Over 50 per cent finance professionals see shared services roles as attractive, says ACCA report

The report ‘Finance shared services careers: opportunity or end game?’ provides an insight into how the finance function may evolve in its career pathways.

ACCA surveyed over 260 shared service executives worldwide to gain their insights about what attracts them to a finance role in shared services or in a more encompassing Global Business Services (GBS) model.

The findings of the report suggest that taking up a role in finance shared services is no longer viewed as career limiting, but rather a unique opportunity to broaden the capabilities and soft skills increasingly sought by a diverse set of finance businesses.

India has become a global hub for shared services, serving many global companies in search of lower costs, more efficient processes and effective business transformation. It has been changing their approach to shared services, understanding the vital role they play in enabling growth. ACCA’s report clarifies that shared services are becoming an integral part of the business model instead of just an efficiency enabler.

Jamie Lyon, Head of corporate sector, ACCA says: “As new finance operating models mature, finance leaders increasingly see time spent in shared services as a long term development opportunity and less as career limiting. Shared services offer a unique opportunity to broaden their capabilities and soft skills increasingly sought by the business.”

Md. Sajid Khan, Head of International Development, ACCA, says: “It is increasingly apparent that shared services models diversify career options for finance professionals. With their aspirations no longer being confined to climbing the traditional path to CFO, shared services leaders have a plethora of options. With the Indian economy poised for growth, adoption of shared services may increase manifold.”