New ACCA guide highlights why storytelling is a
critical skill for early-career finance professionals, featuring expert
insights from leading Indian stage performers, directors, and finance leaders.
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants) today released From number crunchers to storytellers a
new guide exploring how changing communication habits are evolving workplace
expectations, and the rise of automation are reshaping the skills required for
professional success.
Aimed particularly at early-career professionals, the
guide combines insights from employers, finance leaders, and leading stage
actors and directors to help build communication, confidence, and storytelling
capabilities. It finds that as AI and automation take over routine tasks;
finance professionals are increasingly expected to communicate insights,
influence decisions, and engage stakeholders much earlier in their careers.
The guide highlights that storytelling is emerging as
a key differentiator in the workplace, helping professionals stand out, build
credibility, and accelerate career growth. At the same time, changing
communication habits driven by social media, digital platforms, and visual
content are reshaping how Gen Z learns, communicates, and engages at work.
To help professionals build these capabilities, the
guide maps the storytelling journey across three stages preparation, delivery,
and reflection through an 11-step framework. It emphasises understanding the
audience, objective, and core message, articulating the ‘why’ behind the story,
using data effectively, delivering with confidence, and continuously improving
through feedback and practice.
“Identify the key data points around which you want to
build your story. Facts are your strongest foundation; they provide credibility
and cannot be disputed. Once you have those in place, you can craft a
compelling narrative that brings the data to life,” said Shernaz Patel,
theatre and film actor and Artistic Director, Aadyam Theatre.
‘Becoming a good storyteller is a
process. Building on insights from creative professionals who practice the
craft of storytelling, finance experts and early-stage professionals, the guide
brings together 11 steps both technical and personal as well as insights for
employers to work as co-partners in this journey’, explains Pooja Chaudhary, Policy and Insights Lead
for India at ACCA and the guide's author.
ACCA's findings suggest that employers who recognise and build on Gen Z's strengths including digital fluency, adaptability, and fresh perspectives will be better positioned to develop confident communicators, stronger collaborators, and future leaders.
Md. Sajid Khan, Director – India at ACCA, said: "The role of finance professionals is evolving
rapidly. Technical expertise remains fundamental, but the
ability to communicate insights, influence decisions, and connect with
different audiences is becoming equally important. As AI transforms the
workplace, uniquely human skills such as communication, storytelling,
and relationship-building will become even more valuable. Employers have an
important role to play in helping young professionals develop these
capabilities through practice, mentorship, feedback, and
real-world exposure."
The guide also captures the perspectives of Gen Z
professionals, who highlighted mentorship, confidence-building support,
constructive feedback, and opportunities to practise audience-specific
communication as critical to their development. It recommends that
organisations create safe spaces for practice, embed coaching and feedback into
development programmes, and provide greater exposure to real-world business
conversations and presentations.
From Number Crunchers to Storytellers forms part of ACCA's ongoing commitment to helping
employers and finance professionals build future-ready talent equipped to
thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work.