ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The use of artificial intelligence has emerged as a defining ethical challenge for the accountancy profession, with 61 per cent of professional accountants ranking it as their top concern, according to a new report by ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Released in line with Global Ethics Day observed on October 21, ACCA’s latest survey shows a sharp rise in the number of respondents citing AI use as the leading ethical challenge, up from 32 per cent in ACCA’s 2024 survey.
According to the report, titled “Navigating ethics for trust”, ethical leadership and ethical culture also remain among the top three ethical challenges, cited by 43 per cent and 39 per cent of respondents, respectively.
The 2026 survey is based on 1,178 responses from finance and accountancy professionals across 135 countries, while roundtable discussions were also held to add qualitative depth to the findings.
The report says the profession remains strongly grounded in fundamental principles, but is operating in conditions that are becoming more pressured, complex and difficult to navigate in practice. Half of the respondents agreed that ethical challenges have become more difficult to resolve over the last three years, while 53 per cent reported witnessing unethical behaviour during that period.
Sarah Lane, Head of Ethics and Assurance at ACCA, said the overall picture was one of a profession that remains ethically grounded, self-aware and willing to adapt.
“Finance professionals are not asking for more rules, the fundamental principles remain the ethical anchor. They are asking for the tools, support and guidance needed to apply the fundamental principles in an increasingly complex world,” she said.
Assad Hameed Khan, Head of ACCA in Pakistan, said that as AI becomes more embedded in business and finance, its use must be guided by the same principles that underpin trust in the accountancy profession: integrity, objectivity, professional competence, confidentiality and professional behaviour.
“For Pakistan’s finance professionals, this means applying sound judgement, questioning AI-generated outputs and ensuring that accountability remains clear. Strong ethical leadership, supportive organisational cultures and continuous learning will be essential to using technology responsibly while maintaining public confidence,” he said.
The report also includes a toolkit that provides a practical 10-step process for applying the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (IEBSA Code) in real situations.
Other key findings from the survey show that 89 per cent of respondents agree that ethical capability in the profession remains strong, but depends on continuous professional development. Trust in the profession is grounded in strong ethical standards, cited by 46 per cent of respondents, followed by transparency at 38 per cent and independence at 36 per cent.
The report further states that enabling ethical behaviour in practice is a shared responsibility, with ethical culture and leadership acting as core conditions for ethical action. Ethical leadership and ethical culture remained among the top ethical challenges in both the 2024 and 2026 surveys.
Sarah Lane said ethics had always been at the heart of the ACCA Qualification. “We’re stepping that up still further when we introduce our redesigned qualification next year, which has ethics integrated throughout to help future generations navigate emerging challenges,” she added.
The report and toolkit are available at: https://www.accaglobal.com/policy-and-insights/reports/2026/navigating-ethics-for-trust.html
