ICB’s 2026 State of the Nation Bookkeepers Survey reveals a profession in good shape - self-employed, optimistic about the future, and taking on more for clients than ever before.
As ICB celebrates its 30th anniversary, the findings from its largest annual member survey paint an encouraging picture. Three quarters of respondents run their own practice or work freelance. More than half work part-time - by choice. And when asked how they feel about their future in the profession, the average response is a confident 7 out of 10.
Nearly half of bookkeepers expect to earn more in 2026 than they did last year, and the profession continues to attract new entrants - with ICB reporting growth in student enrolments as the survey was conducted.
Ami Copeland, ICB CEO, said:
“Bookkeeping has always been the backbone of small business finance, but what this survey shows us is that it has also become an exceptional career in its own right. Our members are running successful, sustainable businesses on their own terms - and that is something to celebrate. As we mark 30 years of ICB, we are more committed than ever to giving them the skills, status and support to grow.”
Today’s bookkeeper does considerably more than basic record-keeping. Nearly two thirds of respondents handle payroll, more than half complete self-assessment tax returns, and over four in ten provide financial advisory services including planning, budgeting and business performance analysis.
Technology adoption is also accelerating. More than half of bookkeepers now use AI-powered tools in their work at least occasionally - with data capture, transaction categorisation and client communications among the most common uses. This is a profession actively shaping its own future rather than waiting to be disrupted.
A flexible, female-led profession
More than three quarters of ICB bookkeepers are women, the majority of whom run their own businesses. The profession scores 7 out of 10 for work-life balance - reflecting the genuine flexibility that a bookkeeping career can offer. For those building a career around other commitments, running your own bookkeeping business remains one of the most accessible and rewarding routes into professional financial services.
The survey also shaped ICB’s priorities for the year ahead. Members identified guidance on pricing and value-based fees as their most-wanted form of support, followed by more CPD and training. In response, ICB is developing a more flexible, modular syllabus, designed to stay relevant to the realities of modern practice and to the needs of the UK’s small businesses.
Specialist sector qualifications are also in development, with e-commerce, construction industry, hospitality and charities identified as the areas of greatest demand.
