Beijing, Shanghai, and GuangzhouMay 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) today released the 2026 “China Talent Trends Survey.” The survey results show that in the face of accelerating technological change and shifting career perspectives, finance and accounting talent in Mainland China demonstrate a strong willingness to learn, career aspirations, and a pursuit of social value. From actively adopting artificial intelligence to focusing on ESG and social impact, and expecting clearer career development paths, finance and accounting professionals are taking a more proactive role in industry transformation. At the same time, the report also suggests that employers need to take more targeted actions in career development, compensation communication, and employee support to further enhance talent confidence and organizational attractiveness.
ACCA’s “Global Talent Trends Survey” has been conducted for four consecutive years and is currently the world’s largest research project on finance and accounting talent. The 2026 survey covered 160 countries and regions, collecting valid feedback from over 11,000 finance and accounting professionals. Among them, 1,712 finance and accounting practitioners from Mainland China participated, providing an in-depth local perspective for the report.
Key Insights from the 2026 “China Talent Trends Survey”:
- High Adoption of AI Tools, Talent Expects Simultaneous Advancement of Technology and Skills Development: China’s finance and accounting industry is relatively advanced in the use of AI tools. 64% of respondents regularly use AI technology, and 56% said their organizations provide opportunities to learn AI skills—both figures significantly higher than the global averages (52% and 43%, respectively). However, concerns also exist: 55% of respondents worry that AI will impact their roles, and 48% fear that employers “prioritize technology investment over talent development,” compared to just 26% globally. ACCA recommends that companies help alleviate employees’ technological anxiety through transparent communication and clear career paths in the AI era.
- Clear Career Paths Become the Most Pressing Development Issue for Finance and Accounting Talent: The survey shows that “lack of career development opportunities” remains the top work-related concern for finance and accounting talent in Mainland China, with 58% selecting this option—higher than “jobs being replaced by technology” (51%), “cost of living pressures” (46%), “economic downturn” (45%), and “mental health issues” (43%). The report points out that clear career advancement paths and future-oriented skills development opportunities are key to maintaining talent confidence and work engagement. On the other hand, 29% of Mainland Chinese respondents hope to become entrepreneurs or business owners in the future, indirectly reflecting that finance and accounting skills, as an important passport in the business world, can help talent broaden their career choices.
- Finance and Accounting Talent Generally Aspire to Work with Social Impact, Such as ESG: Respondents generally desire “meaningful work.” 70% hope to take on roles focused on social impact in the future, and 64% aspire to work related to environmental issues. However, only 52% believe their current roles bring social impact, and 34% think their positions help address environmental or climate issues. The report emphasizes that companies need to genuinely integrate ESG commitments into daily decision-making and operations, rather than just leaving them at the senior leadership level.
- Easing Multi-Generational Collaboration Pressures Presents New Opportunities for Organizational Building: Over half (55%) of employed respondents said their organizations face difficulties in promoting collaboration among different generations of employees, a figure significantly higher than the global level (42%). Main obstacles include: differences in work values and expectations (17%), differing understandings of work-life balance (17%), and communication style differences (16%). ACCA suggests that companies consider establishing structured cross-generational communication and mentorship mechanisms to help management better understand the demands of younger employees.
- Compensation Expectations Drive Employers to Reassess Overall Talent Value Proposition: 45% of employed respondents are dissatisfied with their current salary, and 65% expect to request a raise within the next 12 months. Among them, 71% hope for a raise of at least 6%, significantly higher than the global level (53%). In open-ended questions, “salary increase” was the most frequently mentioned word, dominating responses to “What would make you stay?” and “What is your biggest work concern?” Gen Z and Millennials in first-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen) showed the strongest demand for raises. However, the report also notes that salary pressures vary by industry and are not the primary concern in all sectors.
Chen Zhengjie, ACCA China Policy Insights Director stated: “This year’s survey reveals a notable trend: finance and accounting talent aspires to exert greater influence in the workplace and in life. 70% of Mainland Chinese respondents hope to take on roles focused on social impact in the future, and 64% wish to engage in environment-related work, both slightly above global averages. Encouragingly, in the face of rapid AI development and the deepening concept of sustainability, many respondents hold positive expectations toward these changes. 64% of Mainland Chinese respondents already regularly use AI technology at work, higher than the global average of 52%; meanwhile, 81% of Mainland Chinese respondents express confidence in learning and applying AI-related skills. This further confirms that the professional roles and development paths in the finance and accounting industry are continuously evolving and expanding.”
Click the link here to read the full survey report.
Special Thanks
1,712 questionnaire respondents from Mainland China
Questionnaire Promotion Partners (in no particular order)
Guangdong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Jiangsu Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Hubei Association of Chief Financial Officers
Chengdu Financial Industry Federation
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
Central University of Finance and Economics
Guangdong University of Finance and Economics
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
Guangdong University of Finance
South China Agricultural University
Zhejiang Gongshang University
Nanjing Audit University
Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance
Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
Sichuan University
Tianjin University of Finance and Economics
Xi’an Jiaotong University
Xi’an International Studies University
Ocean University of China
Dongbei University of Finance and Economics
Chengdu University of Information Technology
Sichuan Normal University
Hudson China
Mainland China Roundtable Discussion Guests (in no particular order)
Chu Yanan, Finance Director, New Hope Dairy
Lei Zhirong, Chair, South China Expert Advisory Group
Lyu Tingting, Deputy Director of Human Resources, GEM Co., Ltd.
Qi Baolei, Head of Accounting and Finance Department, Xi’an Jiaotong University
Tang Song, Vice Dean, School of Accountancy, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics