GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sustainability In The Accounting Industry Statistics

Most firms integrate sustainability, boosting growth, reporting, and client trust.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

82% of accounting firms reported increased demand for sustainability reporting from clients in 2023

Statistic 2

Only 27% of small-to-mid-size accounting firms feel fully equipped to handle sustainability audits

Statistic 3

70% of corporate clients want their auditors to perform sustainability assurance

Statistic 4

80% of accounting firms believe that sustainability reporting will be mandatory for most clients by 2026

Statistic 5

58% of firms have reported increased revenue due to expanded sustainability services

Statistic 6

64% of accounting professionals say sustainability goals are directly linked to client retention

Statistic 7

33% of accounting firms have partnered with environmental organizations to improve sustainability disclosures

Statistic 8

55% of firms report that sustainability audits add to client trust and confidence

Statistic 9

38% of small to mid-size firms report that sustainability is a key factor in winning new clients

Statistic 10

77% of accountants report an increase in demand for non-financial reporting services

Statistic 11

51% of clients have expressed interest in sustainability consulting services

Statistic 12

48% of accounting firms report that sustainability efforts have improved stakeholder engagement

Statistic 13

60% of firms report that sustainability initiatives have helped improve their brand reputation

Statistic 14

52% of accounting firms have adopted ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting standards

Statistic 15

90% of large accounting firms have dedicated sustainability and ESG teams

Statistic 16

55% of firms plan to invest in sustainability training for their staff within the next year

Statistic 17

73% of CFOs report that sustainability factors influence their company's capital allocation decisions

Statistic 18

Integration of sustainability metrics into internal controls increased by 35% from 2021 to 2023

Statistic 19

45% of organizations have issued sustainability or ESG-specific financial reports

Statistic 20

85% of firms consider climate change risks in their risk management frameworks

Statistic 21

47% of firms are planning to implement green accounting practices within the next two years

Statistic 22

61% of firms measure their own sustainability impacts in operations

Statistic 23

49% of accountants feel that current sustainability standards are sufficient, while 51% believe they need more clarity and guidance

Statistic 24

77% of auditors have undergone specialized training in sustainability assurance since 2021

Statistic 25

44% of companies have faced reputational risks due to inadequate sustainability reporting

Statistic 26

72% of organizations are increasing their sustainability audit scope in response to stakeholder pressure

Statistic 27

83% of CEOs consider sustainability a key factor in corporate reputation

Statistic 28

69% of firms report that sustainability initiatives improve employee engagement

Statistic 29

46% of auditors assess supply chain sustainability as part of their audits

Statistic 30

59% of firms are utilizing blockchain technology for transparency in sustainability reporting

Statistic 31

55% of firms believe that integrating sustainability metrics leads to better financial performance

Statistic 32

89% of accounting leaders agree that sustainability accountability is critical for long-term business success

Statistic 33

42% of firms use sustainability performance dashboards to monitor progress

Statistic 34

49% of firms identify regulatory risk as a major driver for enhanced sustainability reporting

Statistic 35

72% of firms have implemented sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) in their internal management systems

Statistic 36

67% of survey respondents see data privacy concerns as a barrier to adopting new sustainability reporting technologies

Statistic 37

72% of firms report undertaking sustainability training for their audit staff in the past year

Statistic 38

54% of organizations believe that sustainability will influence their tax planning and strategies in the near future

Statistic 39

80% of accounting firms consider sustainability performance as part of executive compensation metrics

Statistic 40

83% of CFOs see sustainability as a key factor in future capital raising efforts

Statistic 41

72% of organizations have invested in sustainability data management systems

Statistic 42

49% of accounting firms have integrated sustainability metrics into their annual reports

Statistic 43

46% of auditors include supply chain sustainability verification as part of their audits

Statistic 44

69% of organizations plan to increase their investment in sustainability training for their finance teams

Statistic 45

76% of accounting professionals view sustainability disclosures as critical for investor relations

Statistic 46

The global accounting industry is expected to reach $4.6 trillion by 2025, with sustainability services contributing 15% of this growth

Statistic 47

65% of CPA firms now offer climate-related financial disclosures as part of their services

Statistic 48

60% of accounting professionals believe sustainability will be as important as financial reporting in the next five years

