ICAS President David Cruickshank CA welcomes new CA students

As you begin your journey towards becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA), ICAS President David Cruickshank CA, welcomes you to ICAS and the trusted global community you’re now a part of.

When I left school, I didn't know what exactly I wanted to do. All I really knew was I wanted to go into business in some way. I liked the idea of businesses that did things differently, did things the right way, businesses that were always innovating and changing shape. So, I worked out that the best route into business was training as a Chartered Accountant. 

One of main selling points of the CA qualification is that it’s a passport, not only to business, but to wherever else you might one day want to go. That’s why, right now, at the start of your journey, you don't need to know exactly what you want your career to look like. You just need to trust that the CA qualification will get you to where you want to go. 

As it proved for me, and as it will for you, the CA qualification gives you a huge amount of choice across roles, industries and sectors. And because it’s recognised around the world, it's a great global passport too.

No wonder that CAs play a vital role in organisations and communities on every continent, helping people make better decisions and building the trust that underpins our economy.

Over the coming years, you'll develop technical knowledge, gain practical experience and build the skills needed to succeed in your career. But being a CA is about much more than understanding numbers.

CAs are trusted advisers, decision makers and leaders. Businesses rely on us to guide important investments, governments trust us to manage public money responsibly, and organisations look to us for direction when planning for the future.

Wherever your career takes you, people will place their trust in your judgement, integrity and professionalism.

A profession built on trust

Trust sits at the heart of the CA profession.

Economies don't just run on currency. They run on confidence that information is accurate, that decisions are made with integrity and that organisations can be trusted to do the right thing.

As a future CA, you'll play an important role in building and maintaining that trust. It's a significant responsibility, but it's also one of the greatest privileges of being a CA.

More than a qualification

One of the things I hope you'll discover during your journey to becoming a CA is that ICAS is much more than the organisation that delivers your qualification.

By becoming a CA student, you've joined a global community connected by shared values and a commitment to professional excellence.

From today, you have access to a network of professionals who understand the challenges and opportunities ahead because they've been in your position before. Many are keen to share their experiences, offer support and help you make the most of your career.

Through opportunities such as the ICAS Mentoring programme, you can connect with CAs at different stages of their careers, gain valuable insights and learn from their experiences as you progress through your own journey.

Get involved

My advice is simple: get involved with ICAS where you can.

Attend events, make new connections, ask questions and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. Don't wait until you need a professional network before you start building one.

I would also encourage you to connect with your local Area Network. It's a great way to meet fellow students and ICAS members, expand your professional network and become part of the ICAS community in your area.

You can also get involved with our CA Women's Network to hear supportive voices and learn from others’ perspectives.

Keep an eye on your ICAS inbox for our monthly CA Student newsletter. It's a great way to stay connected with everything that's happening.

The more you engage with the ICAS community, the more you'll gain from it throughout your career.

Looking ahead

The road to qualification will challenge you, but it will also open doors to exciting opportunities and rewarding experiences.

The CA qualification has been carefully designed to prepare you to become someone that leaders turn to in the moments that matter. Someone whose expertise is valued, whose judgement is trusted and whose actions make a positive difference.

From everyone at ICAS, I wish you every success as you begin your journey towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.