ICAS Admissions Ceremony sees 50th Alumni CA join ICAS

More than 770 new Chartered Accountants joined the profession at the annual ICAS Admission Ceremony on March 7th. Amongst them were 13 Foundation programme alumni, and 2 Foundation mentors. The event also marked a social mobility milestone for the profession as the 50th ICAS Foundation alumni CA was admitted to ICAS. In total, 52 alumni have been admitted to ICAS since 2017, when the first programme alumni completed their training.

The admissions ceremony is always a key opportunity to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work by our alumni.

We were delighted to host a private reception at the event for our graduates to congratulate them and their families in person and provide the opportunity to meet with the Foundation team,  ICAS President Karen Scholes CA and CEO Gail Boag.

Gail Boag, CEO at ICAS, said: 

“Welcoming the 50th ICAS Foundation alumnus to membership at this year’s ceremony is a particularly special moment in our 172-year history. Their admission, alongside 776 new members, reflects our commitment to removing barriers to entry and building a diverse pipeline of future talent within the accountancy profession.  

“The CA qualification opens doors far beyond traditional accounting roles and serves as a passport to business and finance. With 86 percent of FTSE 100 companies employing ICAS members in senior positions, our graduates join a global community who are shaping organisations as the ethical leaders of tomorrow.” 

One of those new CAs admitted in March was Alumni Ambassador Andrea Liddell CA, ICAS Foundation and Audit Advisor at our partners AAB, she said: 

“My journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the ICAS Foundation. 

The mentoring and financial assistance I received throughout university helped me achieve a First-Class Honours degree, then gave me the confidence to secure a training contract with my firm and complete the ICAS qualification. The admission ceremony was an incredibly proud moment, and I’m now passionate about giving back to future Foundation students as an alumni ambassador”. 

Sanjay Singh, Managing Director of the ICAS Foundation, added: 

“This milestone is evidence of what can happen when talented individuals are given the opportunity and tools to succeed, regardless of their background.  

We are now seeing our alumni progress into promoted roles, feature on industry rising star lists, contribute to ICAS committees, and act as mentors and ambassadors for the next generation. Their achievements show how widening access not only changes individual lives, but helps drive social mobility across the whole accountancy profession.”