Approximately 80 participants recently attended the Royal Nederlandse Beroepsorganisatie van Accountants (NBA)’s accountants in business member group meeting to help develop a vision for the future of the profession in the Netherlands.

Using the “world café” concept inspired by attending IFAC’s Professional Accountants in Business Committee Meetings, members discussed their vision for the future of the financial professional and of our professional organization. These contributions will be used to update our Vision Statement on the Profession of Financial Professional and contribute to the current NBA vision development process, Accountancy, A Profession with a Future.

Questions considered by small groups included:

• As an accountant in business, what do you see as the most important developments that will affect our profession over the next 10 years?
• What unites us as a multidimensional profession?
• What is the impact of technology, sustainability, and the circular economy on our business?
• What new competencies will become more important in the coming years?

Insights and opinions are summarized below. 

Although all member input will be further elaborated and published at a later stage, these drawings already reflect the first feedback of how accountants see the future of our profession.

Do they resonate with you? Do you have any additional ideas or suggestions? Please let us know below.