ISLAMBAD: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) revealed in its latest survey report that the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the leading concern among professional accountants, with 61pc identifying it as a major ethical challenge.
Cited by 61pc of respondents, up from 32pc in ACCA’s 2024 survey, the ethical use of AI emerged as the leading ethical challenge. According to the report navigating ethics for trust, both ethical leadership 43pc and ethical culture 39pc remain in respondents’ top three ethical challenges.
The 2026 survey draws on 1,178 responses from finance and accountancy professionals across 135 countries, with roundtable discussions adding qualitative depth.
The report shows a profession that remains strongly grounded in the fundamental principles – but working in conditions that are becoming more pressured, complex and difficult to navigate in practice.
50pc of respondents agreed that ethical challenges have become more difficult to resolve in the last three years, and 53% report witnessing unethical behavior in that period.
Sarah Lane, Head of Ethics and Assurance at ACCA said: “The overall picture is 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,” adding that they are asking for the tools, support and guidance needed to apply the fundamental principles in an increasingly complex world.
She added ethics has 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.
“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.” Said Assad Hameed Khan, head of ACCA in Pakistan.
He mentioned strong ethical leadership, supportive organisational cultures and continuous learning will be essential to using technology responsibly while maintaining public confidence.
The report 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 showed that 89 per cent of respondents believed ethical capability in the profession remained strong, but depended on continuous professional development.
Trust in the profession was primarily 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 survey also highlighted that enabling ethical behaviour was a shared responsibility, with organisational culture and leadership serving as key conditions for ethical decision-making.
Ethical leadership and ethical culture remained among the leading ethical challenges in both the 2024 and 2026 surveys.
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