In this issue we feature the results of two surveys, each of which offers fascinating insights into what both business and society at large think of the accounting profession.

CEO Bruce Cartwright CA writes about the findings from the trust survey conducted by Edelman DXI that surveyed 1,000 business leaders. It shows that chartered accountants are more trusted than other professionals, and especially so in Scotland. Bruce delves into the reasons why here.

Our Special Report examines the first major publication from the Shaping the Profession (StP) research programme, namely a deep dive into what various interest groups, from business to the general public, want from accountancy.

Again, our members excel when it comes to trust, but there is also much food for thought around improving awareness of what accountants actually do and their impact beyond tax returns and book-balancing. We know, of course – but there is work to be done in getting that message across.

As ICAS Head of Research Marie Gardner CA says, “It’s our first big output from the StP programme, so I’m really excited about what this is going to mean for ICAS, our syllabus and the profession as a whole.”

We recently sent out our own annual survey to members, and in her monthly column President Karen Scholes CA explains why we want all our members to have their say.

Karen also looks forward to the Annual Conference 2025 on 5 November in London, which you can join in-person or online. We have a full preview of the event which features a stellar line-up of speakers such as economist Paul Johnson, legendary editor, journalist and CEO Tina Brown, and British astronaut Tim Peake.

In this issue we speak to former Mercedes F1 CEO and business leader Nick Fry, who will appear at the ICAS Annual Conference as part of a panel asking, “Will AI replace accountants?”

Elsewhere in these pages we hear from Naeema Joji CA, who was one of the category winners in our CA Rising Stars 2025. Ahead of Black History Month, she discusses diversity, barriers to progress and why accounting is as attractive as law or medicine.

And finally, we meet former Scotland Women’s captain Rachel Corsie CA. We always enjoy celebrating the extraordinary achievements of our members, and what other accounting body can boast of having a professional footballer who has won 155 caps for her country?

Sarah Speirs, ICAS Executive Director of Engagement and Advocacy
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Learn more about the ICAS Annual Conference 2025