Special Report: ICAS results - Profession that pulls together

Congratulations. Chartered accountants are world-class business professionals. Achieving the CA qualification is an exceptional accomplishment. It now means you join a prestigious group as a member of the Institure of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

The qualification is just the start of your career. From now on, ICAS will be there to support and develop you, ensuring you are constantly expanding your skills and knowledge.

Nearly half of our 19,000 members are now based in England and in 100 countries around the globe.

Almost 70 per cent work in business, many as chief executives, chairs and finance directors in some of the world’s top companies.

In today’s global economy, your work as a CA could take you anywhere in the world.

ICAS strives to support our CAs and bring them together to share their knowledge and networks, whether they are based in Edinburgh, the City of London, Sydney or Hong Kong.

We offer technical advice. We support members in business and practice on a wide range of professional issues and needs.

Our strategy is to build our professional community. Our events and business courses provide knowledge and connections, ensuring CAs can access a world-class network.

Some events bring newly-qualified CAs and final-stage students together with members from the very highest level in business and practice – a unique learning opportunity, available only to you as a CA.

Across the UK, and in the main centres around the world, ICAS hosts business and social events to bring our members together.

Whatever you choose to do, a CA will have walked in your shoes before and can help you to deal with the challenges or opportunities you will face.

You have become a CA at a time when ICAS services are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of the changing demographics of our members. We have just launched a new website and a new brand. We are looking to grow our online communities. We have re-focussed our magazine The CA to be more relevant to CAs wherever they live and whatever they do. We are working to launch a new online learning academy in the future.

Welcome to ICAS and the chartered accountant community. I offer my congratulations on your becoming a CA.

• Atholl Duncan is executive director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Iain McLaren: Well done to all our qualified successes

My congratulations to all successful Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland Test of Professional Expertise candidates. Your hard work and dedication has paid off and you are now a highly regarded Chartered Accountant.

The CA qualification is acclaimed and recognised worldwide. By becoming a CA you now have a passport to global opportunities, entering a professional community that is valued for its wisdom, integrity, service and innovation.

Your qualification affords you a lifelong career. Professional adviser, finance director, chief executive, chief financial officer or business owner are just some of the career routes that can lie ahead on your professional journey.

The accountancy profession is essential to the operating of the capital markets. In this era of globalisation, against a backdrop of tough economic times, the skill sets of CAs are increasingly in demand.

Throughout your career, you will find yourself supported by an institute that is on hand to offer tailored advice and support on every aspect of your professional life. ICAS continues to advance the profession through influential ideas and thought leadership as well as representing CA’s professional views to key decision and policy makers.

I wish you the very best of success for the future.

• Iain McLaren is president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

TPE DISTINCTION LIST

TPE PRIZEWINNERS

Anna Dalton

Ernst & Young LLP, London

University of Warwick, 2008

Mariya Semenkovich

KPMG LLP, Edinburgh

Moscow State Institute of International Relations, 2006

THE J C BURLEIGH PRIZE