Over 70% of accountants in Ireland will seek a pay rise this year, new research shows.
The annual survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) shows that 58% of staff globally will look for a pay increase.
Almost 10,000 professional accountants from 157 countries including Ireland were surveyed as part of the research.
It found that Ireland compares more favourably to the rest of the world when it comes to workplace flexibility, with 75% of employees here either fully remote or hybrid, compared to just 48% globally.
73% of respondents said a strong diversity and inclusion culture is a key factor in deciding to work at an organisation, with over half expecting their next career move to be external to their current employer.
Meanwhile, mental health remains a major challenge for the sector, with 57% of those surveyed saying their mental health suffers because of work pressures, and almost half still feeling their employer doesn't consider mental health to be a priority.
"The shortage of talent and cost of meeting pay rise demands, together with the many job opportunities available to professional accountants, mean that attracting and retaining talent presents a huge ongoing challenge for employers," said Jamie Lyon, Global Head of Skills, Sectors, Technology at ACCA.
"So it's unsurprising that the number of respondents planning to move away from their organisations remains high, at 54% again this year.
"However, with 73% of respondents saying that a strong diversity and inclusivity culture is a key factor in choosing an employer, there’s a real opportunity for employers who are strong in this area to differentiate themselves in a competitive market," he added.