Statistic 49

48% of small firms see sustainability as a competitive advantage

Statistic 50

72% of accounting firms are using or planning to use AI and data analytics for sustainability reporting

Statistic 51

54% of accountants think that sustainability disclosure frameworks will become standardized globally by 2028

Statistic 52

76% of accountants believe that future regulations will require enhanced sustainability disclosures

Statistic 53

51% of accounting firms have increased staff training focused on sustainability standards in the last year

Statistic 54

66% of organizations see sustainability as a driver of innovation

Statistic 55

65% of accounting firms believe that sustainability disclosures will be vital for M&A due diligence processes

Statistic 56

59% of firms have incorporated sustainability criteria into their procurement policies

Statistic 57

44% of small and mid-sized firms plan to increase their sustainability reporting capacity over the next year

Statistic 58

63% of accounting firms are actively participating in sustainability standard-setting organizations

Statistic 59

78% of accounting firms have integrated sustainability into their core business strategies

Statistic 60

The adoption of integrated reporting by firms increased by 40% between 2020 and 2023

Statistic 61

68% of accountants report that sustainability is becoming a core part of financial audits

Statistic 62

67% of accounting firms consider cyber security a crucial aspect of sustainability data management

Statistic 63

43% of accounting firms believe that technological innovation will significantly improve sustainability reporting accuracy

Statistic 64

62% of accounting firms have adopted digital tools to streamline sustainability reporting processes

Statistic 65

77% of accounting professionals believe that climate risk assessments are essential for financial audits

Statistic 66

57% of firms are exploring carbon accounting as part of their sustainability strategies

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Sources

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Key Highlights

78% of accounting firms have integrated sustainability into their core business strategies
The global accounting industry is expected to reach $4.6 trillion by 2025, with sustainability services contributing 15% of this growth
65% of CPA firms now offer climate-related financial disclosures as part of their services
82% of accounting firms reported increased demand for sustainability reporting from clients in 2023
52% of accounting firms have adopted ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting standards
Only 27% of small-to-mid-size accounting firms feel fully equipped to handle sustainability audits
90% of large accounting firms have dedicated sustainability and ESG teams
The adoption of integrated reporting by firms increased by 40% between 2020 and 2023
70% of corporate clients want their auditors to perform sustainability assurance
60% of accounting professionals believe sustainability will be as important as financial reporting in the next five years
55% of firms plan to invest in sustainability training for their staff within the next year
73% of CFOs report that sustainability factors influence their company's capital allocation decisions
Integration of sustainability metrics into internal controls increased by 35% from 2021 to 2023

As sustainability increasingly reshapes the accounting industry, with 78% of firms integrating eco-conscious strategies and client demand soaring, it’s clear that green practices are no longer optional but essential for future success.

Client and Market Demand for Sustainable Services

82% of accounting firms reported increased demand for sustainability reporting from clients in 2023
Only 27% of small-to-mid-size accounting firms feel fully equipped to handle sustainability audits
70% of corporate clients want their auditors to perform sustainability assurance
80% of accounting firms believe that sustainability reporting will be mandatory for most clients by 2026
58% of firms have reported increased revenue due to expanded sustainability services
64% of accounting professionals say sustainability goals are directly linked to client retention
33% of accounting firms have partnered with environmental organizations to improve sustainability disclosures
55% of firms report that sustainability audits add to client trust and confidence
38% of small to mid-size firms report that sustainability is a key factor in winning new clients
77% of accountants report an increase in demand for non-financial reporting services
51% of clients have expressed interest in sustainability consulting services
48% of accounting firms report that sustainability efforts have improved stakeholder engagement
60% of firms report that sustainability initiatives have helped improve their brand reputation

Client and Market Demand for Sustainable Services Interpretation

As sustainability morphs from a buzzword to a business imperative, accounting firms—despite feeling underprepared—are racing to meet soaring client demands, with nearly unanimous consensus that by 2026, sustainability reporting will no longer be optional but a key to winning trust, clients, and future growth.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Adoption

