[SINGAPORE] Chartered accountants are the second-most trusted profession in Singapore, just behind doctors, a new survey has found.
Eighty-five per cent of senior business leaders in the city-state said they believe chartered accountants will “do the right thing”, up seven percentage points from 2019.
Globally, the profession ranked third in trust with 83 per cent, behind doctors and engineers, both with 85 per cent.
These findings come from the 2025 Trust Survey by market research firm Edelman DXI, conducted in partnership with accounting network Chartered Accountants Worldwide.
The survey polled 1,725 business leaders at director level and above across 10 markets in April and May, including 250 in Singapore.
The study also found that 88 per cent of respondents trust Singapore’s national accounting body, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (Isca), to “do the right thing”, an eight-point increase from 2019.
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“Trust in Isca members is rooted in their integral role in guiding businesses forward,” said Isca president Teo Ser Luck. “With over 40,000 members across corporate leadership, government and public practice, our members are not only financial stewards, but also trusted advisers shaping decisions that matter.”
Singapore’s chartered accountants are more frequently called upon to shape strategy than their counterparts in other surveyed markets.
Some 87 per cent of respondents said they play a “vital role” in helping businesses adapt to new challenges, while 84 per cent rely on them for strategic guidance.
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As companies grapple with technological disruption, 86 per cent of respondents said chartered accountants take on an “essential role” in helping businesses adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, while 82 per cent view them as “crucial” in steering AI investment.
“Chartered accountants hold many key roles in the market, as auditors, board members, chief financial officers, consultants and even independent financial advisers,” said Tan Boon Gin, chief executive officer of Singapore Exchange Regulation.
“The survey findings are a reminder of the high standards chartered accountants are held to.”
