Key Findings from Accounting Entities (AE) Survey 2026

11 November 2026

ACRA's Accounting Entities Survey 2026

Singapore's accountancy sector continued to grow in 2025, recording increases in revenue, workforce size and median salaries, alongside a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and specialised skills. Three key findings emerged from the Accounting Entities (AE) Survey 2026, an annual national survey of Singapore's accounting entities conducted since 2015.

The survey provides insights into the sector's economic performance and workforce trends to inform policy decisions and help stakeholders better understand developments in the accountancy sector. Based on 2025 data, the AE Survey Report 2026 draws on responses from 238 AEs, representing 92% of the sector's estimated revenue.

i. Accounting sector revenue grew by 5.1%, driven by business advisory services

The accountancy sector's total revenue increased by $177.4 million, or 5.1%, from approximately $3.5 billion in 2024 to approximately $3.7 billion in 2025. Growth was led by business advisory services, which increased by $115.1 million (+12.9%) from $891.7 million in 2024, followed by audit and assurance services, which increased by $58.1 million (+3.3%) from $1.7 billion in 2024. Audit and assurance remained the largest service category, contributing nearly half of the sector's total revenue. Tax advisory and compliance services grew by $19.4 million (+3.0%) from $636.7 million in 2024.

Corporate support revenue declined by $15.3 million (-7.4%) from $207.6 million in 2024 to $192.4 million in 2025.

Growth was observed across most firm sizes, except Micro AEs, indicating continued demand in accountancy:

• Big 4 AEs (+$104.9 million, +4.3%);

• Large AEs (+$47.9 million, +9.3%);

• Medium AEs (+$19.9 million, +12.9%);

• Small AEs (+$13.1 million, +5.6%); and

• Micro AEs (-$8.4 million, -6.2%).

ii. Accountancy workforce expanded, with higher median salaries across all seniority levels, and over 1,200 job opportunities

Singapore's accountancy workforce grew by 579 positions (+2.7%) from 21,783 in 2024 to 22,362 in 2025. The resident workforce continued to grow, increasing by 522 positions from 16,505 to 17,027 and accounting for 90% of the overall workforce growth. 

Workforce growth was driven mainly by business advisory services (+327 positions) and audit and assurance services (+301 positions). Growth was also recorded in administrative and support functions (+65 positions) and tax advisory and compliance services (+51 positions), partially offset by a decline of 165 positions in corporate support services.

The survey showed that median monthly salaries increased across all surveyed seniority levels between 2024 and 2025:

• First-year audit assistant: from $3,000 to $3,400 (+13%);

• First-year associate: from $4,200 to $4,600 (+10%);

• First-year senior associate: from $5,400 to $5,800 (+7%);

• First-year manager: from $7,750 to $8,250 (+6%); and

• First-year director: from $13,500 to $14,500 (+7%).

The increases reflect employers’ efforts to strengthen their employee value proposition to attract and retain accountancy talent. These efforts align with the recommendations of the Accountancy Workforce Review Committee for firms to review and redesign compensation structures.

The sector expects to continue expanding its workforce, with AEs reporting more than 1,200 job opportunities available. Around 80% of these opportunities are in audit and assurance and business advisory services.

iii. AI and data analytics emerged as top skills priorities for accounting entities

The top five skillsets that AEs identified as priorities for workforce development over the next three years are:

• AI application, ethics and governance (67%);

• Advanced data analytics and visualisation (45%);

• IT audit (26%);

• Valuation and financial modelling (18%); and

• Sustainability reporting (18%).

With AI-related capabilities emerging as the leading priority, the findings highlight the sector's growing need to adapt to technological change while developing specialised expertise in the digital and green economy.

ACRA and industry partners are supporting these evolving skills needs through various capability-building initiatives. These include: (a) the recently refreshed Skills Framework for Accountancy, which incorporates AI and sustainability reporting competencies; (b) the SkillsFuture Green Workplace Programme (opens in new tab), which supports sustainability reporting capability development; (c) the AI Fluency Programme (opens in new tab) by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for non-technology professionals under the National AI Impact Programme (opens in new tab)with 34,000 professionals and students enrolled; and (d) the refreshed Chartered Valuer and Appraiser (CVA) Programme, which strengthens capabilities in areas such as the valuation of intangible assets, with a growing community of over 500 Chartered Valuers and Appraisers (CVAs) and Associate Chartered Valuers and Appraisers (ACVAs).

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Figures presented have been rounded up to one decimal place. As a result, totals and subtotals may not sum exactly, and percentages may not add up to 100%