Irish finance professionals are less likely to quit their job than workers elsewhere

Irish accountancy and finance professionals are less likely to plan their next move with another organisation than the global average. Forty-four percent of Irish respondents expect their next career move to be with a different organisation, compared with 52 percent globally. Irish respondents show a balanced approach to changing workplace expectations around office attendance, well-being, and AI. Fifty-eight percent say spending more time in the office could improve future promotion opportunities. Workplace pressures in Ireland are slightly lower than the global average, but 49 percent report that mental health suffers due to work pressures. Twenty-seven percent report difficulties supporting collaboration across age groups, compared with 42 percent globally. Twenty-two percent worry employers invest in AI instead of people. Finance professionals globally are increasingly involved in sustainability and social-value initiatives.

"The survey found that 44pc of Irish accountancy and finance professionals expect their next career move to be with another organisation, compared with a global average of 52pc. The findings come from ACCA's 2026 Global Talent Trends Survey which gathered responses from more than 11,000 people across 160 countries. The report suggested Irish finance workers are taking what ACCA described as a "balanced and pragmatic" approach to changing workplace expectations around office attendance, well-being and AI."

"Almost six in 10 Irish respondents, or 58pc said spending more time in the office could positively impact future promotion opportunities. The survey also found workplace pressures in Ireland were slightly lower than the global average. However, just under half of Irish respondents (49pc) said their mental health suffers because of work pressures, compared with 54pc globally."

"Irish workers also appeared less concerned about tensions between different age groups in the workplace. Only 27pc of respondents said their organisation experiences difficulties supporting collaboration between employees from different age groups, compared with 42pc globally. Nearly half disagreed that it was an issue in their workplace."

"The report also highlighted concerns around the growing use of AI in the workplace. More than one in five Irish respondents (22pc) said they worry their employer is investing in AI technologies instead of people. Globally, the report found finance professionals are becoming more involved in sustainability and social-value initiatives within organisations as the role of accountants continues to evolve, it said."

Read at Irish Independent