Hong Kong continues to solidify its status as a top global financial hub by embracing digital transformation, cross-disciplinary integration, and sustainability. According to the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, Hong Kong now ranks third worldwide, returning to the top three for the first time since 2019. Its second-place ranking for business efficiency underscores the importance of effective resource allocation and financial planning, core strengths supported by the accounting profession.
The Institute’s ongoing talent initiatives are central to sustaining these achievements. By equipping emerging professionals with fundamental, future-ready skills, the Institute ensures that the next generation of talents continues to drive Hong Kong’s competitiveness and future growth on the global stage.
Expanding the accountancy talent pool for a new era
Recognizing the market’s growing appetite for versatile, cross-disciplinary professionals, the Institute launched the HKICPA Certificate in Accounting and Business (CAB). This programme verifies the practical accounting and business skills of executives, entrepreneurs, and individuals from any background, regardless of business experience.
The CAB programme builds on the foundation of the Qualification Programme (QP), offering a modular structure that allows participants to tailor their learning: completing six core and two elective units at the foundation level, and one core and one elective at the professional level, plus an introductory workshop, to earn the certificate. The curriculum emphasizes not only technical competence in accounting and essential business knowledge, but also core enabling competences such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. These attributes are increasingly valued across sectors and job functions.
For those aspiring to a full CPA qualification, CAB serves as an important milestone, validating their progress and motivating them to complete the QP and attain professional status.
Building capacity in sustainability reporting
Hong Kong’s adoption of the HKFRS S1 and HKFRS S2 standards, issued by the Institute, marks a significant milestone. These standards provide a coherent framework for identifying, assessing, and disclosing sustainability-related risks, opportunities, and financial impacts, fundamentally changing how companies report and manage sustainability issues. As part of its commitment to capacity building, the Institute is introducing the HKICPA Certificate on Sustainability Reporting, a structured and practical training programme tailored to meet the needs of organizations and individuals navigating this new era.
The HKICPA Certificate on Sustainability Reporting is designed to bridge the knowledge gap for professionals from all industries, recognizing that sustainability reporting is no longer confined to specialists but is a strategic imperative for leaders across business functions. The programme’s expert-led modules cover a comprehensive range of topics, including:
- Understanding and applying HKFRS S1 and S2 requirements in practical contexts
- Materiality assessment to determine what sustainability issues truly matter to stakeholders
- Scenario analysis for evaluating long-term sustainability risks and opportunities
- Greenhouse gas emissions measurement and management
- Stakeholder engagement strategies for building trust and accountability
- Integrating sustainability considerations into financial and risk management practices
Participants learn not only how to comply with new reporting obligations, but how to turn them into actionable insights that inform decision-making, enhance risk management, and build long-term value for stakeholders.
Deepening international collaboration and professional mobility
As a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance, the Institute supports international knowledge sharing and mutual recognition, which in turn helps members expand their global network and advance their career prospects. Currently, the Institute maintains reciprocal membership agreements or examination paper exemptions with 11 Mainland and overseas accounting bodies, underscoring the global credibility of Hong Kong’s accountancy qualification. Recent renewals of mutual recognition agreements with CPA Australia and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants further facilitate member mobility across jurisdictions, broadening professional horizons for Hong Kong accountants.
These collaborations are more than symbolic; they enable the profession to attract talent from diverse academic backgrounds and foster innovation. The Institute remains committed to expanding its global network and forging new partnerships, thereby enhancing the reach and relevance of Hong Kong’s accounting profession in a rapidly evolving world.
Future-ready professionals
Through initiatives like the CAB and the Certificate on Sustainability Reporting, the Institute is building a robust pipeline of professionals ready to meet the demands of a cross-disciplinary, sustainability-driven business landscape. These efforts not only address the immediate needs of employers but also support Hong Kong’s vision as a global centre for finance and innovation.
As international standards continue to evolve and sustainability becomes ever more central to corporate success, the Institute will persist in its mission to nurture versatile, future-ready talent.
