Money, Power & Peace: Who Really Runs the World?

17 Jun 2025

5 Min Read

Dr Voon Voon Yuen Hoong (Guest Contributor), Katharene Expedit (Academic Contributor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

You probably think it’s the CEOs, politicians, or social media influencers running the world. They’re the ones on magazine covers and trending online, right? But behind almost every major decision, from how governments spend billions to how communities recover from disasters, there’s someone you probably haven’t thought about: an accountant.

Whether it’s funding education, managing aid after a flood, or figuring out how to fight climate change, it’s money that moves the action — and you could be the one who decides where that money goes.

And no, it’s not just about crunching numbers. As technology takes over routine tasks, the real work of an accountant is becoming more human — making tough calls, solving problems, and helping people.

So if you’ve written off accounting as boring or irrelevant — think again. This isn’t just about spreadsheets. It’s about power, purpose, and the people quietly shaping the world’s future.

The Hidden Power of Accountants

Five accounting co-workers having financial discussion over the laptop

As someone exploring your next step, you might be surprised by just how far accounting can take you. Accountants today do far more than tally budgets or prepare tax reports. Many work in governments, international organisations like the United Nations or the World Bank, and NGOs on the ground.

Accountants help direct spending during emergencies, audit aid programmes, and ensure accountability in conflict zones. They also measure the impact of sanctions or financial shocks on local economies, ensuring that decisions are made based on reliable data.

These professionals are not just bystanders — they are essential to how institutions function responsibly under pressure. This reality is often misunderstood, even by students exploring career options. As Dr. Voon Yuen Hoong, Executive Director of Tax at Crowe KL, explains,

"People often think that accounting is just a backroom function, with bookkeeping and record-keeping done mainly for tax filing and compliance purposes. However, in reality, accounting records are vital, and the information they generate provides critical insights for business decision-making — both for short-term operations and long-term strategies."

These days, accountants are expected to know more than just finance. They're also involved in areas like technology, regulations, risk management, and business strategy — all of which help them make smarter decisions, especially in high-pressure situations.

Career Paths You Probably Never Thought Of

Female accountant presenting financial report during a meeting

Not all accountants sit behind desks. Some are out in the field, working in crisis zones or advising on climate policy. Here are just a few emerging roles:

Forensic Accounting: Investigate fraud and financial crimes, helping governments and institutions combat corruption.

Humanitarian and Crisis Finance: Manage emergency funds in disaster-hit areas, ensuring resources reach the people who need them most.

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) and Sustainability Advisory: Guide companies and cities on how to spend responsibly, prioritising people and the planet. Some even help governments budget for climate adaptation or inclusive growth.

These roles require more than technical knowledge — they demand ethical leadership, adaptability, and purpose-driven thinking. If you care about impact as much as accuracy, this is where accounting starts to look a lot more like leadership.

The Real Skills That Matter

A group of finance professionals gathered together for discussion

Today’s accounting careers go far beyond just knowing the rules. What truly sets accountants apart now is the ability to adapt, think critically, and lead with integrity.

More and more, employers are looking for qualities such as:

Clear communication skills
Strategic and long-term thinking
Cultural sensitivity and collaboration
Risk awareness and ethical judgment

This isn’t just theory. As Dr. Voon puts it, "Accountants play a crucial role in corporate activities such as mergers and acquisitions, cost control, fraud prevention, investment planning, and business continuity. Real-time financial information supports strategic decision-making."

So whether you’re working with numbers or people, the ability to stay grounded, think ahead, and lead responsibly is what truly matters.

Want to learn how ACCA can fit into your interest and your career journey? Find out from us.

ENQUIRE NOW

Real People, Real Impact

The quiet influence of accounting becomes clearer when you see what it’s made possible — and who’s behind it.

In Austria, Christine Maria Jasch, a certified public accountant, played a key role in developing ISO standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 14031 at a time when traditional accounting frameworks rarely addressed environmental impact. Her work helped bring sustainability into the scope of financial reporting, shaping how companies account for their environmental performance. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, from Ghana, a chartered accountant and former Auditor-General, became known for pushing back against political pressure and championing accountability in public finance.

At the national level, Indonesia shows how accountants can shape systems too. After the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake exposed delays in disaster response, public-sector accountants helped launch the Pooling Fund for Bencana (PFB) in 2021 — a reserve designed to deliver emergency funds faster and with more accountability. It’s a powerful example of how finance professionals quietly help countries prepare for and recover from crisis.

These aren’t 'hero' stories. But they are proof that with the right skills and mindset, accounting can be one of the most powerful tools for rebuilding trust, driving action, and supporting the systems that hold communities together.

Why ACCA Is Built for This

The ACCA qualification doesn’t just prepare you for exams, but to face the real world with confidence.

Its syllabus goes beyond the technical side of accounting, equipping you with skills that matter in the real world:

Ethics and Professional Skills: Preparing you to navigate complex decisions with integrity
Business Strategy: Equipping you to influence organisational direction, not just report on it
Sustainability Reporting: Teaching you to measure and communicate environmental and social impact
Digital Transformation: Helping you to understand tech-driven shifts in finance

At the Strategic Professional level, these elements come together to prepare you for leadership roles — especially those that demand long-term thinking, ethical judgment, and adaptability in fast-changing environments.

As Katharene Expedit, lecturer at ACCA Taylor's College, put it,

The ACCA syllabus, especially at the Strategic Professional level, naturally prepares students for leadership roles that demand accountability, ethical judgment, long-term strategic thinking, and adaptability. Whether addressing sustainability goals, managing public finances, or responding to crisis scenarios, ACCA-qualified professionals are equipped to lead with competence and integrity.

— Katharene Expedit, Lecturer at Taylor's College

That’s what makes ACCA different. It’s not just about ticking boxes — it’s about building the kind of finance professional the world actually needs.

If You Want to Make an Impact, Start Here

Finance isn’t just about money. It’s about how the world works — and who it works for. From education to healthcare to climate action, behind every big solution is a system that needs to be planned, funded, and kept accountable.

If you're someone who wants to solve real-world problems and not just scroll past them, accounting could be your starting point. You don’t have to wait until you're in a boardroom to make an impact. It starts by learning the skills that shape how communities and countries move forward.

It might not be the most glamorous job title, but make no mistake, accountants are some of the most powerful problem-solvers out there. And the world needs more of them.

Curious about where an ACCA qualification could take you? Learn more about ACCA at Taylor’s College and discover how you can turn your purpose into impact.

ENQUIRE NOW

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