Public value and trust are often thought of as intangibles. But we know very tangibly when trust is eroded and when public value is not being delivered. Independent research, commissioned by ACCA and conducted by Longitude Research, asked the accountancy profession and the public about trust and public value. The findings reveal an accountancy profession keen to re-examine its future and ready to ensure it works ethically and to prove its public value. For ACCA, delivering public value means working in the public interest, promoting responsible and ethical business and supporting enhanced global economic performance.
This report draws on three specific research inputs.
The findings make for interesting reading and pose challenges for the profession, as well as opportunities. Our conclusion on page 27 offers five ways this value gap can be closed, from engaging proactively with stakeholders and the public at large about what the accountancy profession does, to addressing legitimate concerns about ethical issues and conflicts of interest.