Finance for a future of sustainable prosperity

Global society currently faces many challenges including climate change and rising inequality. This paper presents the results of a thematic coding analysis of a workshop comprised of senior accountants and actuaries who were asked to consider how a future of sustainable prosperity can be enabled by the finance sector. We found that mindset, skills, external drivers and decision boundaries were key themes that create barriers to change. Importantly, a reframing of the professions is required to underpin the changes required. The accountants and actuaries who took part believe that this represents a revolution from the way they currently operate with regard to regulation, exams, decision‐making and their engagement with clients. They need to be more open to qualitative approaches to advice and focus on value creation, as well as re‐constructing what is understood through value, rather than profit extraction.