Inside ICAS: Top talking points from April 2022
In the last Talking Points of Bruce’s Presidency, your Office Bearer team look back on a month that included the Council elections, a trip to Sydney and ICAS’ position at the forefront of technological change.
In the last Talking Points of his Presidency, Bruce Pritchard CA joins Deputy President Indy Hothi CA, and Vice President Clive Bellingham CA to highlight some of the key ICAS initiatives and activities they were talking about during April.
Bruce’s top talking point
It’s the kind of topic ICAS might not have talked about until recently, but which encapsulates the new sustainable approach to business.
Bruce Pritchard CA, ICAS President
"When I was selected for the role of President at the end of April 2021, I stated that during my year in office I hoped ICAS would ensure that it continued to influence the recovery from COVID and shape a future that embraces new technology, is focused on sustainability, ethics and equality and is more heavily invested in the value of human capital. My final month in post as President has been a microcosm of those hopes, with ICAS working hard to turn ambitions into constructive activity.
One example is the webinar I Chaired where Tracey Rob Perera CA, Chair of the ICAS EDI Committee, Holiday Phillips, a Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging consultant and coach, and Samantha Frost CA, Director at ThinkWellbeing joined me to discuss psychological safety in the workplace, its positive impact on business performance and what's required to create effective change. It’s the kind of topic ICAS might not have talked about until recently, but which encapsulates the new sustainable approach to business that ICAS and others are spearheading as we emerge from the worst days of the pandemic. Through this new approach, organisations are placing equal value on their human and financial capital and striving to ensure that all their employees can perform to the best of their abilities.
April also saw ICAS’ new Finance+ insights series shift focus to the topic of technology, another area where much has changed in recent years. With ICAS at the vanguard, accountancy is now a profession that openly embraces and drives forward technological change.
It's impossible to predict what will happen during the term of the next ICAS President, but one thing is certain, both ICAS and the profession are well-placed to prosper no matter what comes along."
Indy’s top talking point
…by the time you read this, the results may well be known.
Indy Hothi CA, ICAS Deputy President
“Throughout April, ICAS Members have been voting in the 2022 elections to ICAS Council, and by the time you read this, the results may well be known (to be announced at the 2022 AGM on Friday 29 April). Led by your Office Bearer team of me, Bruce and Clive, Council plays a hugely important role in a range of ways. We’re there to ensure that the objects of the ICAS Royal Charters are achieved in a manner consistent with regulatory-body status. We’re there to determine the strategies and tactics necessary to achieve the objects and to monitor their efficiency. We also work to ensure the effective management and direction of ICAS’ affairs and to ensure that high standards of corporate governance are always observed.
For the 2022 election, Members had a variety of exceptional candidates to chose from, all of whom, if elected, were keen to use their roles on Council to promote issues of importance ranging from supporting trainee CAs to considering new ways in which ICAS can add value to its membership offering. I look forward to working throughout 2022 and beyond with the rest of Council and whichever of this year’s candidates are lucky enough to be elected – keep your eye on icas.com and social-media for the results.’
Clive’s top talking point
These communities are key to helping ICAS stay directly in touch with the almost 3,000 Members who live and work outside of the UK.
Clive Bellingham CA, ICAS Vice President
“By the time you read this I will most likely be in Sydney, Australia. I’m Down Under to visit family and friends but whilst I’m here will also be taking time out to join up with the local ICAS community at the first in-person event they’ve held since before the pandemic. Having get-togethers like these returning to our calendars is hugely welcome and a real sign of hope after so many months of local and international isolation. At this event I’ll be giving CAs from the Sydney area an update on what ICAS is doing to support them, discussing plans for the year ahead and, perhaps most importantly, listening to their issues, concerns and ambitions.
The evening is being organised by the local ICAS community, which is overseen by its new Ambassador, Shona Crighton CA. Ambassadors like Shona play a vital role in spearheading the international ICAS communities that can be found everywhere from San Francisco to Singapore. These communities are key to helping ICAS stay directly in touch with the almost 3,000 Members who live and work outside of the UK. And if you are one of those ‘overseas’ CAs, the communities are a great way for you to network, share and find local news, join discussions and access events in your local area."
What else has got us talking
Business reception at the British Embassy: On Friday 27 April, Bruce is set to join ICAS CEO Bruce Cartwright CA and select members of the local business community for a networking-themed evening at Dublin’s British Embassy.
Scottish Parliament: ICAS evidence was referred to in the Stage 1 Report on the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament.
Welsh Parliament: A report from the Welsh Parliament's Finance Committee on the Welsh Tax Acts (Power to Modify) Bill acknowledged and thanked ICAS for its role as special adviser.
GAA: ICAS participated in the Global Accounting Alliance's Sustainability Working Group. The meeting was the last for Anne Adrain, ICAS’ now former Head of Sustainability, and her last as co-chair of the Group. The GAA member bodies thanked Anne for her role in pushing the sustainability agenda at the global professional accountancy level.
Public Finances Accountability Guide: ICAS published a new guide to help stakeholders, including the public, understand how the UK and Scottish governments are held to account for their decisions on public finances.
That’s all for this month’s round-up. Join us again in a few weeks to find out what else has got us talking.
Let's keep talking
- You can connect with Bruce Pritchard CA, ICAS President on LinkedIn.
- You can connect with Indy Hothi CA, ICAS Deputy President on LinkedIn.
- You can connect with Clive Bellingham CA, ICAS Vice President on LinkedIn.