Finance professionals face rising inflation and AI ethical concerns

Recent surveys from MHA and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) highlight shifting priorities and ethical concerns within the finance and accountancy sectors.

A survey of 400 UK finance directors by MHA indicates that profitability and efficiency are top priorities, with inflation and cost pressures rising as significant challenges for 64% of respondents. Additionally, technology and AI adoption have become major focus areas, cited by 40% of directors as a challenge, surpassing talent retention for the first time. To support businesses, respondents called for reduced regulation, less red tape, and better regulatory alignment with the EU.

On a global scale, an ACCA survey of over 1,100 practitioners across 135 countries found that AI has emerged as the primary ethical concern, with 61% of respondents identifying it as such—a significant increase from 32% in 2024. The report also noted that ethical leadership and culture remain critical concerns, as professionals navigate increasingly complex environments where half of respondents feel ethical challenges have become harder to address.