The number of chartered accountants in Italy is growing: in 2020 almost 70 thousand and 600 subscribers to the Chartered Accountants Fund (+1,3% compared to 2019). At territorial level, the region with the highest number of members is Lombardy (12.876 chartered accountants), followed by Lazio (7.854), Campania (7.303), Veneto (6.050) and Emilia-Romagna (5.849). The women's share is also increasing (33% of the total) as is welfare spending (over 23 million and 200 thousand euros in 2020, +187,3% on 2016). They are the data of third edition Reputational Report published by Cassa Dottori Commercialisti, with a focus on welfare initiatives for the category.
“After a difficult year like 2020 – he explained Stephen Distilli, President of Cassa Dottori Commercialisti – we return to presenting our Reputational Report, a fundamental tool for framing the evolution and state of health of the sector. From the numerous data, analyzes and graphs contained in the document, some ideas emerge which will be useful for relaunching the role of our institution in support of our members, especially in terms of welfare".
According to the report, there were 2020 new registrations in 2.090 with a constant growth trend in the number of subscribers which from 2004 to 2020 recorded an increase of 70% (equal to over 29 new subscribers overall), against a decrease the number of cancellations (-11% between 2015 and 2020). Also on the rise is thefemale incidence: in the last four years the new members of the Cassa Dottori Commercialisti represent more than 42% of new entries.
At the regional level, the Toscana the region with the highest ratio between members and local businesses is confirmed, with an average of 81 companies for each professional, followed by Piedmont (1 member for every 80 companies), Umbria and Trentino – Alto Adige (each with a ratio of 1/ 77). While the region that records the lowest ratio is the Calabria, with one professional for every 45 companies, followed by Campania and Abruzzo (both with 1/48), Puglia (1/51) and Lazio (1/57), against a national average of 62 companies for each chartered accountant.
A slight increase also for i incomealbeit contained. The average income declared at the end of December 2020 and referring to 2019, went from 66.300 euros to 67.300 euros, against an equally limited decrease in turnover (from 119.100 to 118.400 euros). While the growth trend in the revenues of chartered accountants is confirmed also for 2020 (+16,3% in terms of income, +16,6% in turnover) which since 2011 have increased at an almost double rate compared to that of colleagues (+8,9% in income, +9,9% in volumes). However, the gender gap in terms of income it is still very broad.
As regards the new welfare tools activated by Cassa Dottori Commercialisti to support members in the health emergency phase, according to data, 4.792 were the contributions disbursed in 2020 to support members in difficult situations, distributed between contributions to professionals with rented studios, contributions for the purchase of capital goods to support the profession and contributions to loans. Instead, there were 83.524 requests for last resort income contributions from over 28 chartered accountants managed and settled by the Cassa for a total of over 600 million euros. To these are added 61 allowances paid in 1.567 in favor of 2021 members.
Compared to the suspension of contributions ordered by Cassa Dottori Commercialisti, a further tool to support members in difficulty, of the almost 400 million in suspended contributions, over 62% have already been returned by members. Finally, the Covid-19 coverage of the free health policy that the Cassa makes available to members has made it possible to manage 800 claims for a total of over 2 million and 800 thousand euros.
Beyond the welfare initiatives put in place in response to the pandemic emergency, the introduction of new tools to support members in recent years has led to a year-on-year growth in the welfare expenditure which in 2020 exceeded the 23 million and 200 thousand euros, an increase of 187,3% over 5 years ago.
“Even in the light of the past year and a half - declared Distilli - the increase in levels of welfare expenditure must make us reflect on how welfare must assume an increasingly central role in the initiatives put in place by organizations such as ours which they must be increasingly able to support the professional and income growth of the members, helping to enhance the service role and the opportunities offered by the free profession, also in terms of contributing to the country's economic recovery".
More in detail 8 million and 540 thousand euros in 2020 they were allocated to welfare measures to support the approximately 1.500 chartered accountants who applied for the indemnity and contribution to support maternity or for termination of pregnancy. Also, how contributions to protect families of members, over 4 million and 110 thousand euros were disbursed in favor of parents of children with disabilities or disabling diseases, while over 1 million and 670 thousand euros to support the schooling of members and their children through scholarships.
