Filling the gap

Closing the UK's finance and accounting skills gap

Filling the gap is AAT's report exploring the growing skills shortages in the UK's finance and accounting profession. This three-part series highlights where the gaps are, what's causing them, and how we can work together – across government, business and education – to close them.

34% of employers struggled to recruit for finance and accounting positions in the last year.

78% of all employers face at least some skills gap. 26% report gaps across many or all areas of the business.

A skilled finance workforce is central to all the UK's growth sectors. This report sets out a roadmap to build a more resilient and future-ready system.

Chapter 1: The current landscape

October 2025

Understand the current extent of the UK's finance and accounting skills gap – and how it’s affecting employers, productivity and talent pipelines.

Read the Chapter 1 report (PDF)

Chapter 2: The talent pipeline

March 2026

This chapter focuses on who is entering accounting, why people stay and leave, and how we can attract talent into the profession.

Read the Chapter 2 report (PDF)

Chapter 3: Social and economic impact

May 2026

The third and final chapter looks at AAT's economic and social impact. AAT commissioned Public First to model AAT's socioeconomic impact, available below.

Read the Chapter 3 report (PDF)

AAT's key findings and recommendations (PDF)

Share the report and stats on social media, using the hashtag #FillingTheGap

Partner with AAT on future skills initiatives

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