Singapore’s finance professionals are among the most competent in the region in artificial intelligence ( AI ) skills, yet the rapid adoption of the technology has brought anxiety in the workplace.

A recent survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ( ACCA ) reveals that eight in ten respondents in the city-state ( 81% ) feel confident in their ability to learn and apply AI skills, but nearly half ( 48% ) still fear the technology will cost them their jobs.

More than half of respondents ( 51% ) are now regularly using AI tools in their day-to-day work. But confidence in how AI is being used in recruitment is considerably lower: just 41% say they trust AI algorithms to support fair and unbiased hiring decisions, according to ACCA’s Global Talent Trends 2026 report, which was drawn from responses from over 11,000 finance professionals in 160 countries.

The study also highlights the strength of purpose-driven sentiment in Singapore's finance workforce. About 70% of respondents say an organization's reputation on social and human rights issues is a key factor in deciding where to work. More than half ( 54% ) want to pursue finance roles focused on social impact, while 63% are drawn to roles with an environmental remit, a figure notably higher than many comparable developed-market economies.

“Singapore's employers are competing for some of the most skilled finance professionals in the world. But skilled professionals have choices, and increasingly, those choices are being shaped by purpose as much as by pay,” says Maurice Cheong, head of Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania at ACCA. “Organizations that think social impact is a nice-to-have are likely to find that the most talented people are choosing somewhere else.”

Generational friction

The ACCA study also finds that for the first time, Singapore’s workforce spans five generations simultaneously, and employers are struggling to manage that reality. More than half of Singapore respondents ( 53% ) say their organization faces challenges in supporting effective teamwork across different generations, well above the global average of 42%.

The survey mainly attributes this challenge to organizational design, with structured mentoring, mixed-age teams and clearer communication frameworks among the most cited remedies.

On pay, Singapore presents a relatively more positive picture than much of the region: 46% of respondents are satisfied with their current compensation levels, among the highest in Asia-Pacific.

But satisfaction is not universal: 52% still plan to ask for a pay rise in the next 12 months, as living costs continue to rise.

Meanwhile, mental health remains a live concern: 52% of Singapore's finance professionals say their mental health suffers because of work pressures, in line with the global average. The report finds a consistent relationship between poor wellbeing and higher flight risk, reinforcing the case for employer action that goes beyond surface-level wellness initiatives.

On office attendance, 65% of respondents in the city-state agree that organizations should require a set number of days in the office each week. Fifty-nine percent believe office presence positively impacts promotion prospects, a view that holds across genders and generations, though with notable variation. Hybrid working remains the stated preference for the majority.

“The data from Singapore reflects a sophisticated, internationally connected workforce that is navigating real uncertainty about technology, purpose, and career progression at the same time. The employers who will retain the best people are those who take all three seriously, not just the ones that make the headlines,” adds Cheong.