Finance professionals eye global career moves: report

The survey found that 56% of respondents in Singapore are looking to work abroad.

More than half of Singapore’s finance professionals are aiming to build their careers overseas, according to the 2025 Global Talent Trends report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

The survey found that 56% of respondents in Singapore are looking to work abroad, underscoring the accountancy profession’s continued appeal as a global passport to opportunity.

The findings are part of ACCA’s annual survey, capturing the views of over 10,000 accountancy and finance professionals across 175 countries.

In Singapore, career mobility is notably high: 65% of respondents expect to switch roles within the next two years, and over half anticipate changing employers altogether. Meanwhile, 37% expressed ambitions to become entrepreneurs.

Sustainability is also gaining ground as a key career driver. Sixty-one percent of professionals in Singapore are interested in roles focused on environmental and social impact.

Yet as demand for future-oriented roles grows, concerns persist about readiness, especially in AI. Sixty-five percent of respondents say they are not acquiring the AI skills needed for the future, and only 27% report access to employer-provided AI training.

Workplace models are another point of tension. Whilst 79% of respondents prefer hybrid work, 41% report being based full-time in the office. This gap, ACCA warns, could lead to disengagement and missed development opportunities if not addressed with clear and equitable hybrid policies.

Mental health remains a concern, with 53% of respondents reporting that job-related stress affects their well-being. Despite modest improvements over previous years, the figures suggest ongoing demand for mental health support strategies in the workplace.

The report also revealed that 33% of Singapore professionals are juggling side hustles alongside their main jobs—another signal of evolving career priorities and a potential retention issue for employers.

Perceptions of inclusivity vary. A majority (56%) say their organisations focus more on some dimensions of diversity than others, particularly noting limited emphasis on age-related inclusion.