Signal CPA exam candidates fell 27% in a decade while three-quarters of accountants near retirement

Summary

Deloitte reports that finance functions are being squeezed from both ends of the labor market. At the entry point, the number of candidates sitting the CPA exam has dropped 27% over the last ten years. The number of accounting graduates is also continuing to decline. At the other end, three-quarters of accounting professionals are within 15 years of retirement, citing the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. The combination means fewer newcomers are arriving just as a large share of experienced staff prepares to leave. The report presents this shrinking pipeline as a key reason finance is turning to technology and new talent sources.