(Singapore, 24.09.2025) Chartered Accountants of Singapore have been named the second most trusted profession in the country, just behind doctors, according to the 2025 Trust Survey by Edelman DXI in partnership with Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW). The global study polled 1,725 senior financial decision-makers across 10 markets.
Worldwide, 83% of respondents said they trust Chartered Accountants to “do the right thing,” ranking the profession just after doctors and engineers. In Singapore, the trust level was even higher at 85%, marking a seven-point rise since 2019. Confidence in the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) also strengthened, with 88 percent of respondents expressing trust in the organisation—an eight-point increase over the same period.
“As businesses face rapid AI adoption and the spread of misinformation, Chartered Accountants are increasingly seen as guardians of data integrity and ethical leadership,” the report noted.
The survey highlighted that Singapore’s Chartered Accountants are relied on not just for financial stewardship but also for strategic direction. Most respondents said they help businesses adapt to new challenges and play a vital role in guiding AI adoption, automation, and related investment decisions.
“Trust in ISCA members is rooted in their integral role in guiding businesses forward,” said Teo Ser Luck, President of ISCA. “Our more than 40,000 members are not only financial stewards but trusted advisors shaping decisions that matter. With new credentials in governance, AI, and sustainability reporting, we are ensuring our members remain leaders who balance integrity with innovation.”
Echoing this, Tan Boon Gin, CEO of Singapore Exchange Regulation, stressed that markets depend on trust, and Chartered Accountants hold many of the key positions—auditors, CFOs, consultants and board members—critical to market confidence.
Globally, while trust in the wider accountancy profession has slipped slightly since 2023, confidence in Chartered Accountants has held steady at 83%, widening the credibility gap. “At a time of eroding trust in institutions, Chartered Accountants are bucking the trend,” said Ainslie van Onselen, Chair of CAW. “In a world shaped by AI, disinformation and rising demand for accountability, our profession is standing tall.”
Since its launch in 2018, the Trust Survey has tracked confidence in Chartered Accountants across 10 markets. The 2025 edition focused on AI, misinformation, purpose-driven leadership and the evolving role of CAs as strategic advisors.
