The accountancy profession needs to take notice: the next generation of accountants don’t want to climb the corporate jobs ladder – they want to build their own!
Intuit QuickBooks’s new research on the Changing Face of Accountancy reveals a striking shift in how young people see the profession, with 75% of accounting students saying they want to start their own accountancy-related business.
It highlights a growing movement of young professionals who are no longer viewing accountancy as just a stepping stone, but instead as a launchpad for entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic leadership.
The research echoes ACCA’s Global Talent Trends 2025 survey, which found 61% of UK Gen Z accountants have real entrepreneurial aspirations, double the number of the rest of the UK’s accountants (31%).
An AAT study also found record numbers of AATs rejecting traditional employment in favour of establishing their own practices.
The Intuit study said whether it’s founding their own firm, launching a virtual tax consultancy or offering strategic services to start-ups, young people – especially those aged 20-24 – are embracing accounting as a gateway to entrepreneurship.
This aspiration is strong among female students, with almost three-quarters (73%) aiming to set up their own company. With 72% of international students indicating the same desire it’s clear that diversity of experience will pave the way for next-generation accountancy firms.
Leigh Thomas, Vice President EMEA at Intuit, said: “Now a critically in-demand occupation, the accounting professional of tomorrow is part entrepreneur, part strategist, part tech leader. The industry has, however, seen a drop in new trainees and job candidates recently, and the average age of accounting professionals has increased to 45. We believe the future belongs to those who embrace the new, multifaceted role of the accountant, and the new crop of dynamic students who are ready to change the game.”
Mazars AAT apprentice graduate, social media influencer and founder of Hardy Accounting, Grace Hardy, explained: “Accountancy gets labelled as male, pale and stale – but for people my age that’s not the vibe at all. What attracted me to the profession is the emerging tech being used.”
Despite its appeal, the path into accounting is not equal for all, said Intuit. The study found that 27% of young people cite balancing study with other responsibilities as a barrier, and more than one in four said the cost of professional qualifications is too high (26%).
Nearly one in five (18%) highlighted a lack of access to mentors and work experience as the biggest challenges they face, with 29% of college and sixth form students studying accounting, citing this as a specific challenge.
There is also a deeper need for representation of a wider range of ethnicities, educational backgrounds and age groups, with uplifting neurodiverse voices also a priority. Some 16% of respondents point to a lack of diversity in the profession, and self- doubt – especially among career changers – continues to quietly hold people back. This number increases to 20% when answered by international students, who represent 20% of the sample.
Accountancy and Finance Senior Lecturer and YouTuber, James Wright, said: “As the accounting sector grows increasingly appealing to both students and career-changers, it’s time for the profession to acknowledge and address the barriers to entry.
Embracing diversity of thought and experience is key to driving innovation and effective problem- solving crucial elements for the industry to truly thrive.”
