I have a fairly unusual career path for a Chartered Accountant. I trained in the Civil Service, moved into industry and then the ‘Big 4’ before starting my own firm, specialising in business strategy and operating model design.
In the past, I was a proud but disengaged ICAEW member. When I started out on my own, I looked into what resources the ICAEW offers and what I pay my subscription for… I have to say I am very glad I did, and it is something I should have done sooner. That being said, the Institute felt very geared towards our members in practice, even though most of our members, like me, don’t actually work in practice. So, I didn’t feel I really fitted in. When the opportunity came to run for a seat on Council, I felt I should get involved and, frankly, I was slightly surprised to be successful.
I am glad I did, as being on Council has allowed me to shape the future of the Institute, bringing a different view as someone with a different career, expertise and neurodiversity. For me, as someone who designs companies, it is extremely rewarding to be able to use my expertise to help the Institute. It is also enlightening to be on the ‘other side’ as the one making decisions which affect our 150,000 members.
My advice for anyone, particularly people who aren’t sure if it is right for them, is to give it a go. You do not need to be a Partner or CFO to make a valuable contribution. We need Council to be more representative of the views of all members, which means we need all types of members to stand. This is the only way for the Institute to keep moving forward.
