Mumbai, October 14, 2026: The use of artificial intelligence has emerged as the leading ethical challenge for the accountancy profession, with 61% of respondents ranking it their top concern in a new global survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). This marks a sharp rise from 32% in ACCA’s 2024 survey.
The findings, released ahead of Global Ethics Day on October 21, are based on the “Navigating Ethics for Trust” report, which surveyed 1,178 finance and accountancy professionals across 135 countries and included roundtable discussions for qualitative insight.
AI, leadership and culture concerns
Ethical leadership and ethical culture were also identified as major challenges, cited by 43% and 39% of respondents respectively. Half of those surveyed said ethical challenges have become more difficult to resolve in the past three years, while 53% reported witnessing unethical behaviour during that period.
The report notes that while the profession remains grounded in fundamental ethical principles, the environment is becoming more complex and pressured. The survey also found that 89% believe ethical capability in the profession remains strong, but stress the need for continuous professional development.
Trust and ethical standards
Respondents indicated that trust in the accountancy profession is rooted in strong ethical standards (46%), transparency (38%), and independence (36%). The report emphasises that enabling ethical behaviour is a shared responsibility, with ethical culture and leadership acting as core conditions for ethical action.
ACCA’s response and new qualification
Sundeep Jakhar, Head of Public Affairs – India at ACCA, said the increasing integration of AI in financial decision-making makes responsible use and upholding professional ethics a critical priority. He highlighted the importance of equipping finance professionals in India with the skills and guidance to address emerging ethical challenges, and noted that ACCA will introduce a redesigned qualification next year with ethics integrated throughout.
The report also includes a toolkit offering a 10-step process for applying the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (IEBSA Code) in real-world situations.
ACCA is a global professional accountancy body with over 266,100 members and 546,500 future members in 179 countries.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a press release provided by the concerned organisation and has been edited for style and clarity with the assistance of AI tools. BusinessFortnight does not verify, endorse, or take responsibility for the claims, figures, or statements made in the original release.
