Celebrating Chartered Week and the value of Chartered Accountants

Gail Boag, CEO at ICAS reflects on the value CAs offer to society at large, signing the Chartered Week Alliance’s open letter to the UK government and our participation in Chartered Week 2026.

This week we’re celebrating Chartered Week - a national celebration of the professions and the people who hold chartered status. We see this as an important moment to shine a light on the positive impact chartered professionals make across society, from business and government to public services and local communities. 

Chartered Accountants (CA) contribute to organisations around the globe, and we’re proud to celebrate that contribution this week. For us, it’s about more than recognition. It’s an opportunity to talk openly about trust, ethics and professionalism, and why these values matter now more than ever. 

This year, we’ve signed the Chartered Week Alliance’s open letter to the UK government. It calls for greater recognition of the role that chartered bodies and professionals can play in rebuilding trust in vital professional services.  

The CA isn’t just a designation. It’s the result of rigorous training and a prestigious mark of competence, trust and ethical responsibility – all qualities at the heart of the accountancy profession. In fact, the 2025 Edelman Trust Survey found that Chartered Accountants were trusted more than any other profession in Scotland. This is a clear reflection of CAs and the value they bring to the economy and the vital role they play as stewards of financial integrity.

Our members play a fundamental role in fostering trust and ethical leadership across the global economy. By setting rigorous professional standards and championing continuous, future-fit learning, we support our members to lead with integrity and accountability. This is reflected in the fact that 86% of FTSE 100 companies employ a Chartered Accountant as a trusted adviser. Chartered Week marks an opportunity to celebrate alongside other varied chartered bodies to showcase the positive impact we collectively make in wider society.  

Being a CA means acting in the public interest. All CAs are required to follow our Code of Ethics, which sets clear expectations around integrity, objectivity and professional behaviour. The Code supports CAs to make the right decision, even in complex situations. It also gives them the confidence to challenge poor practice and raise concerns where necessary and is a key reason why CAs are trusted in leadership and governance roles. 

Encouraging chartered status also brings clear benefits to wider society. When government and public services expect chartered status in vital sectors, it helps strengthen accountability, consistency and public confidence. We believe that wider recognition of chartership can play an important role in supporting effective public services and rebuilding trust in institutions. 

We’re committed to protecting the value of chartership while also ensuring it remains accessible. We offer a range of routes to becoming a CA, including graduate and non-graduate pathways, employer-led training and articulation routes for those with relevant qualifications or experience. Creating multiple pathways into the profession helps ensure that talent and potential, not background, determine opportunity. 

Chartered Week is a chance for us to celebrate what it means to be a CA. We’re proud to recognise the people behind the profession, the standards they uphold and the positive difference they make every day. 

Our members share what makes them proud to be a CA.