From Balancing Books to Building Brands: Gen Z Accountants Go Entrepreneurial

London, UK - 25 June 2025

The next generation of accountants aren’t waiting to climb the ladder—they’re building their own. New data from Intuit reveals a striking shift in how young people see the profession, with 75%* of accounting students saying they want to start their own accountancy-related business. 

Whether it's founding their own firm, launching a virtual tax consultancy, or offering strategic services to startups, young people – especially those aged 20–24  – are embracing accounting as a gateway to entrepreneurship. This aspiration is strong among female students, with almost three-quarters (73%*) aiming to set up their own company. With 72%* international students** indicating the same desire, it’s clear that diversity of experience will pave the way for next-generation accountancy firms.

This diverse cohort is pursuing a vision that blends traditional financial training with digital-first innovation and business leadership. In fact, nearly six in ten (59%*) surveyed feel their training is equipping them for this entrepreneurial future, including strategic advisory skills and fluency in digital tools.

Leigh Thomas, Vice President EMEA at Intuit, “Now a critically in demand occupation, the accounting professional of tomorrow is part entrepreneur, part strategist, part tech leader. The industry has, however, seen a drop in new trainees and job candidates recently, and the average age of accounting professionals has increased to 45.  We believe the future belongs to those who embrace the new, multifaceted role of the accountant, and the new crop of dynamic students who are ready to change the game.”

Mazars AAT apprentice graduate, social media influencer and Founder of Hardy Accounting Grace Hardy commented:  “Accountancy gets labeled as male, pale and stale — but for people my age, that’s not the vibe at all. What attracted me to the profession is the emerging tech being used, the career prospects and the opportunity to build my own business from the ground up at only 21 years old.”

Digital-Native and Ready to Lead: The Future of Accounting is Strategic

Far from fearing increasing digitalisation, the next generation of accountants are ready to work with it. 64%*** of young accountants aged 20-24 feel prepared for using emerging technology, with the same number ready to act as business growth advisors. This demonstrates a strong appetite for roles that blend numbers with narrative, where data is used to underpin strategic decision making.

When asked to name their top three growth areas on how they think the accounting profession is most likely to evolve over the next ten years, respondents prioritised digital fluency (26%), data analytics (27%), and advisory skills (22%)  as the most important skills powering the future of the profession.

Connor Godley, who is about to start his first full-time accounting role, commented: “Initially, it was my interest in maths that drew me to accountancy — I wanted a practical career, and accountancy seemed like the obvious choice. But after doing a university placement and working part-time at an accounting firm, my perspective shifted. I realised it’s not just about calculations; it’s really about helping businesses perform better, and the real value lies in advising people. That’s what I enjoy most now – working with and supporting others.” 

Women Rewriting the Rulebook in Accounting

The profession is also becoming a destination of choice for women, especially those seeking flexible, meaningful careers. 29% of female students cite job security as a major draw, and 47% of female students aged over 45 value the flexible or hybrid working models available in accountancy.

Increased visibility of female leaders and access to supportive professional networks are also helping to reshape perceptions. Yet barriers remain: nearly one-third of students say the profession still needs to improve on work-life balance, closing the gender pay gap, and mentorship opportunities.

Access & Inclusion: Barriers Still Remain for Future Accountants

Despite its appeal, the path into accounting is not equal for all. The Intuit study found that 27% of young people cite balancing study with other responsibilities as a barrier, and over one in four said the cost of professional qualifications is too high (26%). Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) highlighted a lack of access to mentors and work experience as the biggest challenges they face, with 29% of college and sixth form students studying accounting, citing this as a specific challenge. There’s also a deeper need for representation of a wider range of ethnicities, educational backgrounds, and age groups, with uplifting neurodiverse voices also a priority. 16% point to a lack of diversity in the profession, and self-doubt — especially among career changers — continues to quietly hold people back. This number increases to 20%, when answered by international students, who represent 20% of the sample. 

Accountancy and Finance Senior Lecturer and YouTuber with over 36,000 subscribers, James Wright FCCA said: “As the accounting sector grows increasingly appealing to both students and career-changers, it's time for the profession to acknowledge and address the barriers to entry. Embracing diversity of thought and experience is key to driving innovation and effective problem-solving—crucial elements for the industry to truly thrive.”

Intuit is committed to nurturing the next generation of accountants and is providing 50,000 free QuickBooks licenses to educators teaching T-Levels. Intuit’s AI-driven financial technology platform empowers young professionals to engage in advisory work early, accelerating their careers. Intuit’s partnership with ACCA further strengthens this initiative, offering educators resources for transformative learning experiences. For more information visit: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/uk/accountants/student-trainee/

* Combines ‘Very interested’ and ‘Somewhat interested;’

** ‘International students’ describes respondents of non-UK nationality, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and USA.

*** Combines ‘Very prepared’ and ‘somewhat prepared’

Sources

Intuit commissioned a Census-wide survey of 500 future accountants across the UK. This included students undertaking qualifications via ICAEW (CA), ACCA, AAT, as well as university students studying accounting or studying a relevant degree with a view to pursuing accounting as a second degree. Students undertaking an accounting apprenticeship or T-Level were also surveyed.  

Intuit added qualitative research sequentially to the quantitative research methodology, to create a mixed methods approach. Four telephone interviews with accountancy students were conducted to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the quantitative findings.  

The data was collected between 22.05.2025-29.05.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. Media contacts: 

For more information, contact quickbooks@edelman.com

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