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2025 IFAC Attractiveness of the Profession Survey

Welcome to the 2025 IFAC Attractiveness of the Profession survey. The purpose of this survey is to understand how individuals in accountancy see the profession and use that information to improve how we promote the profession to younger generations. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and opinions.

1. In which country do you reside? *This question is required.

2. How long have you worked in accounting or work in a job that uses your accounting skills? *This question is required.

3. What gender do you identify with? *This question is required.

4. Did you graduate from a higher educational institution (e.g. college, university, post-secondary educational institution, etc.)? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

5. What best describes the type of entity you work for? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. What is your current role? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

7. Have you worked as an accountant or in an accounting / finance role in more than one country? *This question is required.

8. Was accounting your first choice for a career? *This question is required.

9. Did you ever change your career? *This question is required.

10. How important were each of these factors in choosing the accounting profession? *This question is required.

Space Cell	Not important	Somewhat important	Moderately important	Very important
I want to enjoy my day-to-day work	I want to enjoy my day-to-day work: Not important	I want to enjoy my day-to-day work: Somewhat important	I want to enjoy my day-to-day work: Moderately important	I want to enjoy my day-to-day work: Very important
I want to have skills and talent that align with my career choice	I want to have skills and talent that align with my career choice: Not important	I want to have skills and talent that align with my career choice: Somewhat important	I want to have skills and talent that align with my career choice: Moderately important	I want to have skills and talent that align with my career choice: Very important
I want to find purpose in my work	I want to find purpose in my work: Not important	I want to find purpose in my work: Somewhat important	I want to find purpose in my work: Moderately important	I want to find purpose in my work: Very important
I want to maintain an adequate work/life balance	I want to maintain an adequate work/life balance: Not important	I want to maintain an adequate work/life balance: Somewhat important	I want to maintain an adequate work/life balance: Moderately important	I want to maintain an adequate work/life balance: Very important
I want to be able to work remote/hybrid	I want to be able to work remote/hybrid: Not important	I want to be able to work remote/hybrid: Somewhat important	I want to be able to work remote/hybrid: Moderately important	I want to be able to work remote/hybrid: Very important
I want to be well compensated	I want to be well compensated: Not important	I want to be well compensated: Somewhat important	I want to be well compensated: Moderately important	I want to be well compensated: Very important
I want to be part of a well-educated workforce	I want to be part of a well-educated workforce: Not important	I want to be part of a well-educated workforce: Somewhat important	I want to be part of a well-educated workforce: Moderately important	I want to be part of a well-educated workforce: Very important
I want to have career advancement opportunities	I want to have career advancement opportunities: Not important	I want to have career advancement opportunities: Somewhat important	I want to have career advancement opportunities: Moderately important	I want to have career advancement opportunities: Very important
I want job security	I want job security: Not important	I want job security: Somewhat important	I want job security: Moderately important	I want job security: Very important
I want to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions	I want to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Not important	I want to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Somewhat important	I want to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Moderately important	I want to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Very important

11. How important were each of these in shaping your perception of the accounting profession and your decision to become a professional accountant? *This question is required.

Space Cell	Not important	Somewhat important	Moderately important	Very important
The advice of a family member	The advice of a family member: Not important	The advice of a family member: Somewhat important	The advice of a family member: Moderately important	The advice of a family member: Very important
The advice of a teacher/academic advisor/mentor	The advice of a teacher/academic advisor/mentor: Not important	The advice of a teacher/academic advisor/mentor: Somewhat important	The advice of a teacher/academic advisor/mentor: Moderately important	The advice of a teacher/academic advisor/mentor: Very important
The advice of a friend/acquaintances	The advice of a friend/acquaintances: Not important	The advice of a friend/acquaintances: Somewhat important	The advice of a friend/acquaintances: Moderately important	The advice of a friend/acquaintances: Very important
Meeting individuals who are already working in a particular career	Meeting individuals who are already working in a particular career: Not important	Meeting individuals who are already working in a particular career: Somewhat important	Meeting individuals who are already working in a particular career: Moderately important	Meeting individuals who are already working in a particular career: Very important
Engaging with a career in the classroom	Engaging with a career in the classroom: Not important	Engaging with a career in the classroom: Somewhat important	Engaging with a career in the classroom: Moderately important	Engaging with a career in the classroom: Very important
Internships or other work exposure	Internships or other work exposure: Not important	Internships or other work exposure: Somewhat important	Internships or other work exposure: Moderately important	Internships or other work exposure: Very important
Media representations (TV, movies, social media, etc.) of a career	Media representations (TV, movies, social media, etc.) of a career: Not important	Media representations (TV, movies, social media, etc.) of a career: Somewhat important	Media representations (TV, movies, social media, etc.) of a career: Moderately important	Media representations (TV, movies, social media, etc.) of a career: Very important
Self-guided research (internet searches, AI, etc.) about a career	Self-guided research (internet searches, AI, etc.) about a career: Not important	Self-guided research (internet searches, AI, etc.) about a career: Somewhat important	Self-guided research (internet searches, AI, etc.) about a career: Moderately important	Self-guided research (internet searches, AI, etc.) about a career: Very important

12. What best describes your career goals? Please choose up to three. *This question is required.

Start my own firm or business
Become a Partner, Managing Director, CFO, or Controller
Specialize in a specific field of accounting (e.g. forensic accounting, auditing, tax, etc.)
Move into consulting or advisory work
Move into another business-related field
Maintain a stable role
Maximize my compensation
Maintain a positive work-life balance
Retire early

