- Early career accountants lose nearly five hours a week due to manual processes and disconnected systems
- Companies competing on pay are fighting the wrong battle, only 1% consider it their biggest priority
- 44% say investing in modern technology would be their top priority if they were a managing partner
London, UK, April 7, 2026: A new study from IRIS Software Group reveals that practice owners are at risk of overlooking the role of technology in attracting and retaining young talent, as early career accountants report they are losing 33 days of productive time a year dealing with inefficient and outdated systems.
IRIS’s study of 500 final-year accounting students, recent graduates, and early-career accounting professionals** revealed what technology junior colleagues expected to have access to, and what practices were equipping them.
Nearly half (43%) expected modern, cloud-based systems and 34% expected seamless, integrated technology across all workflows. However, 40% of respondents already training or working full-time admitted to spending significant time on manual data entry – and a quarter (25%) work on more than five disconnected systems day-to-day. Early career accountants revealed that these issues are causing five hours to be wasted each week, which equates to 33 days of productive time lost each year.
Technology as a retention tool
The IRIS findings highlighted the role of technology in underpinning the day-to-day experience that supports employee retention. When asked why they would stay at a firm even if they received a higher salary offer elsewhere, 24% said excellent technology and efficient processes – putting technology above peer and leadership relationships (22%), interest in the work (17%), and firm culture and values (15%) for staying power.
While work-life balance (54%) and salary (50%) were high on the list of factors that young talent looking for their first accounting role valued most, one in five (20%) also felt that tech-enabled processes that simplify work were important to see in their first job. Only 1% said salary was the most important factor when choosing where to work.
Jonathan Priestley, General Manager of Global Accountancy Solutions and Transformation at IRIS Accountancysaid: “Practice modernization is often discussed in terms of productivity and profitability. But it is rarely considered as a factor in attracting and retaining talent – despite chronic skills shortages across the sector.
“The profession is at a crossroads. Companies are being asked to do more with less, while also meeting the rising expectations of a new generation of talent who will not accept inefficient, disjointed workflows as the norm.
“It’s clear that companies need to establish a new blueprint for practice growth, with a clear strategy in place that takes technology and efficiency into account, so that junior staff aren’t wasting time in outdated processes and accountants are unlocking the high-value consulting work that really grows margins.”
firms of the future
Technological frustrations appeared to shape how the next generation believes companies should evolve. Nearly nine in ten (89%) said they believe making taxes digital will force companies to modernize their systems in a way that will directly benefit early career accountants.
Asked what they would prioritize if they were made managing partner tomorrow, 44% said they would immediately invest in modern, integrated technology and automation – rising to 54% among qualified accountants and 70% among those with five years’ experience. Almost all (94%) agreed that connected technology would enable them to do their jobs better.
The research also raises broader questions about the profession’s traditional career paths through the largest companies. More than half of respondents (54%) agreed that the Big Four are becoming a less reliable path to success, despite the majority of young talent still aiming for careers with the region’s largest companies.
Jonathan Priestley said: “Practices that treat MTD as a compliance burden will see minimal modernisation, while those embracing digital transformation will recognize this as the moment young accountants have been waiting for, and will come away operationally stronger and better placed to attract and retain the talent the sector is fighting for. But the broader pattern is clear: the longer people work inside these practices, the more certain they become about what is holding them back.” Has been.
“Our research shows that the companies most likely to win the battle for talent are those that invest equally in their people and their technology – not those with prestige and big names. The practices that recognize this and act now, before MTD gets their hands on, are the ones that will emerge in a fundamentally stronger position over the next few years.”
Download the full report here for an in-depth look at what the next generation of accountants expects from the profession – and how companies can respond.
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*Based on accountants working seven hours a day, 47 weeks a year.
**The survey of 500 final year accounting students, recent graduates and early career accounting professionals in the UK was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of IRIS Software Group, between 20 February and 26 February 2026.
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About IRIS Software Group
IRIS Software Group is a global provider of mission critical software and one of the UK’s largest privately held software companies. IRIS provides software solutions and services for finance, human resources and payroll teams, educational organizations and accounting firms that take the hassle out of processes and let professionals focus on the work they love. Through simplifying, automating, and providing insight into everyday mission critical tasks for organizations of all shapes and sizes, IRIS ensures customers can move forward with certainty and confidence.
IRIS is the largest third-party online filer with the UK Government. 93 of the UK’s top 100 accountancy firms use IRIS software. One in six of the UK workforce is paid by IRIS payroll offerings, and globally, six million employees receive their pay slips through IRIS software each month. Over 850,000 UK employees are managed by IRIS HR solutions. Over 12,000 UK schools and academies use IRIS, with four million parents and guardians using the IRIS app to connect with their children’s school; 300 million messages are distributed between schools and parents every year, and over £15 million of transaction payments are processed every month. IRIS is certified as a Great Place to Work® and recognized as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2023. IRIS is also recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing, one of the Best Workplaces in Tech, and one of the Best Workplaces for Women.
To see how IRIS helps organizations get things right the first time, every time, visit www.iris.co.uk or follow the IRIS Software Group. Linkedin, Twitter And Instagram.
media Contact:
Jennifer Peters | News@irisglobal.com
