Accountants second most trusted profession in Singapore: poll

The 2025 Trust Survey, conducted by data consultancy Edelman DXI, showed that 85% of respondents in Singapore trust CAs 'to do the right thing', a 7-point increase from an earlier poll in 2019. The worldwide trust rating for the profession is slightly lower at 83%, where it ranks third following doctors and engineers.

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), the country's national body for accountants, also saw an 8-point rise to its trust rating, reaching 88%.

'As businesses race to adopt AI and navigate misinformation, Chartered Accountants are increasingly valued as guardians of data integrity and ethical leadership,' ISCA stated in a press release.

Other notable findings from the report include:

• 87% say CAs help businesses adapt to new challenges 
• 84% rely on CAs for strategic guidance 
• 86% say they support AI adoption and automation in the industry 
• 82% recognise the role of CAs in steering business AI investment

Teo added that ISCA is building a 'professional credential pathway' in 2026 to ensure its members 'remain trusted leaders, helping businesses uphold integrity, innovate with confidence, and balance  profit with purpose.' 

Tan Boon Gin, CEO of Singapore Exchange Regulation, commented that the survey reflects the high standards chartered accountants are held to in the country. "Chartered Accountants hold many key roles in the market, as auditors, board members, CFOs, consultants, and even independent financial advisers," Tan said. "For markets to function  well, participants must be able to trust the governance framework, the market community, including market professionals, and the regulators."

The strong approval for CAs bucks a broader trend for accountancy professionals, whose trust ratings have seen a slight dip since 2003. 

"At a time of eroding trust in institutions, Chartered Accountants are bucking the trend," said  Ainslie van Onselen, Chair of Chartered Accountants Worldwide. "In a world shaped by AI,  disinformation, and rising demand for accountability, our profession is standing tall – not just  for technical excellence, but as guardians of trusted data and ethical leadership."

Since 2018, the Trust Survey has tracked confidence in chartered accounts and the accountancy profession in general across 10 markets. The 2025 edition, which surveyed more than 1,700 senior financial decision makers, focused on AI  adoption, misinformation, purpose-driven leadership, and the rising role of CAs as strategic advisors.