Imposter syndrome to keynote speaker: Meet Ryan Brown CA

Ryan Brown CA, ICAS Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Prize winner, dedicated ICAS Foundation mentor, and accomplished Audit Advisor at Anderson Anderson and Brown, will take the stage as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Admission Ceremony.

In this exclusive Q&A, Ryan shares what inspired him to pursue accountancy, the lessons that have stayed with him, and what he’s most looking forward to on the big day.

Ryan Brown CA

What’s your day job?

I’m an Audit Advisor at Anderson Anderson and Brown (AAB).

What inspired you to pursue a career in accountancy and train to become a CA?

My path into accountancy started in high school when my registration teacher, who had studied accounting at university, also taught me Higher Accounting. As most good teachers do, she got me excited about learning about something that I had initially written off as boring. It opened my eyes to how accounting isn’t just about numbers and problem solving - it’s about people.

Describe your CA journey in three words.

Intense, rewarding, and impactful.

Can you tell us about some of the highlights of your CA training?

Whilst it is close to the end of my training, one of the most rewarding highlights is having the chance to coach new intakes of graduates. Being able to share things that I’d learned, guide them through challenges, and watch them grow in confidence and succeed was and is incredibly fulfilling. It reminds me how important mentorship is in the profession and how we all contribute to each other’s journeys.

Another standout moment was passing the TPE [Integration] exams it felt like a culmination of all the work from school straight through to ICAS, and it felt incredibly fulfilling to achieve that milestone.

What were the biggest challenges?

Like most, I feel it was the exams. Like in every stage of life balancing everything was challenging. That feeling is still there now balancing work and life, so I suppose it isn’t a challenge unique to ICAS.

If I am being totally honest the biggest challenge was passing Tax at TPS [Skills] – I have not got a tax mind.

What’s one thing you learned during your training that will stay with you forever?

The one thing that has stuck with me is that (almost) everyone feels imposter syndrome. I remember in my second year a director (now partner!) in my team had told me that he still feels imposter syndrome. That really stuck with me – as has the imposter syndrome.

How has the ICAS Foundation supported your journey?

I could talk about this all day, they provided me the financial support to thrive at university, the mentoring to help me understand what to expect in the profession, and they gave me exposure to meet so many important people along the way. But I think the most important things they gave me was networking opportunities – something I will speak about more on the day!

What do the letters CA mean to you?

Being a CA means a lot of things - ethics, integrity, and sleepless nights. To me, being a CA means having the tools to tackle challenges, connect with people, and occasionally impress family members who still aren’t quite sure what I actually do!

What are you looking forward to most about the Admission Ceremony?

Celebrating what everyone has achieved, bottling up the feeling and savouring it!

What’s next for you?

That is a loaded question!

My plan is to stay at AAB, I am very fortunate to work with a load of my best friends, I have management who value the team and the work we do, and I keep getting given interesting work, so I am settled.

Outside of work I am going to try to give back through looking for a Trustee role at a small charity. And of course I am going to continue being an ICAS Foundation mentor, there is something really circular feeling about doing this and I am loving seeing my current mentee grow!

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn