“Once you qualify, the world is your oyster. You can forge your own path and work in any industry in almost any country”

I qualified as a CA in 1990. Back then, there was no such thing as an admission ceremony. You sat your exams, you submitted your logbook, your paperwork was verified and your certificate arrived in the post. The only decision you had to make was whether or not to order a special frame for your certificate.

When ICAS introduced the annual admission ceremony, I thought it was a brilliant idea, making a celebration of the important achievement of becoming a CA.

One of the many things I love about the ceremony is that we don’t call it a “graduation”. Instead it’s about the transition from student to qualified CA, becoming a member of ICAS and joining a professional body that will support you through your career and beyond.

I attended my first admission ceremony on becoming an ICAS Council member in 2018. Sandy Manson CA was President on that occasion and I was struck by the warm smile he had for every student who walked across the stage to receive their scroll. It was such an uplifting and joyous occasion.

Since then, I’ve always made a point of arriving at the ceremony early to meet and congratulate people during registration. Because it’s not just about the student, but also the proud parent, partner or other family member who accompanies them.

So it’s hard to put into words the pride I’ll feel this year when I, as ICAS President, will be the person on stage congratulating each new CA and presenting them with their scrolls. What I can say to every student, though, not just this year’s cohort, is if you get the opportunity to attend, please do try to come – joining the ICAS family will provide you with a day to remember for the rest of your life.

Hands-on experience

Some 1,200 ICAS students will become qualified CAs this year. Both the CEO, Bruce Cartwright CA, and I sign every single certificate personally, whether it’s handed out on the day or posted.

When somebody (not an ICAS member) suggested we should adopt electronic signatures for the occasion, I was horrified. Because I went through it myself, I know if somebody spent three years, sometimes more, studying for the CA qualification, the very least I can do is sign each scroll individually. And I enjoy doing so. I also enjoy reading each of the names and wondering if I will be shaking hands with them onstage.

Every year I’ve made new connections at the ceremony, many of whom I’ve met again at subsequent networking events. The shared experience of an event like this creates a bond. For the attendees, it’s a great opportunity to meet other newly qualified CAs and to expand connections. Over time you will realise that it’s a very small world.

Having qualified in 1990 I can speak from experience that once you become a CA, the world is your oyster. You can forge your own path and work in any industry in almost any country. It’s a phenomenal qualification which rightly opens doors and presents professional opportunities.

It’s also wonderful seeing the diversity of those qualifying. In 2018, around 8% of new CAs attending the ceremony were non-white students. Now that figure exceeds 20%.

Newly qualified CAs also come from a variety of backgrounds and each year one of the students gives a speech. In 2024, that was Eryn Paterson CA, a young woman from the East End of Glasgow, who was supported through her studies by the ICAS Foundation. You can read about her inspirational journey into the accounting profession, and the outreach work she’s doing to encourage more talented young people like her, in a recent issue of this magazine.

So, if you are attending the ceremony, please introduce yourself. I look forward to welcoming you all to the ICAS family.

The 2025 ICAS Admission Ceremony is on 5 April. Book your place here