The People Problem in Accounting

New research: 50% of UK accounting firms say the barrier to advisory growth is a skills gap, not a lack of time. Download the report with insights from 500 firm leaders.

The skills gap the industry isn't talking about

When asked what would happen if technology freed up 20% more capacity, only 6% of firms said they'd convert it into advisory revenue. The rest pointed to obstacles that have nothing to do with time: teams trained for compliance, not for spotting or selling advisory work. No systematic process. No preparation infrastructure.

The intent is there. 48% of firms say advisory expansion is their primary strategic focus over the next three years. But 96% believe they already see every advisory opportunity across their client base, while a third of their clients' advisory spend still goes to other providers.

This report, based on a Censuswide survey of 500 senior decision-makers at UK accounting firms, unpacks why the gap between advisory ambition and advisory delivery is widening, and what it takes to close it before compliance margins narrow further.

94%

Would not convert freed-up time into advisory revenue, even with 20% more capacity.

50%

Say the primary barrier is a skills mismatch: teams built for compliance, not advisory.

"The industry has assumed that freeing up time would naturally lead to advisory growth. This data shows the bottleneck is upstream: in the skills and systems that should turn capacity into revenue."