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Chris Good CA’s candour about his recovery from a mental health crisis offers a signal lesson for the profession, says President Clive Bellingham CA
Futures and pasts
A dinner with past presidents recalls ICAS’ historical role in shaping the UK business landscape – and the pivotal part it will play in the decades to come, says President Alison Cornwell CA
One of the traditions of the ICAS presidency is that the incumbent invites their predecessors to an annual meeting. This year, the event, which was held in Edinburgh in August, included an overview of the areas that I want to promote in my presidential year, and a presentation from CEO Bruce Cartwright CA and members of his executive team.
All told, there are currently 31 living past presidents, many of whom were in attendance. Among the issues under discussion were the ICAS 2030 strategy and the regulatory and broader business environment.
It was fantastic to outline so much progress, explaining all the incredible work our Executive Director of Learning, Gail Boag, and her team have been undertaking with the rollout of the new, cutting-edge syllabus and their reinvention of the delivery model for the 21st century.
It’s thrilling to be in the company of people you’ve admired and respected, and perhaps heard deliver speeches at past ICAS events, all gathered in one room. They shared fascinating anecdotes from their careers, along with their views of how the profession has evolved.
“Last year, more than 340 applications were made at our online careers fair, with many leading to job offers”
Professor Ian Percy CA was President in 1991, the year that I sat my final exams and became a qualified CA. He recalled the days before formal corporate governance standards and talked about the work that was undertaken in developing the famous 1992 Cadbury Report, which did much to bring UK governance into the modern age. He also represented the UK on the International Auditing Practices Committee from 1995–2000, and was Chairman of the Accounts Commission and Audit Scotland until 2000.
The evening served as a reminder of the influence ICAS’ voice carries in the profession and beyond. One of the topics that came under discussion is the increasing frequency of private equity firms buying accountancy practices – and what that might mean for the future of the industry.
I also spoke to Isobel Sharp CA, President in 2007-08 and only the second woman to hold the post. In her speech to the AGM during her term, Isobel said: “I become President at a time of great success for ICAS. Our CA qualification, rightly regarded as a pre-eminent pathway into the world of business, is in more demand than ever.”
History rhymes
It’s great to be able to echo those words as ICAS yet again achieves a record student intake. Once more, credit for this must go to Gail and her team.
Part of this success comes from our focus on developing new pathways into the profession. From a personal perspective, that means following a process to enable my employer, Vue International, to become an authorised training office (ATO), taking on CA students.
ICAS has also undertaken extensive outreach to colleges, school leavers and companies to ensure there are more entry points into the profession. The team have done an excellent job in getting out and about and promoting the benefits of partnering with ICAS and explaining the changes to our delivery model.
To give one example, on 15 October we will hold our online careers fair. This will provide students and school leavers with an overview of ICAS, the syllabus and the pathway to becoming a CA trainee. Last year, more than 340 applications were made at the fair, with many leading to job offers.
The increased flexibility that comes with the new syllabus means that ATOs no longer have to release trainees at a specific time of year. This is highly attractive to employers, as are the new logbooks which are far less onerous for both ATOs and students.
I also chaired a recent Council meeting, where one of the key topics was AI. What does it mean for ICAS, for training, for individual jobs and for the profession? AI is, and will continue to be, on the agenda for all future Council meetings.
On the broader subject of accountancy’s future, I hope to see some of you at the Shaping the Profession: Beyond the Numbers conference in London on 8 October. You can read more about this in Bruce’s column here.
While the meeting in Edinburgh shows that ICAS remembers and celebrates its heritage, the event also emphasised the energy and drive that each of us, from past presidents to office bearers to the ICAS executive and the membership, brings to thinking about the future.
Register here for the Shaping the Profession event in London, 8 October
linkedin.com/in/alison-cornwell-ca
Futures and pasts
A dinner with past presidents recalls ICAS’ historical role in shaping the UK business landscape – and the pivotal part it will play in the decades to come, says President Alison Cornwell CA
One of the traditions of the ICAS presidency is that the incumbent invites their predecessors to an annual meeting. This year, the event, which was held in Edinburgh in August, included an overview of the areas that I want to promote in my presidential year, and a presentation from CEO Bruce Cartwright CA and members of his executive team.
All told, there are currently 31 living past presidents, many of whom were in attendance. Among the issues under discussion were the ICAS 2030 strategy and the regulatory and broader business environment.
It was fantastic to outline so much progress, explaining all the incredible work our Executive Director of Learning, Gail Boag, and her team have been undertaking with the rollout of the new, cutting-edge syllabus and their reinvention of the delivery model for the 21st century.
It’s thrilling to be in the company of people you’ve admired and respected, and perhaps heard deliver speeches at past ICAS events, all gathered in one room. They shared fascinating anecdotes from their careers, along with their views of how the profession has evolved.
“Last year, more than 340 applications were made at our online careers fair, with many leading to job offers”
Professor Ian Percy CA was President in 1991, the year that I sat my final exams and became a qualified CA. He recalled the days before formal corporate governance standards and talked about the work that was undertaken in developing the famous 1992 Cadbury Report, which did much to bring UK governance into the modern age. He also represented the UK on the International Auditing Practices Committee from 1995–2000, and was Chairman of the Accounts Commission and Audit Scotland until 2000.
The evening served as a reminder of the influence ICAS’ voice carries in the profession and beyond. One of the topics that came under discussion is the increasing frequency of private equity firms buying accountancy practices – and what that might mean for the future of the industry.
I also spoke to Isobel Sharp CA, President in 2007-08 and only the second woman to hold the post. In her speech to the AGM during her term, Isobel said: “I become President at a time of great success for ICAS. Our CA qualification, rightly regarded as a pre-eminent pathway into the world of business, is in more demand than ever.”
History rhymes
It’s great to be able to echo those words as ICAS yet again achieves a record student intake. Once more, credit for this must go to Gail and her team.
Part of this success comes from our focus on developing new pathways into the profession. From a personal perspective, that means following a process to enable my employer, Vue International, to become an authorised training office (ATO), taking on CA students.
ICAS has also undertaken extensive outreach to colleges, school leavers and companies to ensure there are more entry points into the profession. The team have done an excellent job in getting out and about and promoting the benefits of partnering with ICAS and explaining the changes to our delivery model.
To give one example, on 15 October we will hold our online careers fair. This will provide students and school leavers with an overview of ICAS, the syllabus and the pathway to becoming a CA trainee. Last year, more than 340 applications were made at the fair, with many leading to job offers.
The increased flexibility that comes with the new syllabus means that ATOs no longer have to release trainees at a specific time of year. This is highly attractive to employers, as are the new logbooks which are far less onerous for both ATOs and students.
I also chaired a recent Council meeting, where one of the key topics was AI. What does it mean for ICAS, for training, for individual jobs and for the profession? AI is, and will continue to be, on the agenda for all future Council meetings.
On the broader subject of accountancy’s future, I hope to see some of you at the Shaping the Profession: Beyond the Numbers conference in London on 8 October. You can read more about this in Bruce’s column here.
While the meeting in Edinburgh shows that ICAS remembers and celebrates its heritage, the event also emphasised the energy and drive that each of us, from past presidents to office bearers to the ICAS executive and the membership, brings to thinking about the future.
Register here for the Shaping the Profession event in London, 8 October
linkedin.com/in/alison-cornwell-ca
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