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Almost half (45%) of firms are being “severely” or “significantly” affected by skills shortages and a total of 74% of respondents said that compared with three years ago, the shortages have got significantly worse.

A new global accountancy report has laid bare the “existential” skills crisis facing the industry – uncovering an “ever-widening chasm” between increasing demand and the shortening supply of talent.  

According to the new Accounting Talent Index, a new global research study conducted and written by outsourcing specialists Advancetrack, almost half – 45% – of firms are being “severely” or “significantly” affected by skills shortages.  

With the report surveying firms across continents, the figure is estimated to scale to hundreds of thousands of firms. However, even with the global economy showing green shoots of recovery, it appears there’s little good news on the horizon for accountants competing for talent.  

A total of 74% of respondents said that compared with three years ago, the shortages have got significantly worse. 

The report said reasons for this ranged from more competition for talent from commerce firms to fewer people attending and graduating from university, as well as the effects of the Covid pandemic and an ageing workforce.  

“Our Accounting Talent Index shows how the acute lack of accountants has emerged as a critical bottleneck, and its impact has been nothing short of severe, impacting businesses, institutions and economies on a global scale,” said Vipul Sheth, MD of Advancetrack.

“It’s made clear in no uncertain terms how everyone, from multinational corporations to SMEs right through to the hundreds of thousands of accounting firms around the world servicing them, are struggling under the weight of these significant challenges. It’s a perfect storm.

Sheth noted that without skilled practitioners and a “robust” sector to oversee financial transactions, tackle regulatory complexities, and ensure compliance, “the stability of modern commerce is genuinely at risk.” 

The Index reveals 61% of respondents thought the Covid-19 pandemic had made an “appreciable difference” to accessing industry talent.

It said smaller firms are especially bearing the brunt – largely unable to compete against the salaries and prestige offered by mid-tier  accountancy firms and the ‘Big Four’, with the latter also struggling to compete against other industries.  

The majority feel the Covid-19 pandemic has “accelerated trends” that were well underway before the first lockdown in early 2020, the report found. 

Other straining effects firms are seeing on a day-to-day basis from the crisis include needing to pay out higher salaries, challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, limiting the services they offer and being forced to not take on new clients.  

Vipul added: “Given these challenges, it’s crucial we engage with governments, industry leaders, and influential stakeholders to reinforce the critical role that accountants play in maintaining the integrity and accountability of financial systems.  

“While the solutions are not exhaustive, or all yet identified, significant strides can be made by investing in the development of accounting talent, rethinking recruitment approaches, and promoting the essential role of accountants in supporting economic stability.” 

Smithink Advisory partnered with Advancetrack for the report, with the findings unveiled to delegates at Advancetrack’s gbX Conference in London. 

Accountancy Age  Reports May 23rd 2024

The report examines the impact of five themes: firm structure and operational model; leadership and culture; talent; technology; financial performance and service lines

The ICAEW has published a report that explores the evolution of mid-tier accountancy firms following a survey of managing partners at 42 firms.

The report examines the impact of five themes: firm structure and operational model; leadership and culture; talent; technology; financial performance and service lines.

Seven in 10 firms surveyed were structured as limited liability partnerships, and 90% were part of an alliance, association or network. Global reach (84%) and client referrals (71%) were the main benefits of an affiliation, the firms said.

Some 64% of firms said they had acquired another firm in the past, while 17% had been part of a merger. Half of firms (55%) added they are likely to make acquisitions in the next three years, while 21% said their firm would like to merge with another in the same timeframe. 

Regarding private equity, 57% of respondents ranked it as a top three macro trend impacting the profession, while 12% of firms said they had secured private equity investment, and another 12% said they would like to secure investment in the next three years. However, 64% said PE was “not [or] not at all attractive” to their firm, while 17% said they saw remaining independent as an opportunity.

Other findings included:

• 52% of respondents cited talent shortages when asked about the macro trends driving change in the profession, with recruitment and retention and future-proofing among concerns
• Investment in technology infrastructure and cloud-based products is set to decline in the next three years, and in its place is a shift towards AI and in-house solutions
• Of the top three skills required for the next generation of practice leaders, respondents highlighted commercial acumen (52%), adaptability (38%), inclusive leadership (36%), emotional intelligence (33%)
• 93% of firms saw growth in fees in their last financial year, with the main drivers of growth including new clients (95%), increasing charge out rates (82%) and existing clients spending more (64%)
• Though firms said their biggest growth would be in the existing core services of tax and audit, a number of emergent service lines are also set to grow, including business advisory, corporate finance, ESG and tech app advisory

Alan Vallance, ICAEW CEO, said: “These findings paint an important picture of mid-tier practices as firms evolve to face the challenges of the future. Mid-tier firms play a vital role in supporting and advising SMEs across the country, which is why we wanted to understand the opportunities and challenges they currently face.

“We’re grateful to all those managing partners who gave their time to share their views. Their comments will provide valuable insight for ICAEW as to how we shape our support for firms and members facing such challenges, now and in the future.”

He added: “We hope that the findings will help these firms as they innovate and take strategic decisions to navigate the current economic climate, support their clients and contribute to the continued success of the profession.”

Heather Sandlin writes in Accountancy Today

A delay in creating a tougher British auditing regulator means the current watchdog is “sheriff of only half a county”, beholden to the goodwill of accountants for funding and data, lawmakers were told.

After the collapse of builder Carillion, retailer BHS and cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, three government-backed reviews proposed in 2018 and 2019 sweeping changes to auditing and corporate governance, including a new Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA).

ARGA would replace the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), armed with more powers to deal with powerful accounting firms, such as EY, PwC, Deloitte and KPMG, the “Big Four” that dominate auditing of listed companies. However, several years later the government has yet to introduce legislation to set up the new watchdog.

FRC Chief Executive Richard Moriarty told parliament’s business committee that the watchdog has come a long way in implementing many of the recommendations from the reviews, but “serious gaps” remaine that needed filling with legislation.

For example, company directors are not held to the same standard of accountability as accountants as the FRC can only punish directors who are qualified accountants.

The regulator is also “beholden” to accounting firms for information used in investigations, whereas other regulators can demand data, Moriarty said.

The watchdog has no competition powers and also has to “beg in a voluntary way” for about 40% of its income.

“At the moment I’m sheriff for only half the county,” Moriarity said, adding that he was asking for powers other regulators already had.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake said significant progress has been made by the FRC using existing powers to improve audit quality under new leadership.

“Legislation is a last resort, rather than a first resort, I would say. We are not in a crisis situation,” Hollinrake said.

“We want to make sure we don’t put undue burdens on businesses.”

INADEQUATE FOUNDATIONS

The government unexpectedly pulled draft rules from parliament in October that would have applied some of the lessons from Carillion and BHS.

It also gave the FRC a new remit to consider Britain’s competitiveness, and the watchdog later ditched proposals to toughen corporate governance rules for listed companies after heavy lobbying by the London Stock Exchange.

John Kingman, who chaired one of the three government-backed reviews, told lawmakers that without ARGA there was a risk of falling back on improvements made at FRC.

“The house has been impressively rebuilt… but it’s still on inadequate foundations,” he said.

“The peril of that is they are up against large vested interests, and they have to operate through suasion and not by power,” Kingman said.

The FRC announced in March it was freezing staff expansion plans due to the legislative delay in transforming it into ARGA.

As its establishment moves “further over the horizon”, the audit reform to bring vibrant competition is slowing down, Scott Knight, Head of Audit and Assurance at accountants BDO told lawmakers.

It means change will “take decades”, said David Herbinet, Head of Audit and Assurance at accountants Mazars.

Huw Jone Reuters

Few institutions wield as much influence and prestige in the history of accountancy as the Institute for Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Established as a pioneering force in the realm of accountancy, the ICAEW has played an instrumental role in shaping global standards, professional ethics, and educational pathways in the field.

Accountancy Today delves into the vast history of the Institute for Chartered Accountants in England and Wales from its 1880 beginning to the present day

Here we revisit the history of the storied body, the humble beginning of the institution and the important role it played in codifying the profession as well as the important regulatory role it now plays today.

Birth and early growth

The roots of the ICAEW trace back to the dawn of the 19th Century, a period marked by the burgeoning industrial revolution and the consequent need for robust financial stewardship. In 1880, a group of visionary accountants convened at the Gray’s Inn Coffee House in London to formalise their commitment to uphold integrity and expertise in the burgeoning field of accountancy.

Until the mid-19th Century, the role of accountants in England and Wales was restricted to that of bookkeepers, in that accountants merely maintained records of what other business people had purchased and sold.

However, with the growth of the limited liability company and large scale manufacturing and logistics in Victorian Britain, a demand was created for more technically proficient accountants to deal with the increasing complexity of accounting transactions dealing with depreciation of assets, inventory valuation and the Companies legislation being introduced.

It was formed of five associations that existed before its royal charter. These were the Incorporated Society of Liverpool Accountants, Institute of Accountants in London, Manchester Institute of Accountants, the Society of Accountants in England and the Sheffield Institute of Accountants.

The institute received its royal charter in 1880 from Queen Victoria, thus solidifying its status as a main authority in the realm of accountancy. From its inception, the ICAEW set out to establish rigorous standards of professional competence and ethical conduct, serving as a beacon of trust and reliability in an increasingly complex financial landscape.

Pioneering leadership and advocacy

Throughout its formative years, the ICAEW distinguished itself through visionary leadership and unwavering advocacy for the advancement of the accounting profession. Under the guidance of pioneering figures such as Charles Fitch Kemp, the institute spearheaded initiatives to enhance professional education, promote best practices, and safeguard the public interest.

In 1920, following the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, the organisation admitted Mary Harris Smith, who became the first woman-chartered accountant in the world.

One of the ICAEW’s landmark achievements came in 1948 with the establishment of the Accountancy Foundation, a groundbreaking endeavour aimed at fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and the profession. This initiative underscored the institute’s commitment to innovation and continuous learning, laying the groundwork for future advancements in the field.

In 1957, ICAEW merged with the Society of Incorporated Accountants which was originally founded in 1885 as the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors.

Upholding standards

As the 20th Century unfolded, the ICAEW’s influence transcended national boundaries, assuming a pivotal role in shaping global accounting standards and practices. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations with international bodies such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the institute played a key role in harmonising financial reporting frameworks and promoting transparency in global markets.

The ICAEW’s commitment to excellence and professionalism also manifested in its rigorous certification process, which remains a gold standard for aspiring accountants worldwide. The prestigious ACA/FCA designation, bestowed upon qualified professionals who demonstrate proficiency, integrity, and ethical conduct, serves as a hallmark of distinction in the accounting profession.

As an improvement regulator, ICAEW works to protect the public by making sure ICAEW Chartered Accountants, firms that are regulated by ICAEW and students studying with ICAEW maintain the highest standards of professional competency and conduct.

An improvement regulator works to educate as well as monitor the quality of its firms and members’ work and enforce change (change can include restrictions, penalties, exclusion from membership or from working in a regulated area) when needed.

To ensure impartiality, the regulatory and disciplinary roles of ICAEW are carried out by a separate department, the Professional Standards Department. All of this work is overseen by several layers of independent governance; an independent board, the (IRB) and regulatory and disciplinary committees, where at least half of each board must be non-accountants, and oversight bodies including the Financial Reporting Council and the Insolvency Service.

In the face of rapid technological advancements and evolving regulatory landscapes, the ICAEW has remained steadfast in its commitment to adaptability and innovation. Recognising the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, the institute has embraced digitalisation as a means to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in financial reporting.

Moreover, the ICAEW has continued to advocate for regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and restoring public trust in the wake of financial scandals and corporate malfeasance. Through thought leadership initiatives, policy advocacy, and public outreach efforts, the institute remains at the forefront of efforts to promote ethical governance and responsible stewardship in the corporate world.

In the years to come, the ICAEW’s role as a standard-bearer of professionalism and ethical conduct will only grow in importance, as stakeholders increasingly demand accountability, transparency, and integrity in financial reporting and corporate governance. Through collaborative partnerships, cutting-edge research, and forward-thinking initiatives, the institute will continue to shape the future of the accounting profession, ensuring that it remains a force for good in the world of finance.

Liam writes in Accountancy Today