CA magazine: March 2024
By Sarah Speirs, ICAS Executive Director of Member Engagement and Communication
29 February 2024
Welcome to the first issue of the new-look CA magazine. It is a significant departure from its predecessor, not just visually but also in terms of navigation.
The changes are largely informed by a survey we carried out last summer to get members’ views on their magazine. We believe it’s a change for the better. It’s much more user-friendly, whether you’re reading this on a laptop, phone or tablet. It also offers a far more immersive experience, with smoothly embedded videos and animations, and a truly widescreen experience – especially for readers on desktop. We would welcome your comments and feedback at camagazine@therivergroup.co.uk.
In this issue we celebrate some landmarks of our 170-year existence, which you can read here. That timeline ends with the most significant development in recent ICAS history – the launch of the new syllabus, CA24, on 22 March. This is the product of many months of canvassing students, the firms that currently train them and the ones that will do so in the future.
This issue covers the new syllabus in-depth and our Executive Director of Learning, Gail Boag, explains what it means for our students and members alike. The new syllabus will reflect what it means to be a CA in the modern world, while ensuring that the CA qualification remains of the highest quality for the profession.
As President Clive Bellingham CA writes, addressing how we attract the next generation of students is central to our ICAS 2030 Strategy. Clive also touches on another key part of the strategy, which is the ICAS Foundation, and how we’re trying to improve social mobility across the profession so that the next generation of CAs reflects a wider cross-section of society.
Our heritage gives ICAS a special position in chartered accountancy. But while celebrating the past, we must always be forward-thinking as an institution. And that goes for everything, from the syllabus to this magazine.
Enjoy the issue.
