As Singapore's Budget 2026 underscores the national role of accountancy profession, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) welcomes the measures announced which support enterprise competitiveness, workforce capability, artificial intelligence adoption, and internationalisation.
The accountancy body sets aside S$3 million to roll out AI, career and sustainability support for accountants and enterprises, saying the Budget is a clear call for the profession to play a stronger role in helping businesses stay resilient, well-governed and positioned for long-term growth.
ISCA says the accountancy profession is among the first non-tech sectors to build practical AI capabilities under the expanded TechSkills Accelerator, reflecting the growing importance of role-based AI skills in professional work.
To support this change, ISCA is partnering the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to develop an AI Fluency Programme for accountancy professionals.
Meanwhile, to complement Government schemes, ISCA and partner organisations set up the Professional Services Centres in 2025, providing a platform for professional services firms to collaborate, share market insights and explore overseas opportunities together, rather than stepping out alone.
ISCA says this supports the Budget’s emphasis on helping Singapore enterprises strengthen competitiveness and participate in new regional growth nodes. Backing accountants through career transitions ISCA’s engagements with employers and members indicate that many finance professionals are already navigating changes in job scope due to AI, sustainability and digitalisation.
Further, ISCA launched the Career Support Programme in 2025 to support members through these shifts, with a $2 million dollar commitment. The programme offers career coaching, job matching and skills support for ISCA members who are exploring new roles or transitions.
The accountancy body will also work on roadmaps to help SGX listed companies navigate revised climate reporting timelines and efforts to explore simpler baseline approaches for smaller firms. This move comes as many businesses find sustainability reporting complex and resource intensive. Accountants are often the first advisors asked to interpret new requirements and help plan the transition.
