Accountants are becoming increasingly social media savvy utilising networking sites to predominantly - but not exclusively - enhance their professional lives, according to a recent study of the profession.

Of the 950 respondents to the CCH Social Media Survey 2012, three quarters (75%) acknowledged that they were users of social media, a 6% rise on results from research carried out last year.

Many accountants used social media to develop and support their career, with LinkedIn (72%) proving to be by far the most popular for such usage. In comparison accountants who benefitted from Twitter or blogs stood at 16% and 11% respectively.

Not surprisingly, social media was most popular among the younger section of the profession, with 93% of accountants 30 years old or under making use of it, falling to 45% for those over 60.

Comparing usage of social media by gender, female accountants were slightly more savvy at 80% usage compared to the 72% of men.

Facebook was used by 78% of survey respondents, but 64% used it solely for personal networking.

CCH UK managing director, Simon Crompton, highlighted how accountants are now reminding clients to sign off quarterly VAT returns via embedded links in a personal LinkedIn or Twitter message.

He said: 'On the face of it, the freewheeling world of social media and the structured world of accountancy seem poles apart. Yet the world of business has changed beyond recognition even in the last couple of years. From LinkedIn recommendations to customer reviews on Facebook, accounting practices are becoming increasingly social media savvy.

'Switched on accounting practices are already tracking conversations in LinkedIn groups and other social networking forums. They are responding to requests for tax advice and sharing views and opinions with prospective customers. The practices that engage can win more business as a result.'

The research findings also suggest that accountants are sceptical about some of the newest social media developments, with 43% of respondents stating that Google+ is just a passing fad.