A new report from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has highlighted the major challenges finance leaders are facing in the public sector and explored the ways in which they can lead with purpose to build public trust. 

The report, “Leading with a purpose: finance professionals navigating the public sector through difficult times”, sets outs five key principles driving finance professionals in leadership roles. 

According to the ACCA, public sector finance leadership now faces a far more “complex” and “high-stakes” environment than a decade ago. 

The five principles include recognising a changed operational landscape, maintaining integrity, improving data use, prioritising sustainability, and seeking collaboration where possible. 

The ACCA presented these findings during its Virtual Public Sector Conference, which included participation from senior finance professionals globally.  

The research, which draws on interviews with eight senior finance leaders working across various public sector contexts worldwide, states that finance leaders are expected to show personal dedication to integrity, supporting the development of ethical standards and transparency within public sector entities. 

The report also points to the large volumes of data managed by governments and public organisations.  

It notes that while the data is essential for service delivery and administration, finance leaders could expand its application to improve organisational effectiveness.

On sustainability, the report outlines three actions for finance leaders: work with others to determine spending areas with significant sustainability effects; use strategic budgeting approaches to highlight where attention is needed; and implement sustainability reporting to increase transparency. 

The ACCA recommends that public sector finance leaders apply these five principles to guide their decisions and actions as they respond to new organisational priorities. 

ACCA public sector senior subject manager Mark Johnson said: “The triple challenges of fiscal and demographic pressures, changing citizens’ expectations and declining trust present a markedly different landscape for the public sector, compared to a decade ago.  

“Reflecting on and recognising a sense of purpose for finance leadership provides motivation for leaders in shaping their organisation’s response to these trends facing the public sector. Using the principles we identify in the report, leaders can bring clarity and vision so the public sector can face the future with optimism.” 

Johnson added: “We identified three different types of collaboration, internally with departments and colleagues across an organisation, secondly, collaborating with other public sector bodies and thirdly, with the private and voluntary sectors.” 

In November 2025, the ACCA and Chartered Accountants ANZ agreed to continue their partnership for another five years.

This extension follows nearly ten years of joint efforts aimed at developing member resources and responding to developments within the international accountancy sector.