A robust diversity and inclusion culture is a key factor in deciding to work at an organisation for 71% of finance professionals in the US, according to a new study.
The annual global talent survey across the accountancy profession, released by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), provides an overview of how employees feel about their life at work, and serves as ‘a wake-up call’ for employers wanting to attract and retain key talent.
“The shortage of talent and the many job opportunities available to professional accountants mean that attracting and retaining talent presents a huge ongoing challenge for employers. With 71% of North American respondents saying that a strong diversity and inclusivity culture is a key factor in choosing an employer, there’s a real opportunity for employers who are strong in this area to differentiate themselves in a competitive market,” stated Jillian Couse, Head of ACCA North America. “The rise of hybrid working continues to motor ahead, especially in the US, with two-thirds saying hybrid is their preferred working arrangement while 58% say that they currently enjoy a hybrid arrangement.”
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION MATTERS
Approximately 10,000 professional accountants from 157 countries were asked about the concerns they held around work in the future as well as aspirations for their careers. The six key themes that emerged from the survey this year, revealed that:
- 71% of those surveyed believe that a strong diversity and inclusion culture would be a key factor in deciding to work at an organisation. Employers have more to do on diversity, though as 38% of employees believe their organisation focuses more on certain aspects of diversity than others.
- Professional accountants have endless career opportunities with over half expecting their next move to be external to their organisation, making retention an ongoing puzzle for employers.
- Global economic strains continue to place huge pressure on talent attraction and retention. Around 58% will ask their employer for a pay rise in 2024, but 50% believe they will have to leave their organisation to get one.
- Employers are excited by the opportunity AI offers with 75% believing it will enable finance professionals to add more value. But just over a third of employees are still concerned about its relentless pace of change.
- Mental health remains a major challenge with 49% of North American respondents saying their mental health suffers because of work pressures, and more than a third still feeling their employer doesn’t consider mental health to be a priority.
- Hybrid working is slowly gaining traction, but big mismatches remain between what employees want and what employers demand. Globally, 76% of employees say it’s their preferred arrangement but many employers continue to insist on full-time office working arrangements. In North America, 58% say they have a hybrid working arrangement, while more than two-thirds say they would prefer hybrid working.
Check out the full report here.
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