Key Highlights

• Generation gap: 52% of Gen Z finance workers are in the office full time, compared with 33% of Gen X and 14% of Baby Boomers.
• Learning at risk: ACCA says this two-tier workforce limits the chances for younger workers to learn from experienced colleagues.
• Office matters for promotions: About 55% believe time in the office helps promotion prospects, and 61% support set office days.
• AI worries: 52% fear AI's impact on their jobs, even though 81% are confident about building AI skills.
• Pay and pressure: 54% are unhappy with their pay, and 57% say work pressure hurts their mental health.

Picture a young finance professional arriving at the office every day, eager to learn, only to find that the senior colleagues who could guide them are mostly working from home. According to a new report from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), that scenario is becoming common in banking and financial services.

The report, based on a survey of more than 900 finance professionals worldwide, found that younger workers are far more likely to be in the office full time than older colleagues, creating what it calls a two-tier workforce.

The Office Gap by Generation

Why It Matters: Learning by Watching Is Disappearing

Much of what young professionals learn does not come from manuals. It comes from overhearing how a senior colleague handles a tough client call, asking a quick question across the desk, or watching how decisions are made. When experienced staff are mostly remote, those informal learning moments shrink.

"Time spent with older and often more experienced colleagues in the workplace is an important part of gaining useful real-world experience in the workplace for younger employees, and it's helpful for driving more effective cross-generational collaboration at work," said Jamie Lyon, Head of Skills, Sector and Technology at ACCA. He said the mismatch complicates future skills development and the absorption of workplace culture.

The irony is that the people who most need in-person guidance are showing up, while those best placed to give it often are not.

Office Time and Career Growth

Workers themselves see value in being present. Nearly 55% believe time in the office improves promotion opportunities, and 61% agree that organisations should require employees to spend a set number of days in the office.

AI: Confident but Worried

The survey also shows mixed feelings about artificial intelligence. Confidence in developing AI skills is high at 81%, but 52% are worried about the potential impact of AI on their jobs.

Concerns extend to hiring as well. About 55% worry about AI algorithms being used in recruitment, and 56% of board-level leaders in financial services are sceptical about growing reliance on AI to select talent.

Pay, Pressure and Purpose

• Pay: Cost of living was the top concern, with 54% dissatisfied with their current compensation.
• Mental health: Nearly 57% said their mental health suffers due to work pressure.
• Purpose: 64% want roles with social impact, and 59% are interested in finance jobs that help tackle environmental and climate challenges.

What Employers Can Take Away

The findings suggest that office policy is not just about attendance, but about who is in the room together. Some practical responses employers could consider include:

• Setting shared "anchor days" when senior and junior staff are in the office together
• Pairing new joiners with mentors who commit to regular in-person time
• Being transparent about how AI is used in hiring, to address staff concerns

A Note on the Data

The survey covers finance professionals worldwide. The report, as shared, does not provide a separate breakdown for India, so the figures reflect global trends rather than Indian workplaces specifically.

The Bottom Line

ACCA's findings point to a quiet risk in hybrid work: a generation of finance professionals learning largely on their own. Bridging that gap may depend less on how many days people spend in the office, and more on making sure the right people are there at the same time.

With inputs from IANS.