Northern Ireland’s accountancy profession has delivered a clear verdict on the conditions required for growth. The latest Business Confidence Survey from Chartered Accountants Ulster Society, drawing on responses from over 200 chartered accountants, finds an economy that has stabilised but remains stuck in low growth, and identifies public sector reform, Corporation Tax competitiveness, and stronger governance as the levers needed to change it.

The survey’s findings are a direct challenge to policymakers and an equally direct opportunity for finance and accountancy leaders. The Ulster Society is not describing a broken economy, it is describing a constrained one with identifiable unlocks. Three findings define the agenda: the depth of consensus around public sector reform, the strength of appetite for Corporation Tax change, and cautious but meaningful optimism around the role of AI across the profession.

The consensus on public sector reform is striking. Over 90% of respondents agree that improving the efficiency of existing spending must come before any tax increase or service reduction, while 51% believe Northern Ireland’s current public funding model is no longer sustainable and requires significant change. Mark Lawther, Chairman of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society, is clear: reform must come before revenue-raising, and improving how public money is spent alongside stronger governance is essential to restoring the confidence on which investment decisions depend.

On competitiveness, two underutilised advantages stand out. Some 85% of respondents believe a more competitive Corporation Tax rate would strengthen Northern Ireland’s ability to attract and retain mobile investment, reflecting the visible gap between Northern Ireland’s rate and the Republic of Ireland’s. Over 70% believe the benefits of Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit dual market access are not yet being fully realised. For finance functions advising on investment location and capital decisions, both represent quantifiable opportunity costs.

Technology sentiment reflects the broader mood of the profession. Almost half of respondents (49%) expect AI to affect their role without fundamentally changing it, while 36% anticipate significant or positive transformation. Together, 85% of chartered accountants in Northern Ireland see AI as an evolutionary rather than disruptive force, a view that should encourage investment in structured upskilling across practices and finance teams.

For accountancy and finance leaders, the message is actionable. Firms should engage actively with public sector reform debates as the professionals best equipped to design and audit better spending frameworks. Where Corporation Tax reform advances, the investment case for Northern Ireland strengthens materially, and finance functions positioned to advise on that opportunity will be first to benefit.

The Chartered Accountants Ulster Society survey does not describe a region in decline. It describes one where conditions for growth are well understood, barriers are identifiable, and the accountancy profession is well placed to lead.

(The views expressed by the writer are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of BusinessRiver.)