‘ICAS will always champion progress’
‘ICAS will always champion progress’
From the changing face of CAs, to new pathways into the profession and the revolutionary technology that increasingly stands at its heart, ICAS embraces the shape of things to come, says CEO Gail Boag
From the changing face of CAs, to new pathways into the
profession and the revolutionary technology that increasingly stands at its heart, ICAS embraces the shape of things to come, says CEO Gail Boag
Each year at the ICAS Admission Ceremony there is a lovely moment when all the newly qualified CAs hold up their scrolls. Looking out across the auditorium last month, what struck me is that there’s no such thing as a stereotypical CA any more.
This cohort comes from a wide range of different backgrounds and cultures, as will the next one and the ones after that. There is also no longer a stereotypical pathway into ICAS either. New CA students can be school leavers, apprentices or university graduates. Some also take the route from ACCA to CA.
We have now added an additional pathway to becoming a CA, with the introduction of the Accounting and Business Professional qualification. You can read more about it in this interview with Cat Devaney CA, who has been the driving force behind the new designation.
“One thing I can absolutely promise you is that we’re not going to stand still”
I’m delighted to announce that Cat is my successor as Executive Director of Learning. Hers is a wonderful success story because she’s come through the various ranks within ICAS. She did a fabulous job in developing the new CA and student experience as part of our learning transformation that’s taken place over the past three years. Now she’ll continue on that journey, to make sure the syllabus remains well ahead of the game.
At ICAS we all know how good her leadership skills are, as well as her passion for learning and innovation. One thing I can absolutely promise you is that we’re not going to stand still.
Data age
Another feature of the Admission Ceremony is the keynote speaker. This year it was Laura Mason CA, who was chosen as overall winner of CA Rising Stars 2025. Laura, who specialises in data analysis, told CA magazine she is somewhat envious of those ICAS students who now get to study it as a subject in the new CA, rather than having to go out into the world and learn on the go.
The 2026 ICAS Admission Ceremony
The 2026 ICAS Admission Ceremony
One of my key priorities for ICAS this year is how we better harness data, technology and Gen AI in a way that benefits our students, members and firms, transforming services and adding value across the board.
That doesn’t only apply to those in the UK. We have CAs living and working around the world. How can we help strengthen those international communities, build networks and create opportunities for them, while also giving them relevant updates and information for whichever market they’re in?
Often the best way to do that is to go out and meet people. Last year ICAS went on the road across Scotland and spoke to hundreds of members in practice. This month we’ll be meeting our members in Melbourne, and later in the year we’ll be going to Toronto and New York, which represents a combined total of 260 CAs.
Some members overseas are working at the very cutting edge of technology. In this issue we feature three CAs who trained at Grant Thornton in Glasgow. Now they all live in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Angus Chapman CA, AI Governance Director at EY.
“The pace of change around AI is extraordinary,” he says. “Being able to bring the professional judgement and ethical grounding from the CA qualification into that environment is fascinating.”
The story also features Evette Sheehan CA, Senior Director of Accounting, GBS and Transformation at Uber, where tech is embedded in everything they do.
How can we harness some of that knowledge, share learning and develop thought leadership, policy and guidance to help other members?
Ultimately, the most important thing in the world of AI is the human in the loop. I see that as the sweet spot for us – for CAs to be that human, and for ICAS to make sure they’ve got those guardrails, that they understand the risks and the implications of using AI.
We have to keep challenging the idea that AI is going to replace CAs. That could not be further from the truth. We know it will make the chartered accountancy profession even more important, and even more attractive as individuals spend time on the more thought-provoking and critical tasks, and less on the mundane ones that historically many early-career professionals had to undertake. We will continue to sound that message loud and clear.
Read more about the new Accounting and Business Professional qualification
Each year at the ICAS Admission Ceremony there is a lovely moment when all the newly qualified CAs hold up their scrolls. Looking out across the auditorium last month, what struck me is that there’s no such thing as a stereotypical CA any more.
This cohort comes from a wide range of different backgrounds and cultures, as will the next one and the ones after that. There is also no longer a stereotypical pathway into ICAS either. New CA students can be school leavers, apprentices or university graduates. Some also take the route from ACCA to CA.
We have now added an additional pathway to becoming a CA, with the introduction of the Accounting and Business Professional qualification. You can read more about it in this interview with Cat Devaney CA, who has been the driving force behind the new designation.
“One thing I can absolutely promise you is that we’re not going to stand still”
I’m delighted to announce that Cat is my successor as Executive Director of Learning. Hers is a wonderful success story because she’s come through the various ranks within ICAS. She did a fabulous job in developing the new CA and student experience as part of our learning transformation that’s taken place over the past three years. Now she’ll continue on that journey, to make sure the syllabus remains well ahead of the game.
At ICAS we all know how good her leadership skills are, as well as her passion for learning and innovation. One thing I can absolutely promise you is that we’re not going to stand still.
Data age
Another feature of the Admission Ceremony is the keynote speaker. This year it was Laura Mason CA, who was chosen as overall winner of CA Rising Stars 2025. Laura, who specialises in data analysis, told CA magazine she is somewhat envious of those ICAS students who now get to study it as a subject in the new CA, rather than having to go out into the world and learn on the go.
The 2026 ICAS Admission Ceremony
The 2026 ICAS Admission Ceremony
One of my key priorities for ICAS this year is how we better harness data, technology and Gen AI in a way that benefits our students, members and firms, transforming services and adding value across the board.
That doesn’t only apply to those in the UK. We have CAs living and working around the world. How can we help strengthen those international communities, build networks and create opportunities for them, while also giving them relevant updates and information for whichever market they’re in?
Often the best way to do that is to go out and meet people. Last year ICAS went on the road across Scotland and spoke to hundreds of members in practice. This month we’ll be meeting our members in Melbourne, and later in the year we’ll be going to Toronto and New York, which represents a combined total of 260 CAs.
Some members overseas are working at the very cutting edge of technology. In this issue we feature three CAs who trained at Grant Thornton in Glasgow. Now they all live in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Angus Chapman CA, AI Governance Director at EY.
“The pace of change around AI is extraordinary,” he says. “Being able to bring the professional judgement and ethical grounding from the CA qualification into that environment is fascinating.”
The story also features Evette Sheehan CA, Senior Director of Accounting, GBS and Transformation at Uber, where tech is embedded in everything they do.
How can we harness some of that knowledge, share learning and develop thought leadership, policy and guidance to help other members?
Ultimately, the most important thing in the world of AI is the human in the loop. I see that as the sweet spot for us – for CAs to be that human, and for ICAS to make sure they’ve got those guardrails, that they understand the risks and the implications of using AI.
We have to keep challenging the idea that AI is going to replace CAs. That could not be further from the truth. We know it will make the chartered accountancy profession even more important, and even more attractive as individuals spend time on the more thought-provoking and critical tasks, and less on the mundane ones that historically many early-career professionals had to undertake. We will continue to sound that message loud and clear.
Read more about the new Accounting and Business Professional qualification
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