Insights on Ethics & Trust
ICAS research shows that 81% of both the public and professionals view accountants as experts in their field
More than 80% (8 in 10) of the UK public and professionals see accountants as experts in their field, but a lack of understanding of the role remains, according to our new research report, ‘Society First: Shaping the profession’.
In this series of conversations about ethical leadership, we speak with high profile ICAS members who have reflected on what it means to do the right, or ethical thing throughout their careers. It is hoped that the conversations provide practical guidance to help anyone in a challenging professional situation where they are required to seek the truth and then act.
The profession of accountancy is changing—and faster than ever before. Chartered Accountants Worldwide’s flagship series, Difference Makers Discuss, is back for its third season, bringing together six remarkable conversations with leaders who are shaping the future of our profession.
In today’s climate of economic uncertainty, digital disruption, and eroding institutional confidence, Chartered Accountants are recognised by finance and business decision makers as one of the world’s most trusted professions. According to the fifth wave of the Trust Survey conducted by Edelman DXI for Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW), the profession ranks third globally for trust, just behind doctors and engineers – and significantly ahead of other accountancy qualifications.
Trust and Ethics: The foundations of Chartered Accountancy
Trust and ethics define Chartered Accountancy. In a fast-moving financial world, Chartered Accountants uphold integrity, ensure transparency, and earn the confidence of businesses and individuals through their commitment to honesty and confidentiality.
As guardians of financial information, they have a duty to act in the public interest—fostering confidence and stability in the economy.
Chartered Accountancy itself emerged from the need for greater scrutiny after corporate failures. Today, with growing expectations on businesses to prioritise more than just profits, Chartered Accountants play a crucial role. Armed with independence, professional scepticism, and a questioning mindset, they help organisations navigate ethical challenges and build lasting trust.
Online Events & Webinars
One clear way that Chartered Accountant Member Institutes are rising to this challenge is in the creation and hosting of online events and activities.
We are working with the Institutes to present the events that have a global perspective and are available to Chartered Accountants everywhere.
Webinars on demand
Have you ever been told to keep your head down, work hard, and let your good work speak for itself? It sounds like solid advice. It’s also, according to Kingsley Aikins, pretty much the worst career guidance you can get.
What does a fourth-generation New Zealander, with a Singaporean-Chinese mum, a law degree, a Chartered Accountancy qualification, and an Irish husband have in common with the Italian government, a 2,000-strong parent community in Greenwich, and a global mission to attract foreign investment? In this episode of Difference Makers Discuss, host Sinead Donovan finds out.
What does it really mean to be an auditor? Ask Liswaniso Namatama and he’ll tell you it’s far more than ticking boxes or crunching numbers — it’s about understanding people, organisations, and the world around you.
