According to a recent study conducted by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Scotland has emerged as a global leader in adopting hybrid work practices in the finance sector.

The research, which surveyed around 1,200 finance professionals at the end of last year, revealed that almost three-quarters (71%) of respondents in Scotland are embracing hybrid working, surpassing the global average of 41%. This marks a slight decline from 2023 figures, where 73% reported working in a hybrid fashion.

Despite the popularity of hybrid working, the survey uncovered mixed sentiments among professionals. While 47% agreed that team collaboration becomes more challenging when working remotely, a significant majority (63%) felt they were more productive in this setup. 

Moreover, almost two-thirds (65%) of Scottish respondents expressed a preference for hybrid working, indicating a clear inclination towards flexible work arrangements.

Scotland also saw the highest preference for fully remote working (27%) across the UK, underscoring the desire for flexibility among finance professionals in the region. Only a minority (8%) expressed a preference for working full time in the office.

Notably, while the survey highlighted the benefits of hybrid working, it also shed light on mental health challenges faced by professionals. In Scotland, 59% of respondents reported suffering poor mental health due to work pressure, slightly higher than the UK average of 55%. 

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However, Scottish professionals were more satisfied with the support from their employers for mental health issues, with 50% expressing contentment compared to 45% across the UK.

“The responses from UK finance professionals in this survey around AI reflects a growing conversation about how technology will change the future of work. It is positive to see that two third of respondents are optimistic about the role of AI and even more are keen to understand it more through training and upskilling,” said Joe Fitzsimons, senior manager of policy & insights at ACCA UK, and author of the report.