East Midlands Finance Pros Lead UK in Pursuing Purpose-Driven Careers

Finance professionals in the East Midlands are significantly more likely than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK to want careers focused on social and environmental impact. However, rising pay dissatisfaction and mounting work pressures suggest employers in the region are struggling to meet their ambitions.

The findings come from ACCA's (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Global talent trends survey, the world’s largest annual survey of accountancy and finance professionals, drawing on responses from more than 11,000 individuals across 160 countries, including finance professionals across the East Midlands.

Key Findings

• Purpose-Driven Ambition: Nearly two thirds (64%) of East Midlands respondents want finance roles focused on environmental issues, compared to 47% UK-wide. On social impact, 67% seek roles making a difference, versus 54% nationally.
• Action Already Taken: 51% say their current role contributes to social impact (UK average: 39%), and 40% contribute to environmental/climate challenges (UK: 32%).
• Pay Dissatisfaction: 57% are dissatisfied with pay, and 52% say work pressures damage their mental health.
• Retention Risk: 39% expect their next career move to take them to a different organisation.
• Hybrid Work: 58% currently work hybrid, and 68% prefer it as their model.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: 45% harbour aspirations to start or own a business.

Jamie Lyon, Global Head of Skills, Sectors and Technology at ACCA: “One of the key themes we continue to see in the East Midlands and across the globe this year is how accountants have ambitions around making a difference on social impact issues through the work they perform. It’s great to see that many are already contributing to this agenda through their current finance jobs. It’s more evidence of how roles and career paths in accountancy continue to transform and broaden out.”

Gemma Gathercole, Strategic Engagement Lead at ACCA: “The East Midlands data tells a genuinely compelling story. Finance professionals in the region are not just expressing an interest in purpose-driven work - they are already delivering it, and doing so at rates that outstrip the UK average. That is something the region's employers should take real pride in. But the pay dissatisfaction and mental health data are a cause for concern. Ambition and purpose can only sustain a workforce so far. If employers in the East Midlands want to hold on to this talent, they need to match the values their people are demonstrating with the support and reward those people deserve.”

Now in its fourth year, ACCA's Global talent trends survey is the largest annual survey of accountancy and finance professionals worldwide, covering respondents across 160 countries on issues including career ambition, sustainability, intergenerational collaboration and workplace wellbeing.