ICAS Career Mentoring
At ICAS we understand the importance of career mentoring and the vital role it can play in a Chartered Accountant’s professional success.
Mentoring is a system of semi-structured guidance whereby one, more experienced person shares their knowledge and skills whilst assisting another to overcome obstacles, meet challenges and progress their career.
Through initiatives such as the CA Connect platform and the ICAS Foundation, we encourage and facilitate the process.
70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive for five years or more, double the rate compared with non-mentored entrepreneurs.
The benefits of mentoring
The career mentoring process can deliver a whole range of benefits to both the mentee and the mentor.
For the mentee, working with a mentor, can helping to get a career off the ground, take it to the next level, or assist in the development of a new project.
For the mentor, the process can be a means of boosting their leadership and communication skills, open them up to new ways of working, and deliver a definite sense of pride and satisfaction.
Read more about the potential benefits for both the CA being mentored and the mentor themselves, which can be derived from the ICAS career mentoring process.
What you need to become a mentor
We recommend that potential mentors have experience of working at a senior level in practice or industry and have knowledge of SMEs and/or entrepreneurial experience. Good interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and the ability to be an effective, active listener are also beneficial.
A good mentor also needs to be comfortable with being challenged and must be able to give and receive valuable feedback.
- Senior-level experience recommended
- Good interpersonal and listening skills required
- Emotional intelligence and empathy are key attributes for good mentors
Getting started
The ICAS career-mentoring process is entirely member-initiated, with interested CAs required to proactively reach out to potential mentors or mentees through CA Connect, our member-exclusive online community platform.
Learn how to get started with our guide to finding a mentor:
Learn how to get started with our guide to becoming a mentor:
Experienced CAs can also volunteer through the ICAS Foundation to mentor talented youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds as they seek to enter the accountancy profession.