ICAS celebrates the 10th anniversary of its business ethics initiative - The Power of One

Ann Buttery CA, Head of Ethics, ICAS Policy Leadership, marks the 10th anniversary of The Power of One.

In November 2015, we launched our business ethics initiative: The Power of One.

The Power of One calls for all CAs to take personal responsibility for demonstrating the highest standards of ethical behaviour throughout their career and to place ethical leadership at the heart of their professional responsibilities. CAs must also be cognisant of the fundamental requirement of the accountancy profession to act in the public interest.

Since 2015, we have been providing new ethics resources and support for members as part of The Power of One, including our series of publications on ethical leadership:

• Personal responsibility and ethical leadership
• Moral Courage
• Personal Reputation
• Organisational culture and values
• The CA and the organisation
• The Ethical Journey – The Right, the Good and the Virtuous
• Organisational culture: The importance of listening

Through their ethical behaviour CAs are a force for good in the organisations in which they work. They can also influence those around them and thereby help shape the culture and values of their organisation, and potentially also those of other organisations with whom they interact. The cumulative effect of their influence can help reinforce the importance of ethics at the core of behaviours and decision making across sectors and drive a more responsible and sustainable approach to operations. In this way, CAs are a key component of building public trust, to the benefit of our broader society.

The changing landscape – rising to the challenge

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, our updated 2025 Power of One publications embolden members to rise to the challenge of the new landscape which is stretching before us. A world where wider stakeholder interest in the impact of entities on the environment, economy, communities, and society needs to be recognised; where organisations need to be looking to the future and thinking long term about the ongoing sustainability of their organisation, and the impact of their organisation on the environment and society; and where rapid technological advancements, including AI, are creating new opportunities, but likewise risks, for organisations. 

CAs are a vital part of any organisation in which they are employed, or by whom they are contracted, and are required to follow the five fundamental ethics principles in the ICAS Code of Ethics. Despite increasing complexity and new challenges, the ethical principles that guide us remain the same; the five fundamental ethics principles act as the foundations of ethical leadership and must direct individual behaviour.

Regardless of whether they are just starting in their career or have many years of post-qualification experience, CAs have a key role to play, drawing upon the skills and fundamental ethics principles of their profession to assist their organisations in order to maintain trust and protect reputation.  

How we as CAs are perceived by our peers and the public at large is defined by what we do, how we do it, and how we treat other people. Each individual needs to seek to set an example that our peers would be proud to be associated with. 

Ethical leadership has been core to ICAS since 1854. The term Chartered Accountant, or CA, still has the same resonance as was envisioned over 170 years ago. The CAs of today, and tomorrow, have a collective responsibility for the preservation and betterment of the CA brand and all that it stands for.  

The power of the individual – ‘The Power of One’ – cannot be underestimated. 

 

Reading The Power of One resources can contribute to your new one hour mandatory ethics CPD requirement for 2026

Find out more about all the ethics resources ICAS provides to support its members here:

Ethics