Finance professionals in Singapore eye entrepreneurship and skills development, ACCA survey finds

A growing number of finance professionals in Singapore are rethinking their career paths, with 37% expressing ambitions to become entrepreneurs, according to ACCA’s latest Global Talent Trends Survey. Across Asia-Pacific, this figure rises to 52%, highlighting a shift in career priorities and signalling a need for HR leaders to support more flexible and purpose-driven career development.

The survey, which gathered insights from over 10,000 respondents in 175 countries, found that 65% of finance professionals in Singapore expect to change roles within the next two years. More than half anticipate their next move will be outside their current organisation, posing a significant retention challenge for employers.

Interest in sustainability-related roles is also on the rise. In Singapore, 61% of respondents are keen to pursue careers focused on environmental impact, aligning with global trends that see sustainability becoming a core responsibility across finance roles.

However, a widening skills gap threatens to slow progress. While professionals recognise the importance of AI, 65% in Singapore worry they are not developing the skills needed for the future. Only 27% say their organisations offer opportunities to build AI capabilities.

Daniel Leung, Country Manager at ACCA Singapore, said, “As we are learning to adopt AI-powered tools and meeting sustainability demands, the Singapore accountancy profession is redefining itself – not just in terms of technical skills but in how we create value as strategic partners. This aligns with the growing desire among professionals for purposeful work that solves high-value challenges organisations face today. It is imperative for employers to challenge the status quo and invest in their talent pool to ensure long-term resilience for organisations.”

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Hybrid work remains a point of contention. While 79% of professionals in Singapore prefer a hybrid model, 41% report still working full-time in the office. Without clear and transparent hybrid work policies, organisations risk employee disengagement and potential setbacks in skills development.

Jamie Lyon, Global Head of Skills, Sectors, Technology at ACCA, concluded, “Our 2025 data continues to show a workplace in transition, but one of the exciting themes emerging this year is how accountancy training can be a brilliant early career pathway for building entrepreneurial skills. There’s no doubt this in part reflects how career ambitions continue to transform at work.”