Navigating a new era of strategy, sustainability, and social value

Once seen as number crunchers, today’s accountants are strategic leaders — reshaping business through ethics, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Accountants of today are no longer confined to ledgers, audits, and compliance. Modern accountants are stepping into expansive roles as strategic business advisors, sustainability champions, and ethical guardians.

In an interview with Singapore Business Review, Pulkit Abrol, Director for Asia Pacific at ACCA, observes that accountants today play a vital stewardship role in business and society. Driven by broad societal changes such as climate risk, stakeholder scrutiny, and digital disruption, accountants are now seen as crucial to good governance.

“Their role has broadened to that of strategic business partners and enablers of sustainable value creation,” Abrol said. “They are digital playmakers, business transformers, sustainability trailblazers, assurance advocates and data navigators all within the space of a working day.”

The shift towards sustainability and social value

The rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) imperatives has placed sustainability and social impact at the centre of corporate agendas. Regulations such as the ISSB sustainability standards and regional ESG taxonomies are becoming embedded in the corporate landscape. Simultaneously, stakeholders are holding businesses accountable for their environmental and social footprints.

Singapore is taking a leading role in this transformation. Starting from the financial year 2025, the Singapore Exchange Regulation required all listed issuers to report Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with ISSB standards. Larger issuers will also be expected to report Scope 3 emissions beginning FY2026. 

Abrol explains that three forces are driving this shift: regulatory momentum, increased stakeholder demands for ESG transparency, and global challenges such as climate change and inequality. These factors compel businesses to redefine how they measure value, not merely in financial terms but in their broader impact on people and the planet.

In this context, finance professionals are uniquely positioned to lead. They possess the analytical skills, governance expertise, and strategic perspective to integrate ESG considerations into financial planning and performance reporting.

ACCA’s “Accounting for a better world: your agenda for action” report also urges accountants to lead on this front, positioning sustainability and ethics at the heart of decision-making.

Accountants as agents of sustainable and ethical business

Professional accountants are taking the lead in connecting ESG data to financial performance. From embedding climate risks into enterprise risk management to creating integrated performance dashboards, they are ensuring that sustainability is not a siloed initiative but a core element of business strategy.

Through initiatives such as its collaboration with the International Federation of Accountants and the Value Reporting Foundation, ACCA is reinforcing this integrated approach.

Influence on ethical and responsible business practices

With their unique combination of technical acumen, governance expertise, and credibility, today’s accountants are increasingly at the centre of corporate decision-making. Abrol highlights how they’re shaping boardroom discussions on climate risk, embedding ESG metrics into enterprise performance, and guiding digital transformation.

“Accountants have a unique vantage point—combining financial discipline, strategic oversight, and stakeholder trust,” he said. This influence is helping organisations build resilience, foster innovation, and pursue sustainable growth in uncertain times.

Professionals are urged to step up as sustainable and inclusive value architects, not just reporters of financial outcomes.

Skills for the future-ready finance leader

To thrive in this expanded role, modern accountants must develop a wide-ranging skill set that balances technical proficiency with strategic and interpersonal capabilities. ACCA’s Developing the Skills of the Sustainable Business and Finance Professional report outlined seven essential competencies—from ethical and responsible leadership and digital intelligence to sustainability fluency and collaboration. “As the business environment grows more complex,” Abrol said, “finance professionals will need to blend technical excellence with data storytelling, climate risk awareness, and human-centred thinking.”

To support this evolution, ACCA is delivering targeted development through continuous learning. This includes CPD courses, micro-credentials, and practical resources aligned with real-world business challenges.

Supporting the next Generation of ethical finance professionals

From embedding ethics from the start of the ACCA Qualification to offering advanced learning pathways like the Professional Diploma in Sustainability and an ESG Masterclass Programme in collaboration with KPMG, ACCA is equipping its members for a changing world.

“Globally recognised and digitally enabled, the ACCA Qualification opens career pathways across 180 markets. Through policy advocacy, partnerships, and practical tools like our Green Finance Skills map, we ensure that ACCA members are empowered to lead in building responsible, resilient, and globally competitive businesses,” Abrol added.

To learn more about how ACCA is shaping the future of the accountancy profession and supporting finance professionals in building ethical, sustainable, and globally relevant careers, visit www.accaglobal.com.