This year’s report highlights continued growth in the accountancy profession, with rising membership in the UK and globally, despite a slight decline in student numbers.

In the audit market, the report notes an ongoing trend of consolidation, with a decrease in the overall number of registered audit firms. Despite this, there was an increase in the number of FTSE 350 audits undertaken by firms outside of the Big Four, with 48 now undertaken by non-Big Four firms, up from 41 in 2023.

The report gathered data from 31 of the 34 firms with Public Interest Entity (PIE) clients, representing a diverse range of company sizes – from firms with less than 200 employees to those with over 2000. It also provides data on the profession’s demographics, including age, gender, and ethnic diversity across seniority levels and firm sizes, highlighting both progress and persistent disparities.