CHANGE Accountants have revealed that purpose, not pay, is the defining factor in how they make career decisions, chose employers and measure their own success. ACCA’s fourth Global Talent Trends Survey found 54% of UK finance professionals want roles that ‘make a difference’, ones that have real social impact. Some 47% said they want their job to help address the environmental and climate challenges we face. Many are already on that journey, with one in three telling researchers their current role is helping their employer understand the challenges of climate change and environmental reporting. ACCA believes the shift reflects the fundamental change in how UK finance professionals now understand their value and potential. No longer content to be the scorekeepers of business
performance, today’s accountants want to help their organisations define what performance means – balancing profit with ethics, environmental responsibility and social value. This evolution is particularly pronounced among younger professionals. Two-thirds (63%) say an employer’s reputation on social and human rights is a key factor influencing where they choose to work. ACCA stresses that for the next generation of finance talent, purpose is not a ‘nice-to-have’, it is a baseline expectation. The implications for employers are significant, with 49% of respondents expecting their next career move to take them outside their current workplace. And, with 48% dissatisfied with their current level of pay, organisations that cannot offer meaningful work
alongside competitive pay face a compounding retention problem. Glenn Collins, Head of Technical and Strategic Engagement at ACCA UK, said: “What this survey tells us is that finance professionals in the UK are no longer willing to separate their technical expertise from the broader impact of their work. The opportunity for employers
is to harness that and to position their finance function not just as a reporting engine, but as a driver of social value.” Other report findings include: • Changing demographics mean there could be up to six generations in the finance workforce – but a third say current cross-generational collaboration is a challenge. Some 62% of baby boomers (aged 62+) want the value of older employees recognised. • Entrepreneurial ambitions burn brightly for Gen Z (aged 18-27) at 50% – including 32% of females. • 47% say their mental health suffered due to work pressures causing mental health progress to flatline this year. • Gen Z lead return-to-office momentum (67%), but hybrid working arrangements remain the preference of most. Read more on page 27.
TALENT SHORTAGES BITE Three-quarters (73%) of accountancy firms are turning away clients because of a lack of staff, according to new research from outsourcing specialists Advancetrack. The talent shortage is now having a real impact, affecting firms’ ability to deliver work and generate growth. The data also suggests the issue is not easing, with 45% of respondents saying the talent shortage is worse than three years ago, including 19% who believe it has ‘worsened significantly’.
Vipul Sheth, Managing Director of Advancetrack, said: “Firms are not short of demand – they are short of people. This year’s Accounting Talent Index reinforces just how challenging the environment has become for firms across the profession, and how the talent shortage is starting to put a ceiling on how much they can grow. “Demand for services remains strong, but many firms are reaching a point where they just do not have the capacity to deliver. As a result, they are being forced to
turn work away.” He added: “Rather than a lack of ambition, our Index shows an urgent lack of available resources. Firms want to expand, but without the right people in place that growth is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.” Further stats from the 2026 Accounting Talent Index show how capacity constraints are now widespread, with 69% of firms reporting service lines are operating at or near full capacity. As a result, 71% say their ability to grow is being slowed by
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recruitment challenges, while 70% identify talent shortages as a major barrier to expansion. Check out the 2026 Accounting Talent Index – a global survey of accountancy leaders.