Thank you to our Members who volunteer their time and expertise
This Volunteers’ Week we would like to say a big thank you to all those who volunteer their time on ICAS’ panels, boards, committees and council.
The support of our Members is integral to ICAS and the work that we do.
There are more than 300 volunteers who sit on ICAS panels, boards, committees and council, giving their time and expertise to guide the direction ICAS travels in. Their invaluable input, given on behalf of the wider membership, helps shape the modern ICAS and ensures it is working to provide Members with the support and guidance they need.
Get involved
We actively encourage our Members to get involved in a range of activities with ICAS, fellow CAs, and external organisations including charities such as the ICAS Foundation. These types of effort can deliver a host of benefits to you, and to the groups with which you get involved.
They might strengthen your skills base, widen your network or count toward your continuing professional development. There are opportunities to play a role in the governance of ICAS, promote the CA qualification and help the next generation of Chartered Accountants. ICAS is also lucky to have a number of CAs who donate their time as mentors across its three main mentoring options.
Membership of ICAS boards, panels and committees is not limited to our most experienced members. Younger members and those early in their career make important contributions and have an impact on the wider ICAS community.
Getting involved with our boards, committees or panels can be a great way to add new insights, skills and expertise to your portfolio and can be a fantastic networking opportunity. It also offers the opportunity to shape ICAS policy leadership and influence policy-makers (government, standard setters and regulators) from the perspective of the accountancy profession. Furthermore, you’ll be playing an active hand in shaping the future of both ICAS and the CA profession.
Find out more about the different ways you can get involved with ICAS.
Our commitment to ED&I
The promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion is a core strand of all ICAS thinking and business strategy. With our partner organisations we’re committed to building a diverse membership and workforce that is beneficial for all, and that enables our communities to learn, grow and advance together, ensuring our Members can develop to their full potential and become the inclusive leaders of tomorrow.
To ensure the composition of our boards, panels and committees reflect the diversity of the changing membership demographics we are especially looking for members from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We actively want to seek out diversity of thought and skills, as well as visible differences and lived experience.
Find out more information about ICAS’ approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Upcoming vacancies
We are always on the lookout for new Members to join us and would encourage anyone with an interest in getting more involved with ICAS’ boards, panels and committees to get in touch to find out more.
Please email us, marked for the attention of Frances Horsburgh, to register your interest: connect@icas.com.
Immediate vacancies
There are some immediate vacancies available on a number of our panels, boards and committees – details of which are provided below.
The ICAS Tax Board and its committees
The Tax Board has delegated authority from the Policy Leadership Board in relation to taxation - to set ICAS policy positions, to act on behalf of ICAS in relation to all tax matters, and has primary responsibility for managing the relationship with the UK revenue authorities.
The Tax Board has five committees, each of which has responsibility for a certain area of tax - there are:
- Indirect taxes
- International and large business
- Owner managed business taxes
- Private clients
- Scottish taxes
There is also an employment taxes working group.
At the moment our tax committees are meeting virtually, usually three times a year, from 10.30am and scheduled to finish by lunch time. In future we are likely to keep two out of the three meetings a year as virtual and have one physical meeting (probably in CA House in Edinburgh). However, this is not yet confirmed and future meeting arrangements will be put in place to suit the committees.
There is usually one meeting per annum when HMRC staff will be invited (for example, to discuss a consultation, or ongoing working arrangements).
The objectives of the Tax Board and its committees are designed to enable the ICAS strategic goals to be met of ‘Public Trust’ and ‘Big Voice’. The following are the key objectives:
- a profession fit for the future
- public trust
- influence future policy
- hand in hand with practice
- uphold standards.
The commitment expected from Members is as much as they feel they can give, and we hope that membership of the committee is mutually beneficial. The committee offers the opportunity to input to the tax policy making process, involvement in leading-edge discussions with government representatives, and networking with fellow tax practitioners.
