Accountants most trusted source for business advice

The latest Pulse survey from Sage (UK) Ltd has revealed that accountants continue to be the most trusted source for business advice with 35% agreeing that accountants are the first port of call for advice.

Last year‘s survey also revealed that independent business leaders ranked accountants as the most valuable counsel.

The survey was commissioned to unveil the current attitudes and perceptions of accountants in practice, ranging from technological advancements to their own behaviours and ambitions.

The survey also established that job satisfaction amongst accountants has reached a record high with 86% stating they would not change their career over the next 5 years.

However, possibly due to the current economic climate, only 31% of accountants said they would set up their own business compared with 47% a year ago.

Greg Ford, Managing Director of Sage’s Accountants’ Division, said last year’s survey revealed a new breed of accountants. A ‘Facebook generation’ of accountants can now be seen and these are tech savvy and are becoming much more comfortable with technology in the workplace as well as in private.

This can only be a good thing as the industry prepares to fully implement the government guidelines resulting from the Carter Report, which comes into effect in just over two years, added Mr Ford.

This year’s new breed of accountant is a connected workforce with 29% of respondents always carrying a laptop around, while the same amount always carry around an iPod, revealed the survey.

Furthermore, 27% carry a Blackberry, a smartphone/PDA or a digital camera. The survey also found that over half are working remotely, at least occasionally.

Almost one third of the 55 to 64 age bracket work on the move (compared to just 14% of 35 to 44 year olds). However, this could be due to their higher level of client liaison outside the office.

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