CA magazine: July/August 2021
By Sarah Speirs, ICAS Executive Director of Member Engagement and Communications
7 July 2021
Uncertainty is staking a good early claim to becoming the word of the decade. The worst months of the Covid-19 crisis made it a part of daily life, and there are still unanswered questions around how and when countries across the world will emerge from the pandemic.
But uncertainty doesn’t have to be a negative word. We have all proven that we can work flexibly and productively under uncertain conditions. Indeed, the latest OECD forecast expects the UK to achieve economic growth of 7.2% this year – the country’s fastest growth in peacetime and a remarkable bounce-back from 2020’s Covid-induced fall of 9.8%. There’s a sense of excitement around business again.
Accountants know the value of certainty more than most. And building the skills and knowledge to approach it with confidence is incredibly important at ICAS. We know our members are at the coalface, navigating businesses worldwide through unexpected challenges. At each step of the way, ICAS is here to provide support, training and a little inspiration.
In that vein, another word that comes to mind is collaboration. We’ve all remarked that physical separation has made us better understand how and why we interact with one another. And because none of us individually has all the answers to those big questions facing business and the global economy, the value of pooling knowledge will be magnified. Success depends on the strength of our networks – whether friends, family, colleagues or professional body.
The value of reaching out, building networks and collaborating has never been more important. As we seek to rebuild the world around us, we must continue to work together to tackle prejudice and systemic bias, within accountancy and beyond. At ICAS, we reaffirmed our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in March and have since signed the Charter for Black Talent in Finance and the Professions. We encourage all to get involved.
This issue of CA magazine is dedicated to examining those big questions affecting us all. By sharing the stories of leading professionals, we hope to make the future just that little bit less uncertain.