Members with a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience are encouraged to join. The value of a committee is that each individual adds to the total experience – and no one should underestimate what they can each bring to add to a fully informed well thought out position.
Further information about the role, work and policy positions of ICAS Tax is available at:
https://www.icas.com/professional-resources/tax
If you are interested in joining the ICAS Tax Board and its committees, please send a brief CV for the attention of Charlotte Barbour to connect@icas.com.
The ICAS Charities Panel
The ICAS Charities Panel is seeking new members.
About the vacancies
The Panel would welcome applications from ICAS Members involved with charities who would like to participate in the Panel’s work.
At the current time we are particularly seeking applications from:
- charity auditors
- charity finance directors
- finance staff working for a Designated Religious Charity in Scotland, or equivalent in the rest of the UK.
However, if you are an adviser to a charity, a volunteer independent examiner, a charity trustee or work in a finance role for a charity and are interested in joining the panel, the panel would still like to hear from you.
About the ICAS Charities Panel
The Charities Panel is responsible for representing ICAS on matters impacting the charity sector, in relation to:
- public policy
- law and regulation
- financial reporting
- external scrutiny, encompassing both independent examination and auditing.
The panel also issues guidance on accountancy related matters to ICAS Members who are involved with charities in a variety of roles.
The work of the panel supports the ICAS strategic goals of ‘Public Trust’ and ‘Big Voice’, with the following key objectives in mind:
- public trust
- influence future policy
- uphold standards.
Further information about the panel and its work is available via a dedicated area on icas.com.
The panel usually meets three times a year, currently via Microsoft Teams. The panel will review this as life gradually returns to normal. However, we will take a flexible approach to meetings so that ICAS Members based in various locations have an opportunity to contribute.
In between meetings, the commitment from panel members is as much as they feel they can give to the panel’s ongoing activities. Membership of the panel is a great opportunity for personal development and to work with other ICAS Members to influence sector developments and to support the many ICAS Members who are involved with charities.
How to apply
In the first instance, a short CV should be submitted for the attention of Christine Scott, Head of Charities and Pensions, to connect@icas.com.
If you would like to discuss joining the panel before submitting an application, please email Christine at the above address.
The Audit and Risk Committee
Purpose of Board or Committee
Council is required to have an Audit and Risk Committee (ARC). The ARC is responsible for:
- monitoring the integrity of the financial statements and reviewing any significant financial reporting judgements
- assessing, monitoring and reviewing and providing assurance to Council on risk and the risk management system including the internal control environment
- advising Council on the appointment of the external auditor
- overseeing the external audit process
- overseeing the internal audit process and reviewing the effectiveness of the internal auditor.
Role on Board or Committee
The ARC has a vacancy for an ICAS Member working in business, practice, public or third sector, with specialist cyber security knowledge/experience. The successful candidate will be expected to share their knowledge and experience to inform and influence the ARC and ultimately Council, and help ICAS develop robust business practices. The successful candidate will be expected to constructively challenge information presented to the ARC and actively participate in meetings.
Term
All board/committee members are appointed for an initial term of three years, and may be appointed for a further three-year term.
Meetings
At present, all meetings are held remotely via Teams. When restrictions are eased, meetings are likely to alternate between in-person and remote attendance and members will be encouraged to attend at least one in-person meeting/year.
The ARC meets four times per year and the meetings are usually scheduled from 09.30 to 13.00 (including members-only pre-meeting and lunch).
Remuneration
This is a voluntary role, but members are reimbursed for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses.
How to apply
If you are interested in joining the ARC, please send your CV with a note explaining why you would like to get involved for the attention of Lesley Glen to connect@icas.com.
Closing date for applications
12 July
The Members in Practice Advisory Board
The Members in Practice Advisory Board (MiPAB) serves the needs of small and medium-sized CA practices.
We are now inviting expressions of interest as we look to enhance the board composition and to provide succession for vacancies which will arise in the coming months.
