ISLAMABAD (GNP): Ahead of Global Ethics Day on 21 October, a new survey by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) shows a sharp rise in the share of professional accountants who name the use of AI as their top ethical challenge. It was cited by 61% of respondents, up from 32% in ACCA’s 2024 survey.
The report, Navigating ethics for trust, found that ethical leadership (43%) and ethical culture (39%) remain among the three biggest ethical challenges. The 2026 survey is based on 1,178 responses from finance and accountancy professionals in 135 countries, supplemented by roundtable discussions.
According to the report, the profession remains firmly rooted in the fundamental principles but is operating under more pressure and complexity. Half of respondents (50%) said ethical challenges have become harder to resolve over the past three years, and 53% said they had witnessed unethical behaviour during that time.
Sarah Lane, Head of Ethics and Assurance at ACCA, said the overall picture is of a profession that stays ethically grounded, self-aware and willing to adapt. Finance professionals, she said, are not asking for additional rules, since the fundamental principles remain the ethical anchor. What they want is the tools, support and guidance to apply those principles in an increasingly complex world.
Assad Hameed Khan, Head of ACCA in Pakistan, said that as AI becomes more embedded in business and finance, its use should be guided by the same principles that underpin trust in accountancy: integrity, objectivity, professional competence, confidentiality and professional behaviour. For Pakistan’s finance professionals, he said, that means exercising sound judgement, questioning AI-generated outputs and keeping accountability clear. Strong ethical leadership, supportive organisational cultures and ongoing learning will be essential to using technology responsibly while preserving public confidence.
The report includes a toolkit with a practical 10-step process for applying the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (IESBA Code) to real-life situations.
- 89% agree that the profession’s ethical capability remains strong, but say it depends on continuous professional development.
- Trust in the profession rests on strong ethical standards (46%), transparency (38%) and independence (36%).
- Enabling ethical behaviour is a shared responsibility, with ethical culture and leadership as core conditions. Both were among the top ethical challenges in 2024 and again in 2026.
Also read: YES Pakistan Concludes with Focus on Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Lane added that ethics has always been central to the ACCA Qualification, and that ACCA will go further when it launches its redesigned qualification next year, with ethics built in throughout to help future generations handle emerging challenges.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