13. Has the accounting profession met your expectations for these factors? *This question is required.

Space Cell	Strongly disagree	Somewhat disagree	No opinion / not important	Somewhat agree	Strongly agree
I enjoy my day-to-day work	I enjoy my day-to-day work: Strongly disagree	I enjoy my day-to-day work: Somewhat disagree	I enjoy my day-to-day work: No opinion / not important	I enjoy my day-to-day work: Somewhat agree	I enjoy my day-to-day work: Strongly agree
I have skills and talents that align with my career choice	I have skills and talents that align with my career choice: Strongly disagree	I have skills and talents that align with my career choice: Somewhat disagree	I have skills and talents that align with my career choice: No opinion / not important	I have skills and talents that align with my career choice: Somewhat agree	I have skills and talents that align with my career choice: Strongly agree
I find purpose in my work	I find purpose in my work: Strongly disagree	I find purpose in my work: Somewhat disagree	I find purpose in my work: No opinion / not important	I find purpose in my work: Somewhat agree	I find purpose in my work: Strongly agree
I maintain an adequate work/life balance	I maintain an adequate work/life balance: Strongly disagree	I maintain an adequate work/life balance: Somewhat disagree	I maintain an adequate work/life balance: No opinion / not important	I maintain an adequate work/life balance: Somewhat agree	I maintain an adequate work/life balance: Strongly agree
I am able to work remote/hybrid	I am able to work remote/hybrid: Strongly disagree	I am able to work remote/hybrid: Somewhat disagree	I am able to work remote/hybrid: No opinion / not important	I am able to work remote/hybrid: Somewhat agree	I am able to work remote/hybrid: Strongly agree
I am well compensated	I am well compensated: Strongly disagree	I am well compensated: Somewhat disagree	I am well compensated: No opinion / not important	I am well compensated: Somewhat agree	I am well compensated: Strongly agree
I am part of a well-educated workforce	I am part of a well-educated workforce: Strongly disagree	I am part of a well-educated workforce: Somewhat disagree	I am part of a well-educated workforce: No opinion / not important	I am part of a well-educated workforce: Somewhat agree	I am part of a well-educated workforce: Strongly agree
I have career advancement opportunities	I have career advancement opportunities: Strongly disagree	I have career advancement opportunities: Somewhat disagree	I have career advancement opportunities: No opinion / not important	I have career advancement opportunities: Somewhat agree	I have career advancement opportunities: Strongly agree
I have job security	I have job security: Strongly disagree	I have job security: Somewhat disagree	I have job security: No opinion / not important	I have job security: Somewhat agree	I have job security: Strongly agree
I am able to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions	I am able to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Strongly disagree	I am able to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Somewhat disagree	I am able to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: No opinion / not important	I am able to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Somewhat agree	I am able to travel for work or work in different countries/jurisdictions: Strongly agree

14. How do you view the potential impact of the following factors on the attractiveness of the accounting profession? *This question is required.

Space Cell	Major threat	Minor threat	No impact / have not thought about	Minor opportunity	Major opportunity
The ability to utilize artificial intelligence	The ability to utilize artificial intelligence: Major threat	The ability to utilize artificial intelligence: Minor threat	The ability to utilize artificial intelligence: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to utilize artificial intelligence: Minor opportunity	The ability to utilize artificial intelligence: Major opportunity
The ability to utilize other technologies and automation	The ability to utilize other technologies and automation: Major threat	The ability to utilize other technologies and automation: Minor threat	The ability to utilize other technologies and automation: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to utilize other technologies and automation: Minor opportunity	The ability to utilize other technologies and automation: Major opportunity
The ability to influence sustainability and climate change	The ability to influence sustainability and climate change: Major threat	The ability to influence sustainability and climate change: Minor threat	The ability to influence sustainability and climate change: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to influence sustainability and climate change: Minor opportunity	The ability to influence sustainability and climate change: Major opportunity
The ability to engage with digital assets	The ability to engage with digital assets: Major threat	The ability to engage with digital assets: Minor threat	The ability to engage with digital assets: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to engage with digital assets: Minor opportunity	The ability to engage with digital assets: Major opportunity
The ability to safeguard cybersecurity and data privacy	The ability to safeguard cybersecurity and data privacy: Major threat	The ability to safeguard cybersecurity and data privacy: Minor threat	The ability to safeguard cybersecurity and data privacy: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to safeguard cybersecurity and data privacy: Minor opportunity	The ability to safeguard cybersecurity and data privacy: Major opportunity
The ability to participate in the gig and creator economy	The ability to participate in the gig and creator economy: Major threat	The ability to participate in the gig and creator economy: Minor threat	The ability to participate in the gig and creator economy: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to participate in the gig and creator economy: Minor opportunity	The ability to participate in the gig and creator economy: Major opportunity
The ability to be entrepreneurial	The ability to be entrepreneurial: Major threat	The ability to be entrepreneurial: Minor threat	The ability to be entrepreneurial: No impact / have not thought about	The ability to be entrepreneurial: Minor opportunity	The ability to be entrepreneurial: Major opportunity

15. What are the top three most relevant words you would use to describe your daily work? *This question is required.

Space Cell	Column 1
Description 1	Description 1: Column 1
Description 2	Description 2: Column 1
Description 3	Description 3: Column 1

16. Do you believe that you are a highly skilled individual? *This question is required.

17. Do you believe becoming an accountant is worthwhile? *This question is required.