With 2024 coming to a close, all of us here at ProTalent are raising a toast to a year packed with incredible moments, inspiring stories, and plenty to celebrate. Whether it was adapting to new trends or personal wins, it’s been one for the memory books - for accountants and for us as a team. Let’s rewind, celebrate, and get pumped for what 2025 has in store!
Big Moments in 2024: How Accounting is Evolving
What a ride 2024 has been for accounting! Let's look through some of the trends and events that shook things up:
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AI and Automation: Once just a tech fantasy, AI has now firmly established itself in accounting. From automating bookkeeping to tackling audits, smart tools have freed accountants to focus on the big-picture stuff—smarter, more strategic work. We use it almost daily and with more developments coming out almost weekly, we're excited to see how things are this time next year!
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Tax Reforms: When the UK government rolled out new tax laws this spring, accountants stepped up. Adapting to the changes wasn’t easy, but it proved yet again how essential and flexible accountants are.
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Sustainability Reporting: ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting is now mainstream, with accountants leading the charge. Helping businesses report on sustainability efforts has shown how accountants go way beyond just crunching numbers.
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UK Political Developments: Fiscal policies this year brought a mix of challenges and opportunities. Changes to corporate tax rates and small business incentives meant accountants were busier than ever, stepping into advisory roles and helping clients navigate with their trademark calm and expertise.
Celebrating Career Wins
2024 was a big year for career breakthroughs! We’ve seen fresh grads land their first jobs, seasoned pros step into leadership roles, and many folks take bold leaps into their dream positions.
Still looking for your next big thing? Don’t worry—your perfect role is out there, and we’re here to help you find it. Remember, career journeys are personal, and the best opportunities often pop up when you least expect them. Trust the process—and trust yourself.
Supporting EDS UK: A Cause Close to Our Hearts
This year, our partnership with EDS UK truly shined. We raised funds and awareness for this fantastic organization, and we’re excited to keep the momentum going in 2025. Special kudos to Lydia, who crushed over 60 days of her 75 Hard challenge before life threw her a curveball. She might not have finished, but her determination inspired us all. Lydia’s already gearing up to smash it next year—and so are we!
What’s Ahead for UK Accountancy in 2025?
Here’s what we think is on the horizon for accountants in the coming year:
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Next-Level AI: AI tools will get even better, taking over repetitive tasks and giving accountants more time for advisory work and strategy. A great way to stay ahead of the curve before we are all using AI daily is to watch some seminars or YouTube tutorials, Linked in has some great articles too!
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Regulatory Tweaks: Expect more updates to digital tax reporting and corporate transparency rules, keeping accountants sharp and ahead of the game.
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Wellbeing Takes Center Stage: Mental health became a priority in 2024, and we predict firms will double down on initiatives to support their teams. A happy team is a productive team!
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Evolving Flexible Work: Hybrid working isn’t going anywhere, but it’s getting smarter. With better tech and more options, professionals can enjoy work-life balance like never before.
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The Move Away From Fully Remote Work: Fully remote roles continued to decline in 2024, with only 12% of UK job ads now offering them (down from 18% in 2023). Employers are prioritising in-office time to build culture and collaboration. This trend will likely continue, offering accountants a mix of flexibility and structure.
Keeping the Momentum Going in 2025
As we dive into 2025, we’re all-in on growing our network, sharing insights, and helping accountants reach new heights. Whether it’s through live chats or blog posts, we’ll be here to provide the tools and support you need to thrive.
To everyone we’ve worked with this year—candidates, clients, and colleagues—thank you for making 2024 so incredible. Here’s to an even brighter 2025, packed with growth, opportunity, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. Cheers!