FOR THE RECORD
Member information and updates from ICAS
Kindness and ethics
Helen Howden took up the role of ICAS Secretary earlier this year. A few months in, she reveals why she joined
“I’m a commercial property lawyer to trade and worked in private practice for many years before deciding to move in-house at Scotland’s Rural College. It was there I discovered the importance (and my enjoyment) of corporate governance, becoming Company Secretary. In 2017 I became Head of Governance at Crown Estate Scotland. The plan was to stay for 18 months, but I ended up spending six years there.
“I fancied something different after that. I’m a member of a professional body, the Law Society of Scotland, and when I was told about the ICAS role I thought it was an opportunity to see this from the other side.
“The new ICAS 2030 strategy also really appealed to me along with ICAS’ values. One of those is to be kind, which is really important in business. And it is all underpinned by ethical standards.
“As ICAS Secretary, I’m here to ensure there’s a good flow of information and that the ICAS Council adheres to the Royal Charter. It’s vital that Council makes sure we all deliver on ICAS 2030.
“Over the next 12 months, I want to see where I can make a difference, identifying efficiencies, making us more responsive to members and giving value from our governance.”
Read more about the ICAS 2030 strategy
ICAS tax team nominated for Tolley Awards
The ICAS tax team were shortlisted for the prestigious Tolley’s Taxation Awards this year. The nomination came in the Outstanding Contribution to Taxation in 2023-24 by a Not-for-profit Organisation category.
The awards were judged by specialists and leading figures in the tax profession. This year saw the introduction of categories covering a range of technical areas, teams in industry, tax chambers of the year, as well as awards for rising star and mentor. A number of ICAS member firms were also shortlisted in different categories, with Johnston Carmichael winning the award for Best Private Client Tax Practice.
The small but mighty ICAS tax team, comprising Chris Campbell CA, Justine Riccomini (both pictured) and Susan Cattell, have diverse skills and experience, built from working in professional practice and with HMRC. Although they didn’t win this year’s award, being shortlisted for a second consecutive year is recognition of the work they do to support our members on a broad range of issues, from technical support to representation at forums with HMRC and the devolved tax authorities.
Read Chris Campbell CA’s comment on the nomination
SCABA publishes annual report and announces AGM
The Scottish Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association (SCABA) continues to support CAs, their dependants and prospective CAs who are in need. Many of our beneficiaries have complex needs, often resulting from their own or a family member’s health issues or because of loss of employment or the challenges presented by the current economic climate. In several cases, these needs are long term.
We remain reliant on the continued generosity of the ICAS member community to enable us to provide this service to our fellow members. SCABA’s Council would like to take this opportunity to thank all members who have made donations for their generosity; especially those who have donated anonymously. We are also grateful to ICAS for its grant, which covers our administration costs and ensures that all donations are used for direct charitable purposes.
Notice is hereby given that SCABA’s 94th Annual General Meeting will be held online at 10.00am, Friday 21 June, for the following purposes:
1. Adoption of the report and accounts for 2023
2. Election of the Council for the ensuing year
Anyone planning to attend the AGM should contact the SCABA manager by email (manager@scaba.org.uk) nearer the meeting date for joining instructions.
The Scottish Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association is a Scottish Registered Charity. Registration No. SC008365
Read the Annual Review 2023 in full
Accountants’ guide to digital AML checks
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Cameron Butt CA
Corporate Tax Advisor, EY
What attracted to your current role?
I was interested in politics and the news as a child, so after reading PPE at university, I opted for tax as it was genuinely a career I could learn a lot from. I was that child who, aged 10, lobbied their mum to stay up to watch BBC News at 10!
Tax seemed a step in the right direction and would set me on a career gaining experience with taxation, which is crucial to government (which is probably what interests me more).
What do you hope to achieve over the next year or so?
I work in transactions (due diligence, structuring, funds flow work and some private-equity portfolio work). Over the next year, I hope to learn more in practice from tax issues that I haven’t yet seen, continue to build relationships with my national team, and use opportunities to meet clients in person. I have completed my professional qualifications, but there is plenty still to learn.
Which part of your ICAS training has helped most in your career to date?
The financial teaching at TPS [Test of Professional Skills] – hedging, forward contracts, interest rate swaps etc – is invaluable. I’ll be honest, even at university I did not understand how all these worked beyond surface level concepts. ICAS training helped me understand these in more detail. This is education I did not receive at school or university but is incredibly useful for navigating and understanding the world. It’s a basic starting point for speaking to clients.
What do you enjoy most about working for EY?
The people. At EY, we are focused on emotional intelligence and trusting working relationships. While there is always hard work and tight deadlines to be met, working with good teams has made my experience great. I mean that – it has been tough but rewarding. I have great respect for the people I work with day to day who help make it so. There are people with integrity at every level of EY.
You’re part of ICAS’ Scotland East Network. What made you join?
I like getting to know people. I used to think networking was the reserve of those who saw other individuals as a “means to an end” – that is, they’d speak to you because they wanted something or to advance their career. My perspective has now shifted. I work in transactions tax and have friends in all different career paths. I’m genuinely curious to understand what life is like for other CAs, to listen to their experience and hear what they are doing. Building a network is about expanding our understandings, which comes from authentic conversations. I’d like to see how people are using their ICAS qualification, what their aspirations are, and how their careers and projects progress.
Are you a recently qualified CA, interested in appearing in this column? Email us at camagazine@therivergroup.co.uk
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