The board meets every three months to discuss matters affecting practitioners. It considers how ICAS can help practitioners deal with the issues which they face in their day to day working lives and ensures that ICAS has the necessary support structures in place.
You can find out more about the board from Suzy Kerton, Council Member and current Chair of MiPAB, in this video.
Skills and experience
As the board represents the ICAS practice community, all applicants must work in practice or perform work which requires them to have a practicing certificate. The composition of the board aims to be broadly reflective of the ICAS practice community and therefore applications are invited from Members irrespective of career stage or practice specialisms.
All applicants must have strong interpersonal skills, be able to demonstrate knowledge and empathy with the challenges which face Members in practice, and possess the ability to work constructively as part of a team.
Appointments are made for an initial three-year term and may be renewed for a further three years at the discretion of the ICAS Nominations Committee. The board meets four times per year (it is expected that the virtual meeting format will be retained even as we return to a post-COVID environment) and applicants should be able to commit to attend meetings which typically last for up to three hours.
Expression of interest
Please email a brief CV/bio together with a covering note setting out why you would like to become involved in MiPAB, why you consider you would be suitable and a note of any particular practice areas of interest you have to connect@icas.com for the attention of David Menzies.
If you wish to discuss informally prior to submitting an expression of interest, or if you are unable to commit to a board position but wish to discuss potential involvement in practice activities and initiatives, please contact David Menzies, Director of Practice or Jeremy Clarke, Assistant Director of Practice at the above email address.
The Qualifications Board
Location: Edinburgh
Closing date: 14 June 2021
The role is not remunerated, but all reasonably incurred travel expenses in relation to the role will be met.
Background
ICAS is seeking to appoint two new Members to join its Qualifications Board (QB). We are looking for applicants who have a strong interest in education, and who will be committed to shaping the future of the CA qualification and ensuring that it continues to hold widespread respect.
As a Member-led organisation ICAS is committed to improving equality of opportunity and celebrating the diversity of our Membership. We want to ensure we reflect the increasing diversity of our Membership in our Boards and Committees, and therefore would like to increase the number of Members from all diverse backgrounds, who bring a diversity of experience, thinking styles and values to ICAS and the Qualifications Board.
Find our more information about ICAS’ approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
The role
The full responsibilities of the Qualifications Board are set out in ICAS’ General Regulations and include:
- Setting the entry requirements for admission as a CA Student Member.
- Setting the knowledge, skills and values requirements for admission to ICAS as a Member.
- Setting similar requirements for any other qualifications issued by ICAS.
- Ensuring that ICAS effectively discharges its duties as a Recognised Qualifying Body, as set out in the Companies Act.
The Qualifications Board also fulfils an important strategic function, through discussing developments in education, closely monitoring ICAS’ relationships with third parties (including its regulators, sister institutes, universities and Authorised Training Offices).
In discharging its responsibilities, the Qualifications Board seeks to act in the public interest, whilst also promoting and protecting the interests of students and firms. It discusses emerging issues, and ICAS risks at every meeting as well as ensuring the Business Plan of the key Learning Division is on target.
The Qualifications Board reports to the Council of the Institute.
Appointments will be for an initial term of up to three years, which may be extended for a further three-year period, provided the Board Member still meets the requisite criteria.
Time commitment
The commitment required is to attend six meetings per year (two of which are shorter check-in meetings, held virtually). Each meeting is scheduled well in advance and can expect to take 2-3 hours, with all but two meetings taking place in Edinburgh. The role is not remunerated, but all reasonably incurred travel expenses in relation to the role will be met.
Please apply with a CV and covering letter setting out your skills and experience relevant to the position by 31 May 2021 to Iona Riddick, Policy, Research & Standards Officer at connect@icas.com.
ICAS places equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of all that we do. With our partner organisations, we are committed to building a diverse membership and workforce that is beneficial for all, and that enables our communities to learn, grow and advance together.
IMAGINE. BELIEVE. ACHIEVE
We very much look forward to hearing from you.