Accountancy sector continues to grow, figures show

Figures from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) have shown that accountancy student numbers have risen to 164,000 in the UK.

There has also been growth in the number of female members and students, with 35 per cent of members now being female.

Growth

Membership across accountancy bodies (ICAEW, ICAS, CAI, ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA and AIA) grew between 2012 and 2016, with an increase of 2.4 per cent to over 335,000 in the UK and Ireland. ICAEW was found to have the most members at 125,087, followed by the ACCA at 90,697.

The research also revealed which accountancy bodies have the largest number of female members. ACCA topped the list at 46 per cent, and the number of ICAEW female members was found to have increased from 27 per cent to 28 per cent.

The accountancy profession is also thriving worldwide, with the top accountancy bodies experiencing a growth of 3.2 per cent between 2012 and 2016.

Thriving

FRC Audit and Actuarial Regulation Executive Director Melanie McLaren said that a thriving UK accountancy and audit profession is in the public interest. The pool of talent within, and the diversity of, the accountancy profession is continuing to grow.

She said that the FRC is planning to collect richer data on diversity in future editions of key facts and trends and is looking for views on how to do this.