Confidence among accountants in the Asia Pacific region regarding global economic conditions remain fragile, according to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
According to the findings of the ACCA and IMA Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS), confidence among accountants is still at a low level by historical standards.
The fall is attributed to the current global trade situation, amid major changes in U.S. trade policy. Singapore's open, trade-dependent economy remains vulnerable to such shifts, reinforcing the need for vigilance among finance professionals navigating pricing, investment, and talent decisions.
The study also revealed that for the first time, geopolitics topped accountants' global risk priorities in the second quarter of 2025, while economic fears, along with regulatory and compliance risks come as the second highest risk priority.
Accountants also expressed concerns on talent scarcity and cybersecurity, but were slightly less prominent this quarter. Climate change, fraud, and supply chain risks remained lower down the agenda for respondents, suggesting a renewed focus on macro-external volatility, with boards and executives reacting to intensifying global conflicts, regulatory unpredictability and economic pressure.
