ICAS ICAS logo

Quicklinks

  1. About Us

    Find out about who we are and what we do here at ICAS.

  2. Find a CA

    Search our directory of individual CAs and Member organisations by name, location and professional criteria.

  3. CA Magazine

    View the latest issues of the dedicated magazine for ICAS Chartered Accountants.

  4. Contact Us

    Get in touch with ICAS by phone, email or post, with dedicated contacts for Members, Students and firms.

Login
  • Annual renewal
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Find a CA
  1. About us
    1. Governance
  2. Members
    1. Become a member
    2. Newly qualified
    3. Manage my membership
    4. Benefits of membership
    5. Careers support
    6. Mentoring
    7. CA Wellbeing
    8. More for Members
    9. Area networks
    10. International communities
    11. Get involved
    12. Top Young CAs
    13. Career breaks
    14. ICAS podcast
    15. Newly admitted members 2022
    16. Newly admitted members 2023
  3. CA Students
    1. Student information
    2. Student resources
    3. Learning requirements
    4. Learning updates
    5. Learning blog
    6. Totum Pro | Student discount card
    7. CA Student wellbeing
  4. Become a CA
    1. How to become a CA
    2. Routes to becoming a CA
    3. CA Stories
    4. Find a training agreement
    5. Why become a CA
    6. Qualification information
    7. University exemptions
  5. Employers
    1. Become an Authorised Training Office
    2. Resources for Authorised Training Offices
    3. Professional entry
    4. Apprenticeships
  6. Find a CA
  7. ICAS events
    1. CA Summit
  8. CA magazine
  9. Insight
    1. Finance + Trust
    2. Finance + Technology
    3. Finance + EDI
    4. Finance + Mental Fitness
    5. Finance + Leadership
    6. Finance + Sustainability
  10. Professional resources
    1. Anti-money laundering
    2. Audit and assurance
    3. Brexit
    4. Charities
    5. Coronavirus
    6. Corporate and financial reporting
    7. Business and governance
    8. Ethics
    9. Insolvency
    10. ICAS Research
    11. Pensions
    12. Practice
    13. Public sector
    14. Sustainability
    15. Tax
  11. CPD - professional development
    1. CPD courses and qualifications
    2. CPD news and updates
    3. CPD support and advice
  12. Regulation
    1. Complaints and sanctions
    2. Regulatory authorisations
    3. Guidance and help sheets
    4. Regulatory monitoring
  13. CA jobs
    1. CA jobs partner: Rutherford Cross
    2. Resources for your job search
    3. Advertise with CA jobs
    4. Hays | A Trusted ICAS CA Jobs Partner
    5. Azets | What's your ambition?
  14. Work at ICAS
    1. Business centres
    2. Meet our team
    3. Benefits
    4. Vacancies
    5. Imagine your career at ICAS
  15. Contact us
    1. Technical and regulation queries
    2. ICAS logo request

Louise Exton CA

Louise Exton CA wanted to gain a qualification that would enable her to live and work internationally.

I’m currently the Head of Publishers Asia Pacific for Outbrain. On the side, I volunteer in a non-voting capacity for Australia Chamber Orchestra. I became a CA in 2009 after three years of training with PwC in London.

Why did you become a CA?

One of the biggest drivers for me to gain my CA qualification was to have the ability to live and work abroad. It has certainly allowed me to do this, but it has also created many other opportunities that I would not have imagined.

What makes you proud to be a CA?

I am always very proud to associate myself with ICAS. It’s a very well-respected qualification globally and for good reason. Having taught all the major UK accounting qualifications, I can see why it is still the most prestigious.

What's the most interesting project you've worked on?

My career as a CA has taken me far and wide and exposed me to a lot of interesting opportunities, including conducting an audit whilst living and working on a sugar plantation in Sudan, and almost sending a world-famous pop star to do the first intergalactic gig in space.

What is the best thing about being CA?

Becoming a CA has opened many doors for me. This qualification is not just about becoming an accountant and forever remaining an accountant. Qualifying as a CA sets you off on a path to becoming a well-rounded business professional with infinite opportunities. The path you take from there, is up to you.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love to paint. This provides me with a creative outlet and a way to relax. It’s important to find something that you love and are passionate about and it’s really good for your mental wellbeing.

What is your career goal?

My career goal is to gain more experience as a non-executive director and to be able to work with a number of organisations that I truly believe in alongside a bunch of passionate people. My CA is what allows me to pursue this dream and has put me in a position within an organisation to really make a difference and drive change.

What is the best career advice you have received?

The best piece of career advice that I have ever been given is to ask questions. I started my working career a little afraid of asking questions, but I have since come to realise that it is the best way to learn. If you pretend that you have no knowledge gaps, then you will never fill those knowledge gaps. No one will ever give you a hard time for asking a silly question, as long as you have been listening and paying attention.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to become a CA?

If you are considering become a CA, be prepared to work hard, and remember your end goal. The exams are tough but it’s a challenge worth taking on. My biggest piece of advice is to keep your mind open. Becoming a CA will open up many opportunities, but it’s up to you to recognise them and take advantage.

ICAS logo

Footer links

  • Contact us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Privacy notice
  • CA magazine

Connect with ICAS

  • Facebook (opens new window) Facebook Icon
  • Twitter (opens new window) Twitter Icon
  • LinkedIn (opens new window) LinkedIn Icon
  • Instagram (opens new window) Instagram Icon

ICAS is a member of the following bodies

  • Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (opens new window) Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies logo
  • Chartered Accountants Worldwide (opens new window) Chartered Accountants Worldwide logo
  • Global Accounting Alliance (opens new window) Global Accounting Alliance
  • International Federation of Accountants (opens new window) IFAC
  • Access Accountancy (opens new window) Access Acountancy

Charities

  • ICAS Foundation (opens new window) ICAS Foundation
  • SCABA (opens new window) scaba

Accreditations

  • ISO 9001 - RGB (opens new window)
© ICAS 2022

The mark and designation “CA” is a registered trade mark of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), and is available for use in the UK and EU only to members of ICAS. If you are not a member of ICAS, you should not use the “CA” mark and designation in the UK or EU in relation to accountancy, tax or insolvency services. The mark and designation “Chartered Accountant” is a registered trade mark of ICAS, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and Chartered Accountants Ireland. If you are not a member of one of these organisations, you should not use the “Chartered Accountant” mark and designation in the UK or EU in relation to these services. Further restrictions on the use of these marks also apply where you are a member.

ICAS logo

Our cookie policy

ICAS.com uses cookies which are essential for our website to work. We would also like to use analytical cookies to help us improve our website and your user experience. Any data collected is anonymised. Please have a look at the further information in our cookie policy and confirm if you are happy for us to use analytical cookies: