South African Chartered Accountants remain the most trusted in the world
Johannesburg, 08 December 2025 – The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) is thrilled to announce that the 2025 Edelman DXI–Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) Trust Survey has once again confirmed the CA(SA) designation as the most trusted Chartered Accountancy designation globally. This achievement builds on the strong foundation laid in 2023, when both SAICA and the CA(SA) designation were recognised as the most trusted worldwide in the same study.
In an era of global uncertainty, rapid digital disruption, and declining confidence in institutions, South Africa’s Chartered Accountants [CAs(SA)] continue to stand tall. This recognition, amid changing trust trends worldwide, marks a significant achievement for SAICA and its members, and is a strong affirmation of the profession’s enduring resilience - especially as we close a year defined by turbulence and a lot of change.
These shifts in trust mirror patterns affecting every professional body measured. Yet, despite this global recalibration, CA(SA) remains the most trusted designation in the world - underscoring a profession that has not rested on past successes but has continued to uphold rigorous standards, strengthen accountability, and demonstrate leadership when it matters most.
While SAICA as an institute recorded declines in certain key metrics in 2025, these shifts reflect broader patterns seen across every professional body surveyed, as global trust indicators adjusted upward from 81% to 83%. Importantly, the results remain statistically significant and reinforce a clear trend: despite global volatility, CAs(SA) continue to lead as the most trusted designation worldwide.
The decline for SAICA in certain key trust indicators align with the very foreseen areas that informed the transition to our new Target Operating Model implemented in the second quarter of 2025. This reaffirms that we have correctly prioritised, and are actively investing in, the capabilities required to strengthen, future-proof, and uphold the long-term trust and relevance of both the institute and the profession.
The 2025 survey - conducted across 10 markets with 1,725 senior finance decision-makers - highlights rising expectations for Chartered Accountants to provide ethical leadership, credible insights, and informed judgment in an age of volatility.
SAICA CEO, Patrica Stock CA(SA), emphasised that this milestone carries deep significance for South Africa and reinforces the country’s standing as a producer of world‑class financial leaders whose expertise, integrity, and judgement are recognised far beyond our borders. “In a national environment where trust is contested and economic pressures are mounting, this global endorsement serves as an anchor. It reassures investors that financial stewardship in South Africa remains strong. It provides confidence to business leaders seeking stability amid volatility. And it inspires young South Africans by affirming that the CA(SA) pathway remains one of the most respected and future‑proof qualifications in the world”.
Stock went on to highlight that trust is the profession’s currency and that this recognition is particularly meaningful after a year marked by unfounded allegations and misleading narratives that tested SAICA’s governance structures and could have eroded public confidence. “Instead, we emerged stronger - validated by global trust rankings and our award for Best Integrated Report in the NPO category at the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa Integrated Reporting Awards, which alludes to our transparency in reporting. We have also addressed all the Zondo Commission related matters referred to us and successfully defended one of our findings as part of review application at the high court. As an Institute, we remain committed to audit excellence, ethical conduct, and transformation. We continue to invest in providing an independent, research-based voice on audit trust and policy, promoting high-quality audit performance, and convening stakeholders to co-create a better future for the profession. These achievements reaffirm that transparency and integrity are the bedrock of our profession. That said, trust is dynamic, and we will not rest on our laurels”, said Stock.
Emphasising the importance of transparency in responding to the research, Stock highlighted “SAICA is launching the Trust Restoration 2.0 initiative, a two‑year commitment to independent trust audits, stronger disclosures which is supported by the launch of the high quality Sustainability Reporting and Assurance certification programs, ethics‑centred CPD, professionalisation of the public sector, responsible AI adoption and assurance, rapid misinformation response, and deeper stakeholder listening. Our pledge is simple: to earn trust, to keep trust, and to grow trust consistently and transparently”.
As SAICA accelerates its journey as a purpose-led organisation geared towards becoming a human-centric insights-driven organisation, these results reinforce these strategic priorities. They signal the need for continued focus on ethical leadership, transformation, relevance, and future-ready competencies and they affirm SAICA’s commitment to serving both the profession and the public interest with clarity, integrity, and foresight.
Issued by the SAICA Corporate Affairs Team
About SAICA
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is recognised as the world’s leading accounting institute and is home to the leading CA designation in the world The Institute plays a key advocacy role and provides a wide range of support services to more than 60 000 members and associates who are chartered accountants (CAs[SA]), as well as associate general accountants (AGAs[SA]) and accounting technicians (ATs[SA]), who hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in every sphere of commerce and industry, and who play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.
SAICA is a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW), a global family that connects over 1,8 million fellow Chartered Accountants and students in more than 190 countries. Together, we support, develop, and promote the role of Chartered Accountants as trusted business leaders, difference makers, and advisers.
SAICA media contact
Kgauhelo Dioka, ***@saica.co.za or 068 087 1867
Manager: Public and media relations
Acting Lead: Corporate Affairs
SAICA Customer Experience Division
To learn more about SAICA, please visit saica.org.za or visit our LinkedIn page