52% of accounting firms have adopted ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting standards
90% of large accounting firms have dedicated sustainability and ESG teams
55% of firms plan to invest in sustainability training for their staff within the next year
73% of CFOs report that sustainability factors influence their company's capital allocation decisions
Integration of sustainability metrics into internal controls increased by 35% from 2021 to 2023
45% of organizations have issued sustainability or ESG-specific financial reports
85% of firms consider climate change risks in their risk management frameworks
47% of firms are planning to implement green accounting practices within the next two years
61% of firms measure their own sustainability impacts in operations
49% of accountants feel that current sustainability standards are sufficient, while 51% believe they need more clarity and guidance
77% of auditors have undergone specialized training in sustainability assurance since 2021
44% of companies have faced reputational risks due to inadequate sustainability reporting
72% of organizations are increasing their sustainability audit scope in response to stakeholder pressure
83% of CEOs consider sustainability a key factor in corporate reputation
69% of firms report that sustainability initiatives improve employee engagement
46% of auditors assess supply chain sustainability as part of their audits
59% of firms are utilizing blockchain technology for transparency in sustainability reporting
55% of firms believe that integrating sustainability metrics leads to better financial performance
89% of accounting leaders agree that sustainability accountability is critical for long-term business success
42% of firms use sustainability performance dashboards to monitor progress
49% of firms identify regulatory risk as a major driver for enhanced sustainability reporting
72% of firms have implemented sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) in their internal management systems
67% of survey respondents see data privacy concerns as a barrier to adopting new sustainability reporting technologies
72% of firms report undertaking sustainability training for their audit staff in the past year
54% of organizations believe that sustainability will influence their tax planning and strategies in the near future
80% of accounting firms consider sustainability performance as part of executive compensation metrics
83% of CFOs see sustainability as a key factor in future capital raising efforts
72% of organizations have invested in sustainability data management systems
49% of accounting firms have integrated sustainability metrics into their annual reports
46% of auditors include supply chain sustainability verification as part of their audits
69% of organizations plan to increase their investment in sustainability training for their finance teams
76% of accounting professionals view sustainability disclosures as critical for investor relations

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Adoption Interpretation

As sustainability entrenches itself in the accounting industry—with over half of firms adopting ESG reporting, nearly all large firms ramping up dedicated teams, and a growing chorus of CFOs and CEOs deeming sustainability vital for reputation and finance—the profession is not just balancing the books but also the planet's future, proving that good numbers now mean better worlds later.

Industry Trends and Growth Projections

The global accounting industry is expected to reach $4.6 trillion by 2025, with sustainability services contributing 15% of this growth
65% of CPA firms now offer climate-related financial disclosures as part of their services
60% of accounting professionals believe sustainability will be as important as financial reporting in the next five years
48% of small firms see sustainability as a competitive advantage
72% of accounting firms are using or planning to use AI and data analytics for sustainability reporting
54% of accountants think that sustainability disclosure frameworks will become standardized globally by 2028
76% of accountants believe that future regulations will require enhanced sustainability disclosures
51% of accounting firms have increased staff training focused on sustainability standards in the last year
66% of organizations see sustainability as a driver of innovation
65% of accounting firms believe that sustainability disclosures will be vital for M&A due diligence processes
59% of firms have incorporated sustainability criteria into their procurement policies
44% of small and mid-sized firms plan to increase their sustainability reporting capacity over the next year
63% of accounting firms are actively participating in sustainability standard-setting organizations

Industry Trends and Growth Projections Interpretation

As the accounting industry gears up for a greener future—where sustainability reports will soon rival financial statements and AI-driven disclosures become standard—firms are increasingly viewing eco-consciousness not just as a moral duty, but as a strategic edge in a rapidly evolving, regulation-rich landscape.

Sustainability Integration in Accounting Practices

78% of accounting firms have integrated sustainability into their core business strategies
The adoption of integrated reporting by firms increased by 40% between 2020 and 2023
68% of accountants report that sustainability is becoming a core part of financial audits
67% of accounting firms consider cyber security a crucial aspect of sustainability data management
43% of accounting firms believe that technological innovation will significantly improve sustainability reporting accuracy
62% of accounting firms have adopted digital tools to streamline sustainability reporting processes
77% of accounting professionals believe that climate risk assessments are essential for financial audits
57% of firms are exploring carbon accounting as part of their sustainability strategies

Sustainability Integration in Accounting Practices Interpretation

With nearly 80% of accounting firms embedding sustainability into their core strategies and a growing reliance on digital tools and innovative practices, the industry is not just balancing books but also balancing environmental and ethical accountability — proving that in the world of finance, green is truly the new gold.